The Express Entry program is the primary federal immigration program in Canada allowing foreign candidates to obtain permanent residence. Candidates are required to create a profile that is given a score based on specific factors. Those with the highest scores are then invited to apply for permanent residence.
In 2023, the Government of Canada introduced a category-based selection system to better align Express Entry candidates with the country’s evolving labor market needs. At the time, the four designated categories were:
- Healthcare workers;
- Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workers;
- Trade workers; and
- French-speaking workers.
Since then, these categories have been adjusted multiple times. On February 27, 2025, the Canadian government announced additional refinements to further reflect current labor market demands. As a result, the program now has six categories:
- French-language proficiency;
- Healthcare and social services occupations;
- Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations;
- Trade occupations;
- Agriculture and agri-food occupations; and
- Education occupations.
Among these, categories 1, 2, 4 and 6 have been designated as priorities, meaning that upcoming invitation rounds are expected to focus on candidates who qualify under one of these categories.
Each category corresponds to specific occupations, many of which have changed significantly since 2023. Therefore, we recommend that prospective applicants carefully review the current eligibility criteria before creating an Express Entry profile.
Our team is available to answer any questions you may have and to assist you in navigating your immigration journey to Canada.
