New Selection Categories for Express Entry Candidates

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.