On February 27, 2025, IRCC announced an update to the eligible categories and occupations eligible under category-specific Express Entry draws. The previous categories and occupations had been in place since May 31, 2023.
IRCC also reiterated that the focus of the federal economic class draws under Express Entry in 2025 will continue to be candidates with experience working in Canada under the Canadian Experience Class.
Category-specific draws are in addition to the general rounds of invitations which include all three Federal immigration programs (Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), and Federal Skilled Trade Program (FSTP)) as well as the program specific rounds of invitations.
In order to be invited to apply in a category-specific draw, an applicant must be in the Express Entry pool, meet the category specific requirements, meet the program specific requirements, and have the minimum number of CRS points required to be invited in that particular draw.
Those selected under a category specific draw only have 60 days to apply for permanent residence and will still have to prove they meet the requirements of the program they were selected under and that they qualified for the CRS points they were granted in their Express Entry profile.
For 2025, IRCC has chosen the following for category-specific draws:
French-language proficiency
NOC specific draws
Healthcare and social services occupations
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
Trade occupations
Agriculture and agri-food occupations
Education
Significant changes include the removal of the Transport occupation category and the addition of an Education category. Many of the occupations eligible under each category have also changed.
To be eligible for the French-language proficiency category you must have
· a CLB (NCLC) of at least 7 in all 4 language abilities on an accepted French test.
To be eligible for the
· Healthcare Occupations Category,
· Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Occupations Category,
· Trade Occupations Category
· Education Category
· Agriculture and Agri-Food Occupations Category
You must have:
o acquired, in the last 3 years,
o at least 6 months of continuous work experience (780 hours of work experience in Canada or overseas),
o in a single occupation listed in a category specific occupation listed below, and
o meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round.
According to the Supplementary Information for the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, applicants selected under category-specific draws would come under the planned permanent resident admissions for "Federal Economic Priorities," while general Express Entry draws would fall under "In-Canada Focus" with a priority on Canadian Experience Class.
The occupation specific categories for 2025 are:
Healthcare Occupations Category
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians - NOC 32104 - NEW
Audiologists and speech language pathologists - NOC 31112
Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists - 32123 - NEW
Chiropractors - NOC 31201
Dental hygienists and dental therapists - 32111 - NEW
Dentists - NOC 31110
Dieticians and nutritionists - NOC 31121
General practitioners and family physicians - NOC 31102
Licensed practical nurses - NOC 32101
Massage therapists - NOC 32201
Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations - NOC 33101
Medical laboratory technologists - NOC 32120
Medical radiation technologists - NOC 32121
Medical sonographers - NOC 32122
Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates - NOC 33102
Nurse practitioners - NOC 31302
Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors - NOC 31300
Occupational therapists - NOC 31203
Optometrists - NOC 31111
Other medical technologists and technicians - NOC 32129
Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating - NOC 31209
Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment - NOC 32109
Paramedical occupations - NOC 32102
Pharmacists - NOC 31120
Pharmacy technicians - NOC 32124
Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals - NOC 31303
Physiotherapists - NOC 31202
Psychologists - NOC 31200
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses - NOC 31301
Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists - NOC 32103
Social and community service workers - NOC 42201 - NEW
Social workers - NOC 41300 - NEW
Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine - NOC 31100
Specialists in surgery - NOC 31101
Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies - NOC 41301
Veterinarians - NOC 31103
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Occupations Category
Architecture and science managers - NOC 20011
Civil engineering technologists and technicians - NOC 22300 - NEW
Civil Engineers - NOC 21300
Cybersecurity specialists - NOC 21220
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians - NOC 22310 - NEW
Electrical and electronics engineers - NOC 21310
Geological Engineers - NOC 21331 - NEW
Industrial and manufacturing engineers - NOC 21321
Insurance agents and brokers - NOC 63100 - NEW
Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians - NOC 22301 - NEW
Mechanical Engineer - NOC 21301 - NEW
Trade Occupations Category
Bricklayers - 72320 - NEW
Cabinetmakers - 72311 - NEW
Carpenters - NOC 72310
Concrete Finishers - NOC 73100 - NEW
Construction estimators - NOC 22303 - NEW
Construction Managers - 70010 - NEW
Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics - NOC 72400
Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services - NOC 82021 - NEW
Cooks - NOC 63200 - NEW
Electrical mechanics - NOC 72422 - NEW
Electricians (except industrial and power system) - NOC 72200
Floor covering installers - NOC 73113 - NEW
Gas fitters - NOC 72302 - NEW
Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics - NOC 72402
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics - NOC 72401 - NEW
Home building and renovation managers - NOC 70011 - NEW
Industrial electricians - NOC 72201 - NEW
Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors - NOC 72100 - NEW
Other technical trades and related occupations - NOC 72999 - NEW
Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) - NOC 73112 - NEW
Residential and commercial installers and servicers - NOC 73200
Plumbers - NOC 72300
Roofers and shinglers - NOC 73110 - NEW
Sheet metal workers - NOC 72102 - NEW
Water well drillers - NOC 72501 - NEW
Welders and related machine operators - NOC 72106
Education Occupation Category - NEW
Early childhood educators and assistants - NOC 42202 - NEW
Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants - NOC 43100 - NEW
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers - NOC 41221 - NEW
Instructors of persons with disabilities - NOC 42203 (Previously under "Healthcare Occupations")
Secondary school teachers - NOC 41220 - NEW
Agriculture and Agri-Food Occupations Category
Butchers- retail and wholesale - NOC 63201
Find out more:
Program Delivery Update: Category-based selection rounds of invitation (Express Entry: Assessing an electronic application on section A11.2) *Updated September 8, 2023
News Release: Canada announces 2025 Express Entry category-based draws, plans for more in-Canada draws to reduce labour shortages *Updated February 27, 2025
Backgrounder: 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan
News Release: Canada announces First-Ever Express Entry invitations for skilled newcomers with STEM experience *updated June 28, 2023
News Release: Canada launches new process to welcome skilled newcomers with work experience in priority jobs as permanent residents
Backgrounder: Category-based selection - Health workers *updated June 28, 2023
Express Entry: Assessing an electronic application on section A11.2 *updated February 20, 2024
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