Major Express Entry Update: Category-Based Selection
Overview
Last May 31, 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the first-ever launch of category-based selection for its flagship economic immigration management system, Express Entry. This allows Canada to issue invitations to apply to prospective permanent residents with specific skills, training or language ability.
This year, category-based selection invitations will focus on candidates who have:
Strong French language proficiency or
Work experience in the following fields:
Healthcare
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers and contractors
Transport
Agriculture and agri-food
The first category-based invitations to apply are expected to be sent this summer 2023, though no exact date has been released as of yet. Further details on the timing of invitations for individual categories and how to apply will be announced in the coming weeks.
Why these categories in particular?
In June 2022, the Government of Canada made changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to allow for the selection of immigrants based on key attributes that support economic priorities, such as specific work experience or knowledge of French.
These categories are based on:
labour market information and projections
input received from partner organizations, including provinces and territories, and stakeholders across the country
Category-based selection supports Canada’s commitment to welcoming in-demand professionals into communities across the country. Targeted immigration can help alleviate existing labour shortages in many industries and can also help grow the number of French speakers in French minority communities outside of Quebec. Additionally, placing a special focus on Francophone immigration ensures that these communities can continue to live their lives in the official language of their choice.
In short, category-based selection will help IRCC’s Express Entry system better respond to the ever changing needs of Canada’s economy and labour market.
Who is eligible per category?
French-language proficiency
Have French-language test results that show a minimum score of 7 in all 4 language abilities on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens
Meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round
Full eligibility details will be available in the instructions for each round
Healthcare occupations
Have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of continuous work experience (in Canada or abroad) in a single occupation listed in the table below
Meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round
Full eligibility details will be available in the instructions for each round
2021 Teer Category Occupation 2021 NOC Code
1 Audiologists and speech pathologists 31112
1 Chiropractors 31201
1 Dentists 31110
1 Dieticians and nutritionists 31121
1 Education counsellors 41320
1 General practitioners and 31102
family physicians
2 Instructors of persons with disabilities 42203
1 Kinesiologists and other professional 31204
occupation in therapy and assessment
2 Licensed practical nurses 32101
2 Massage therapists 32201
3 Medical laboratory assistants and 33101
related technical occupations
2 Medical laboratory technologists 32120
2 Medical radiation technologists 32121
2 Medical sonographers 32122
3 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient 33102
service associates
1 Nurse practitioners 31302
1 Nursing co-ordinators and 31300
supervisors
1 Occupational therapists 31203
1 Optometrists 31111
3 Other assisting occupations in 33109
support of health services
2 Other practitioners of natural healing 32209
1 Other professional occupations in 31209
health diagnosing and treating
2 Other professional occupations in 32109
2 Paramedical occupations 32102
3 Pharmacy technical assistants and 33103
pharmacy assistants
1 Physician assistants, midwives and 31303
allied health professionals
1 Physiotherapists 31202
1 Psychologists 31200
1 Registered nurses and registered 31301
psychiatric nurses
2 Respiratory therapists, clinical 32103
perfusionists and cardiopulmonary
technologists
1 Specialists in clinical and laboratory 31100
medicine
1 Specialists in surgery 31101
1 Therapists in counselling and related 41301
specialized therapies
2 Traditional Chinese medicine 32200
practitioners and acupuncturists
1 Veterinarians 31103
STEM occupations
Have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of continuous work experience (in Canada or abroad) in a single occupation listed in the table below
Meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round
Full eligibility details will be available in the instructions for each round
2021 Teer Category Occupation 2021 NOC Code
1 Architects 21200
0 Architecture and science managers 20011
1 Business systems specialists 21221
1 Civil engineers 21300
0 Computer and information systems 20012
managers
1 Computer engineers (except 21311
software engineers and designers)
1 Computer systems developers and 21230
programmers
1 Cybersecurity specialists 21220
1 Data scientists 21211
1 Database analysts and data 21223
administrators
1 Electrical and electronics engineer 21320
0 Engineering managers 20010
1 Industrial and manufacturing 21321
engineers
1 Informations systems specialists 21222
1 Land surveyors 21203
1 Landscape architects 21201
1 Mathematicians, statisticians and 21210
actuaries
1 Metallurgical and materials engineers 21322
1 Natural and applied science policy 41400
researchers, consultants and
program officers
1 Software developers and programmers 21232
1 Software engineers and designers 21231
1 Urban and land use planners 21202
1 Web designers 21233
1 Web developers and programmers 21234
Trade occupations
Have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of continuous work experience (in Canada or abroad) in a single occupation listed in the table below
Meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round
Full eligibility details will be available in the instructions for each round
2021 Teer Category Occupation 2021 NOC Code
3 Residential and commercial installers 73200
and services
2 Elevator constructors and mechanics 72406
2 Machine fitters 72405
2 Heating, refrigeration and air 72402
2 Construction millwrights and 72400
industrial mechanics
2 Carpenters 72310
2 Plumbers 72300
2 Electricians (except industrial and 72200
power system)
2 Welders and related machine 72106
operators
2 Contractors and supervisors, other 72014
construction trades, installers,
repairers and servicers
Transport occupations
Have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of continuous work experience (in Canada or abroad) in a single occupation listed in the table below
Meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round
Full eligibility details will be available in the instructions for each round
2021 Teer Category Occupation 2021 NOC Code
3 Aircraft assemblers and 93200
aircraft assembly inspectors
3 Transport truck drivers 73300
2 Railway traffic controllers and 72604
marine traffic regulators
2 Engineer officers, water transport 72603
2 Deck officers, water transport 72602
2 Air traffic controllers and related 72601
occupations
2 Air pilots, flight engineers and flying 72600
instructors
2 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft 72404
inspectors
2 Railway carmen/women 72403
0 Managers in transportation 70020
Agriculture and agri-food occupations
Have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of continuous work experience (in Canada or abroad) in a single occupation listed in the table below
Meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round
Full eligibility details will be available in the instructions for each round
2021 Teer Category Occupation 2021 NOC Code
2 Architects 82031
2 Architecture and science managers 82030
3 Business systems specialists 63201
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