A detailed analysis published by CIC News on December 2 outlines how misidentifying the primary National Occupational Classification (NOC) code in an Express Entry profile can jeopardize a candidate’s chance of permanent residence.
The article notes that the primary NOC drives eligibility for all three federal economic programs as well as provincial nominee streams. A chef (NOC 62200), for instance, who mistakenly lists ‘cook’ (NOC 62300) risks being found ineligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program and could be charged with misrepresentation—a five-year bar on re-application. Since IRCC adopted the NOC 2021 taxonomy, many roles were re-mapped, increasing error rates among self-filing applicants.
![Choosing the wrong NOC code can sink your Express Entry application, warns CIC News]()
For employers, the analysis underscores the importance of issuing reference letters that mirror the exact lead statement and core duties of the correct NOC. Mobility managers who rely on templated job descriptions from HR information systems should audit those templates against NOC 2021 to ensure alignment before the employee enters the pool.
The piece also highlights downstream effects: selecting an incorrect NOC can remove a profile from targeted category-based draws (e.g., healthcare or STEM) and make the candidate invisible to provinces fishing the pool for specific occupations. With no general draw since April 2024, competition for category-based invitations has intensified; one wrong code can literally be the difference between receiving an ITA and aging out of eligibility.
Practical takeaway: build an internal NOC verification workflow—ideally involving immigration counsel—each time a foreign worker or international graduate is nominated for Express Entry sponsorship.
The article notes that the primary NOC drives eligibility for all three federal economic programs as well as provincial nominee streams. A chef (NOC 62200), for instance, who mistakenly lists ‘cook’ (NOC 62300) risks being found ineligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program and could be charged with misrepresentation—a five-year bar on re-application. Since IRCC adopted the NOC 2021 taxonomy, many roles were re-mapped, increasing error rates among self-filing applicants.
For employers, the analysis underscores the importance of issuing reference letters that mirror the exact lead statement and core duties of the correct NOC. Mobility managers who rely on templated job descriptions from HR information systems should audit those templates against NOC 2021 to ensure alignment before the employee enters the pool.
The piece also highlights downstream effects: selecting an incorrect NOC can remove a profile from targeted category-based draws (e.g., healthcare or STEM) and make the candidate invisible to provinces fishing the pool for specific occupations. With no general draw since April 2024, competition for category-based invitations has intensified; one wrong code can literally be the difference between receiving an ITA and aging out of eligibility.
Practical takeaway: build an internal NOC verification workflow—ideally involving immigration counsel—each time a foreign worker or international graduate is nominated for Express Entry sponsorship.
