IRCC: NOC 2021 Version Effective From Today

On November 16, 2022, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenships Canada (IRCC) switched to the 2021 version of the National Occupation Classification (NOC). It is a NOC version of 2021 that has been in discussion for implementation since July 27, 2022.

Implementing the 2021 version of NOC will impact the occupational eligibility for candidates of Express Entry. It also changes the eligibility of more than 100 Canadian immigration programs.

How is NOC 2016 different from NOC 2021?

The National Occupation Classification (NOC) is a Canadian system that uniquely describes each job in the labour market.

An example: According to NOC 2016, an Express Entry candidate must have work experience classified under NOC skill types 0, A, or B. NOC 2021 will shift the eligibility to the Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) system.

How Will NOC Changes Impact Express Entry?

As IRCC implements NOC 2021, new 16 occupations will become the eligible under Express Entry. Meanwhile, three occupations will become ineligible. However, the three occupations are eligible under other streams like Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

The three ineligible occupations under the new NOC system are: 

• Other performers
• Program leaders and instructors in recreation, sport, and fitness
• Tailors, dressmakers, furriers, and milliners

Following are the 16 newly eligible occupations:

• Payroll administrators
• Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
• Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
• Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
• Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants
• Sheriffs and bailiffs
• Correctional service officers
• By-law enforcement and other regulatory officers
• Estheticians, electrologists and related occupations
• Residential and commercial installers and servicers
• Pest controllers and fumigators
• Other repairers and servicers
• Transport truck drivers
• Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators
• Heavy equipment operators
• Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors

Eligibility Criteria For Express Entry As Per NOC 2021:

How to move forward with the next steps?

The candidates planning to submit their Express Entry profile post implementing NOC 2021 must follow this: find and submit their occupation’s code according to the changed NOC when creating the profile.

If a candidate has already submitted a profile and has yet to receive an invitation to Apply (ITA) must follow different steps. IRCC instructed to update their already submitted Express Entry profile any time after the implementation of NOC 2021.

Candidates who received ITA before  November 16, 2022, must submit their Express Entry application using NOC 2016.

Ontario Preparations To Switch To NOC 2021 Version

IRCC announced the update of NOC changes in September 2021 but made it effective in November 2022. Anticipating the NOC changes, Ontario has prepared to switch to the 2021 version since the first announcement.

The updated NOC will impact the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), also known as Ontario PNP. NOC 2021 will change the eligibility of the jobs which apply to OINP streams. The in-demand jobs will be determined as per the TEER category after the NOC 2021 version.

For more information, contact us.