Category-based selection draws for Express Entry | Check Your Eligibility

Sanjay Yadav
[Published 28 Dec, 2023 | 02:14 PM]
About Author - 12 min read
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On May 31, 2023, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada announced the launch of category-based selection draws for Express Entry candidates. Since June 2022, the Government of Canada has been planning category-based selection draws. This change was made to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to allow the selection of immigrants based on specific attributes that align with Canada's economic priorities.

IRCC believes that inviting more skilled workers in specific professions will help support Canada's commitment to welcoming in-demand occupations into communities across the country.

In category-based rounds of invitations, candidates are invited to apply for Canada PR visa based on criteria such as:

• ability to communicate in a specific official language
• work experience in a specific occupation
• education

In this post, we provide an overview of how category-based selection draws for Express Entry work, including the priority categories for upcoming draws in 2024 - and the eligibility requirements you would need to meet to receive an invitation to apply for a Canada PR visa.

Check your eligibility for Express Entry

Categories chosen for Express Entry draws

1. French Language Proficiency

By prioritizing the invitation of French-speaking newcomers, Canada aims to support economic growth through Francophone immigration outside Quebec while recognizing how it enriches and strengthens these communities. To be eligible under the French-Language Proficiency category, you must

• 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 invitation round.

As compared to the other five newly announced selection categories, French-Language Proficiency is the only one that does not consider work experience as the key attribute to be invited to apply for Canada PR.

2. Healthcare Occupations

Canada relies a lot on immigration to fill healthcare jobs. The most recent job vacancy data from Statistics Canada shows that there were 153,000 vacant positions in health care and social assistance in April 2023. This is the highest level of vacancies across all employment sectors. To be eligible under the Healthcare Occupations category, you must:

• Have at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience within the past 3 years in Canada or abroad, in one of the 35 NOCs targeted for the Healthcare Occupations Category.
• Meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round.

NOCs Targeted

3. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Occupations

STEM professions are the backbone of Canada's evolving economy. In the fourth quarter of 2022, there were a staggering 56,915 job vacancies in the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services category alone. Provinces like Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia are at the forefront of this demand - showcasing their progressive and innovation-driven industries. To be eligible under the Healthcare Occupations category, you must:

• Have at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience within the past 3 years in Canada or abroad, in one of the 24 NOCs targeted for the STEM Occupations Category.
• Meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round.

NOCs Targeted

4. Trade Occupations Category

The demand for Trade Occupations in Canada remains strong as these jobs continue to play a crucial role in various industries throughout the country. Skilled trades, such as Electricians, Plumbers, and Carpenters, are essential for constructing homes, buildings, and infrastructure. The growing population and ongoing construction projects contribute to the consistent need for these trades. To be eligible under the Trade Occupations category, you must:

• Have at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience within the past 3 years in Canada or abroad, in one of the 10 NOCs targeted for the Trade Occupations category.
• Meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round.

NOCs Targeted