Hey there fellow migrants!
Exciting news from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)! They’ve officially announced that the six categories currently eligible for category-based selection in Express Entry draws will continue throughout 2024.
In an email alert from IRCC, the department emphasized its commitment to selecting candidates with specific qualifications such as education, work experience, or language skills to address identified economic needs and priorities.
Continuity in Categories
The six categories targeted by IRCC are:
- French language proficiency
- Work experience in healthcare occupations
- Work experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations
- Work experience in trade occupations
- Work experience in transport occupations
- Work experience in agriculture and agri-food occupations
Introduced in May 2023, category-based selection draws were designed to assist Canada in achieving its economic goals by targeting candidates with skills and experience crucial to the workforce.
A Collaborative Approach
The selection of these categories in 2023 followed extensive consultations with provinces, territories, and various stakeholders, including unions, employers, settlement service providers, worker advocacy groups, and immigration researchers.
By focusing on Express Entry candidates who fulfill the criteria for these categories, IRCC aims to welcome newcomers who can address critical gaps in Canada’s workforce while also promoting the French language outside of Quebec.
Review and Adaptation
IRCC highlighted that the categories would undergo yearly review as part of its report to parliament and would be adjusted as necessary.
Category-Based Selection in Action
Since its inception, category-based selection has seen significant traction. The first draw, targeting healthcare occupations, occurred on June 28, 2023, inviting 1,500 Express Entry candidates.
Throughout 2023, over 16,000 candidates were invited through category-based selection in 17 separate draws. In 2024, a draw has already taken place, inviting 7,000 candidates with French language proficiency.
Eligibility Criteria
Category-based selection is exclusively for candidates with existing Express Entry profiles. Economic immigrants outside the Express Entry pool are not eligible.
Candidates must meet specific criteria, including accumulating at least six months of full-time, continuous work experience within the past three years in a single occupation in Canada or abroad for work-experience based categories. Those invited in the French language proficiency category must achieve a level 7 in all four language competencies.
Understanding Express Entry
Express Entry manages three key economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. It employs the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to evaluate candidates based on various factors such as work experience, language ability, and education.
Candidates with the highest CRS scores are most likely to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.
Conclusion
With IRCC’s continued commitment to category-based selection, the pathway to Canadian permanent residency remains open for skilled individuals who meet the specified criteria. Keep pursuing your Canadian dream through Express Entry!
Disclaimer: The information provided here is based on IRCC’s official communication and is subject to change as per government policies.
