The moment we've all been waiting for has finally arrived. Brace yourself as Express Entry, the bedrock of Canada's economic immigration management system, undergoes a transformative facelift. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, has just made an exciting announcement that marks a milestone in the system's history. Today, Canada unveils its groundbreaking implementation of category-based selection, opening doors to prospective permanent residents possessing exceptional skills, training, or language proficiency. Get ready to witness a new era in immigration management, where precision and specialization converge to shape Canada's future.
3 Types of Express Entry Draws
With today's announcement, We now officially have three types of express entry draws with the category-based draws being the newest.
1. General rounds of invitations: In general rounds of invitations, the focus is on inviting top-ranking candidates from the Express Entry pool who are eligible for one of the three Express Entry programs. These programs include the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria for any of these programs have the opportunity to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada.
2. Program-specific rounds of invitations: Program-specific rounds of invitations target candidates who are eligible for a specific Express Entry program. For instance, if a round of invitations is specifically designated for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), only candidates who meet the criteria for the PNP will be invited to apply for permanent residence.
3. Category-based rounds of invitations: Category-based rounds of invitations are introduced to fulfill specific economic goals set by the minister. Under this approach, categories are established to address a specific labor market or economic need in Canada. The highest-ranking candidates in the Express Entry pool who are eligible for the identified category will be invited to apply for permanent residence. The category could be based on factors such as skill shortages in specific industries, regional economic priorities, or other targeted goals.
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
Below are the National Occupation Codes for the Eligible Occupations in Work Experience Category
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
Engineering managers
Architecture and science managers
Computer and information systems managers
Architects
Landscape architects
Urban and land use planners
Land surveyors
Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
Data scientists
Cybersecurity specialists
Business systems specialists
Information systems specialists
Database analysts and data administrators
Computer systems developers and programmers
Software engineers and designers
Web designers
Web developers and programmers
Civil engineers
Electrical and electronics engineers
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
Industrial and manufacturing engineers
Metallurgical and materials engineers
Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers
Trade occupations
Healthcare occupations
Transport occupations
Agriculture and agri-food occupations
With these changes, anything is possible. This new category moves the focus away from just your Comprehensive ranking scores (CRS) alone, to consider the above-listed categories. Therefore, it is advisable to get into the express entry pool as soon as you meet the eligibility criteria for one of the programs as shown below.
If you aren't sure where to begin and what pathway would be right for you, book our Permanent Residence Consultation with one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants. Express entry is one of the many pathways to come to Canada. Let's get you on your journey to achieve your Canadian immigration goals.