Canada launches new process to welcome skilled newcomers with work experience in priority jobs as permanent residents
31-May-2023
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, today announced the first-ever launch of category-based selection for Canada’s flagship economic immigration management system, Express Entry. Category-based selection will allow Canada to issue invitations to apply to prospective permanent residents with specific skills, training or language ability. Further details on the timing of invitations for individual categories and how to apply will be announced in the coming weeks.
This year, category-based selection invitations will focus on candidates who have

- a strong French language proficiency or
- 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
By allowing them to invite more skilled workers in these professions, category-based selection supports Canada’s commitment to welcoming in-demand professionals into communities across the country. Additionally, by placing a special focus on Francophone immigration, the Government of Canada is ensuring that French communities can continue to live their life in Canada in the official language of their choice.
Category-based selection will make Express Entry more responsive to Canada’s changing economic and labour market needs, while building on the high human capital approach that has been a hallmark of Canada’s successful economic immigration system. These priorities maintain the focus on bringing in skilled workers with the potential to integrate and contribute to Canada’s future.
In category-based rounds of invitations, they invite candidates who are eligible for a specific category established by the Minister to meet an identified economic goal. They invite candidates to apply for permanent residence based on criteria such as
- ability to communicate in a specific official language
- work experience in a specific Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category of the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
- education
Category-based rounds add to general and program-specific rounds by inviting top-ranking candidates who can help us meet these specific economic goals.
They will announce the chosen categories in advance.
Candidates with a provincial or territorial nomination
They will continue to invite candidates with a provincial or territorial nomination through general and Provincial Nominee Program-specific rounds. These candidates have demonstrated they have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the province or territory’s economy.
How we choose and report on categories
They choose categories based on
- labor market information and projections
- input they receive from their partners, including provinces and territories, and stakeholders across the country
Each year, we’ll report to Parliament on
- the categories they chose the previous year
- why and how they chose them
- the instructions to establish a category
- the number of invitations they issued for each category
We’ll also
- include information about category-based selection in the Express Entry Year-End Report
- monitor and assess categories on a regular basis
Who is eligible
To be eligible for an invitation through a category-based round, you must meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round.
When we hold a category-based round of invitations, we’ll
- rank candidates in the pool who meet the category requirements and
- invite top-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence
Is Canada immigration your dream?
You may get in touch with Canadian Center for Immigration Services for further details and guidance.To find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada permanently, fill out a free online assessment form.
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