Express Entry: Category-Based Selection of Candidates
Express Entry is an online management system that manages applications for Canadian permanent residence under three immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. Since the launch of Express Entry in 2015, top-ranking candidates in the Express Entry pool were invited to apply for permanent residence through “general rounds of invitations” and “program-specific rounds of invitations.”
On May 31, 2023, Canada announced launch of “category-based rounds of invitations,” in addition to “general rounds of invitations” and “program-specific rounds of invitations.” In category-based rounds of invitations, candidates with the highest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in a specific category are invited to apply for permanent residence.
Please note, candidates must first meet the minimum requirements for Express Entry, including qualifying for Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Canadian Experience Class.
Categories are set by the government to meet a specific economic goal and are announced in advance. For 2023, the government has chosen the following categories:
- French language proficiency, OR
- Work experience in the following fields:
-
- healthcare
- science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations
- trade occupations
- transport occupations
- agriculture and agri-food occupations.
Summary of Eligibility Criteria for Each Category
| Category | Requirements | Eligible Occupations |
| 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 | Not applicable |
| Healthcare occupations | Employment within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a single occupation listed in column “Eligible Occupations” in Canada or abroad | Audiologists and speech language pathologists Chiropractors Dentists Dieticians and nutritionists Education counsellors General practitioners and family physicians Instructors of persons with disabilities Kinesiologists and other professional occupation in therapy and assessment Licensed practical nurses Massage therapists Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations Medical laboratory technologists Medical radiation technologists Medical sonographers Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates Nurse practitioners Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors Occupational therapists Optometrists Other assisting occupations in support of health services Other practitioners of natural healing Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment Paramedical occupations Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals Physiotherapists Psychologists Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine Specialists in surgery Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists Veterinarians |
| STEM occupations | Employment within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a single occupation listed in column “Eligible Occupations” in Canada or abroad | Architects Architecture and science managers Business systems specialists Civil Engineers Computer and information systems managers Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) Computer systems developers and programmers Cybersecurity specialists Data scientists Database analysts and data administrators Electrical and electronics engineers Engineering managers Industrial and manufacturing engineers Information systems specialists Land surveyors Landscape Architects Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries Metallurgical and materials engineers Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers Software developers and programmers Software engineers and designers Urban and land use planners Web designers Web developers and programmers |
| Trade occupations | Employment within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a single occupation listed in column “Eligible Occupations” in Canada or abroad | Residential and commercial installers and servicers Elevator constructors and mechanics Machine fitters Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics Carpenters Plumbers Electricians (except industrial and power system) Welders and related machine operators Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers |
| Transport occupations | Employment within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a single occupation listed in column “Eligible Occupations” in Canada or abroad | Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors Transport truck drivers Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators Engineer officers, water transport Deck officers, water transport Air traffic controllers and related occupations Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors Railway carmen/women Managers in transportation |
| Agriculture and agri-food occupations | Employment within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a single occupation listed in column “Eligible Occupations” in Canada or abroad | Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors Butchers-retail and wholesale |
*Source: Express Entry rounds of invitations: Category-based selection – Canada.ca