Canada’s 2025 Express Entry – Everything You Need to Know About Category-Based Selection Draws
Published by: Can X Global Solutions Inc.
Canada’s Express Entry system remains one of the most popular and efficient immigration pathways for skilled workers seeking permanent residency. With constant updates and improvements to the system, Canada is now introducing Category-Based Selection Draws in 2025, a significant shift in how candidates are selected for permanent residency. These changes will have a profound impact on how candidates apply and how quickly they may receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Let’s dive into everything you need to know about these new category-based selection draws and how they will affect your Express Entry journey.
Category-Based Selection Draws are a new initiative introduced by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as part of their ongoing efforts to address the country’s labor shortages and economic needs. In the past, Express Entry draws were based solely on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which ranks candidates according to factors like age, education, work experience, and language proficiency. However, with category-based draws, the Canadian government will be able to prioritize candidates with specific skills or experience that are in high demand.
This means that instead of drawing only from the highest-ranked candidates in the Express Entry pool, IRCC will now issue invitations to candidates who meet the criteria of certain target categories. These categories may include factors such as:
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and social services occupations
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
- Trade occupations
- Agriculture and agri-food occupations
- Education occupations
By introducing these targeted draws, Canada aims to ensure that skilled workers in critical sectors are given an opportunity to apply for permanent residency, allowing the country to address its pressing labor shortages more effectively.
Canada’s labor market is evolving, and the country faces specific challenges in filling positions in certain industries. While Express Entry has historically been successful in selecting highly skilled candidates, the need for workers in certain sectors is now more urgent than ever. Category-Based Selection Draws allow Canada to:
Address Labor Shortages: Targeted draws allow Canada to prioritize candidates with the skills and experience needed in high-demand sectors, such as healthcare and technology, which are vital to the country’s economic growth.
Support Economic Growth: By selecting candidates who can directly contribute to key sectors, the government is helping to foster long-term economic stability and innovation.
Attract Talent to Canada’s Vital Industries: These draws ensure that Canada attracts the right talent to support industries that are critical to the country’s development, from health services to green energy.
Here’s how the new category-based draws work within the context of Express Entry:
Eligibility for Category-Based Draws: Candidates must still meet the basic eligibility criteria for Express Entry programs (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class). However, to be eligible for a category-based draw, candidates will also need to meet the specific criteria for the targeted category. For example, if the category is for healthcare professionals, candidates with relevant healthcare work experience or qualifications would be prioritized.
Invitation to Apply (ITA): After the category-based draw, candidates who meet the criteria will be invited to apply for permanent residency, even if their CRS score is not among the highest in the pool. This makes it possible for skilled professionals in demand to receive an ITA despite having a lower CRS score than others.
Draws for Specific Categories: IRCC will periodically conduct these category-based draws. The timing and frequency of these draws will depend on the needs of the Canadian labor market, which can change over time.
Impact on CRS Score: While CRS remains the foundation for ranking candidates, the introduction of category-based draws creates additional opportunities for candidates to be selected based on their occupation and sector. As a result, candidates with highly relevant experience in target categories may find themselves with a better chance of receiving an ITA, even if their CRS score is lower.
Here’s a list of the various occupations across different sectors that are part of Canada’s 2025 Express Entry Category-Based Selection Draws:
1.French-language proficiency
2.Healthcare and Social Services Occupations
- Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians: 32104
- Audiologists and speech language pathologists: 31112
- Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists: 32123
- Chiropractors: 31201
- Dental hygienists and dental therapists: 32111
- Dentists: 31110
- Dieticians and nutritionists: 31121
- General practitioners and family physicians: 31102
- Licensed practical nurses: 32101
- Massage therapists: 32201
- Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations: 33101
- Medical laboratory technologists: 32120
- Medical radiation technologists: 32121
- Medical sonographers: 32122
- Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates: 33102
- Nurse practitioners: 31302
- Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors: 31300
- Occupational therapists: 31203
- Optometrists: 31111
- Other medical technologists and technicians: 32129
- Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating: 31209
- Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment: 32109
- Paramedical occupations: 32102
- Pharmacists: 31120
- Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants: 33103
- Pharmacy technicians: 32124
- Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals: 31303
- Physiotherapists: 31202
- Psychologists: 31200
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses: 31301
- Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists: 32103
- Social and community service workers: 42201
- Social workers: 41300
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine: 31100
- Specialists in surgery: 31101
- Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies: 41301
- Veterinarians: 31103
3.Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Occupations
- Architecture and science managers: 20011
- Civil engineering technologists and technicians: 22300
- Civil Engineers: 21300
- Cybersecurity specialists: 21220
- Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians: 22310
- Electrical and electronics engineers: 21310
- Geological Engineers: 21331
- Industrial and manufacturing engineers: 21321
- Insurance agents and brokers: 63100
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians: 22301
- Mechanical Engineers: 21301
4.Trade Occupations
- Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services: 82021
- Floor covering installers: 73113
- Painters and decorators (except interior decorators): 73112
- Roofers and shinglers: 73110
- Concrete finishers: 73100
- Other technical trades and related occupations: 72999
- Water well drillers: 72501
- Electrical mechanics: 72422
- Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics: 72402
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanics: 72401
- Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics: 72400
- Bricklayers: 72320
- Cabinetmakers: 72311
- Carpenters: 72310
- Gas fitters: 72302
- Plumbers: 72300
- Industrial electricians: 72201
- Electricians (except industrial and power system): 72200
- Welders and related machine operators: 72106
- Sheet metal workers: 72102
- Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors: 72100
- Home building and renovation managers: 70011
- Construction managers: 70010
- Cooks: 63200
- Construction estimators: 22303
5.Agriculture and Agri-food Occupations
- Butchers – retail and wholesale: 63201
6.Education Occupations
- Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants: 43100
- Instructors of persons with disabilities: 42203
- Early childhood educators and assistants: 42202
- Elementary school and kindergarten teachers: 41221
- Secondary school teachers: 41220
Canada’s introduction of Category-Based Selection Draws in Express Entry is a positive change that will help address labor shortages and ensure that skilled workers are selected based on the needs of the Canadian economy. If you work in a high-demand sector such as healthcare, technology, or skilled trades, these new draws offer a great opportunity to obtain permanent residency, even if your CRS score isn’t among the highest. Stay informed about the latest updates on category-based draws and ensure that your profile reflects the skills and experience needed to take advantage of these new opportunities in Canada’s immigration system.
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