IRCC Holds Its First-Ever Express Entry STEM Draw

Surya Rathee
[Published 06 Jul, 2023 | 04:09 AM]
About Author - 3 min read
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Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) finally conducted its first category-based Express Entry draw for STEM Occupations. This was Canada’s second category-based draw since six new categories for the selection of candidates under Express Entry were announced on May 31.

The latest Express Entry draw was held on July 05, 2023, and saw invitations being issued to a total of 500 candidates under Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) occupations. Invited candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 486 to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.

Express Entry Draw #254

Who Was Invited?

• Number of invitations issued: 500
• Rank required to be invited to apply: 500 or above
• Type of draw: STEM Occupations (2023-1)
• Date and time of round: July 05, 2023, 13:38:22 UTC
• CRS score of lowest-ranking candidates invited: 486
• Tie-breaking rule: November 23, 2022, 00:01:29 UTC

If more than one candidate has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.

Check eligibility to apply for Express Entry

The previous, and the first category-based draw was held on June 28, 2023 - which issued ITAs to a total of 500 Healthcare workers with a minimum CRS score of 476. 

STEM Occupations for Express Entry

In a recent announcement, IRCC stated that by prioritizing ITAs of skilled immigrants with STEM experience, Canada aims to support & sustain its growing demand for talent - and fill key positions that contribute to the country’s economic growth and technological advancement.

Eligible occupations under the STEM draw include:

• 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

Category-Based Selection Draws for Express Entry

On May 31, Sean Fraser, Canada's Minister of Immigration, announced that IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) has finalized new selection categories for Express Entry draws. The categories were chosen after considering labor market projections and consulting with various Partners, Stakeholders, Provincial, and Territorial governments. The selected categories include:

• Healthcare
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) professions
• Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
• Transport
• Agriculture and Agri-Food
• Strong French language proficiency

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. These attributes may include relevant work experience to address labor market needs or proficiency in French.

Source: canada.ca