Express Entry Category Based Draws: Discover If You’re Eligible

Express Entry Category Based Draws: Discover If You're Eligible

Canada is introducing category-based Express Entry draws. 


Overview

Express Entry category-based draws have been introduced to invite those who fall under six categories to apply for permanent residence.

Category-based draws will complement the other forms of Express Entry draws that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will continue to hold. The other forms of Express Entry draws are invitations to apply (ITA) for permanent residence based on meeting the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cut-off requirement among all Express Entry candidates, as well as draws that invite candidates based on their eligibility for a specific program (e.g., the Provincial Nominee Program).

IRCC has stated those who fall under the following six categories:

  • work experience in the following fields:
    • healthcare
    • science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professions
    • trades, such as carpenters, plumbers and contractors
    • transport
    • agriculture and agri-food
  • or, strong French language proficiency.

To be eligible for an invitation through a category-based draw, you will need to meet all the requirements noted by IRCC for that draw. When IRCC holds these draws, it will rank candidates in the pool who meet the category requirements and then invite the top-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence.

Find Out If You're Eligible

Complete our FREE assessment to find out if you are eligible for Canadian immigration!


List of Occupations Eligible for Category-Based Draws

Category Name Job Title(s) NOC Number
 
Agriculture and agri-food occupations Butchers - retail and wholesale 63201
Agriculture and agri-food occupations Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors 82030
Agriculture and agri-food occupations Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services 82031
Transport occupations Managers in transportation 70020
Transport occupations Railway carmen/women 72403
Transport occupations Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors 72404
Transport occupations Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors 72600
Transport occupations Air traffic controllers and related occupations 72601
Transport occupations Deck officers, water transport 72602
Transport occupations Engineer officers, water transport 72603
Transport occupations Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators 72604
Transport occupations Transport truck drivers 73300
Transport occupations Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors 93200
Trade occupations Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers 72014
Trade occupations Welders and related machine operators 72106
Trade occupations Electricians (except industrial and power system) 72200
Trade occupations Plumbers 72300
Trade occupations Carpenters 72310
Trade occupations Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics 72400
Trade occupations Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics 72402
Trade occupations Machine fitters 72405
Trade occupations Elevator constructors and mechanics 72406
Trade occupations Residential and commercial installers and servicers 73200
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Engineering managers 20010
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Architecture and science managers 20011
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Computer and information systems managers 20012
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Architects 21200
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Landscape architects 21201
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Urban and land use planners 21202
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Land surveyors 21203
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries 21210
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Data scientists 21211
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Cybersecurity specialists 21220
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Business systems specialists 21221
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Information systems specialists 21222
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Database analysts and data administrators 21223
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Computer systems developers and programmers 21230
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Software engineers and designers 21231
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Software developers and programmers 21232
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Web designers 21233
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Web developers and programmers 21234
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Civil engineers 21300
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Electrical and electronics engineers 21310
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) 21311
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Industrial and manufacturing engineers 21321
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Metallurgical and materials engineers 21322
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers 41400
Healthcare occupations Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine 31100
Healthcare occupations Specialists in surgery 31101
Healthcare occupations General practitioners and family physicians 31102
Healthcare occupations Veterinarians 31103
Healthcare occupations Dentists 31110
Healthcare occupations Optometrists 31111
Healthcare occupations Audiologists and speech-language pathologists 31112
Healthcare occupations Dietitians and nutritionists 31121
Healthcare occupations Psychologists 31200
Healthcare occupations Chiropractors 31201
Healthcare occupations Physiotherapists 31202
Healthcare occupations Occupational therapists 31203
Healthcare occupations Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment 31204
Healthcare occupations Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating 31209
Healthcare occupations Nursing coordinators and supervisors 31300
Healthcare occupations Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses 31301
Healthcare occupations Nurse practitioners 31302
Healthcare occupations Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals 31303
Healthcare occupations Licensed practical nurses 32101
Healthcare occupations Paramedical occupations 32102
Healthcare occupations Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists 32103
Healthcare occupations Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment 32109
Healthcare occupations Medical laboratory technologists 32120
Healthcare occupations Medical radiation technologists 32121
Healthcare occupations Medical sonographers 32122
Healthcare occupations Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists 32200
Healthcare occupations Massage therapists 32201
Healthcare occupations Other practitioners of natural healing 32209
Healthcare occupations Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations 33101
Healthcare occupations Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates 33102
Healthcare occupations Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants 33103
Healthcare occupations Other assisting occupations in support of health services 33109
Healthcare occupations Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies 41301
Healthcare occupations Educational counsellors 41320
Healthcare occupations Instructors of persons with disabilities 42203