The news of the new category-based selection comes almost a year after passing the bill. The bill gave Sean Fraser the authority to invite Express Entry candidates with specific attributes in order to support Canada’s economic goals. 

Targeted draws are expected to start this year.  But until now, there hasn’t been any official indication from IRCC of what attributes will be utilized as selection criteria in the draw. 

Catering to this new development, the frequently asked questions and answers that Express Entry candidates might have about the new selection categories are below. 

 

New Category-Based Selection – Who Is Eligible? 

Express Entry applicants will be eligible under the new draw categories if they have experience in these fields: 

  • Healthcare 
  • STEM Professions
  • Trade Professions 
  • Transport 
  • Agri-food/ Agriculture 
  • Have solid French language proficiency, i.e., a candidate must get at least 7 in reading, writing, listening, & speaking (NCLC)

 

When Will The Draws Begin? 

Draws under new category-based selection will begin later this summer, but no exact data is available yet! 

 

Do I Still Need To Have An Express Entry Profile To Be Selected If I Work In Eligible Occupations?     

Yes! Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for Express Entry managed programs. In addition, these programs are Federal Skilled Trades Program, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Worker Program. 

 

Will The CRS No Longer Be Counted For Express Entry? 

An applicant’s CRS score will be counted for Express Entry Draws. In addition, IRCC will still hold draws, wherein applicants are invited without reference to any of the 6 categories. Moreover, this includes all-program draws, program-specific draws, etc. 

IRCC says the new category-based selection has rounds of invitations that rank the applicants in the Express Entry pool who meet the category requirements. IRCC then invites top-ranking applications to apply for permanent residency. 

 

Do The Criteria Vary In Each New Category-Based Selection? 

Among the 5 occupation-specific categories, all applicants must: 

  • Accumulate at least six months of continuous work experience over the last 3 years in a specific profession listed as eligible. 
  • Meet all the eligibility requirements for that round. 

Applicants invited based on strong French Language proficiency must have the language test results that indicate a minimum score of 7 in four areas, i.e., reading, speaking, writing, and listening. 

 

Will There Be Express Entry Draws For PNP Applicants?  

IRCC asserts that it will continue to invite applicants with a territorial/ provincial nomination via general and provincial nominee program-specific rounds. Moreover, the department says that the candidates have represented that they have the skills, education, & work experience to contribute to the province’s economy. 

 

Why Is There a New Category-Based Selection? 

Sean Fraser has the mandate to support the economy of Canada & promote the growth of French-speaking communities outside of Quebec in order to protect the status of French as one of the official languages of Canada. 

The new category-based selection is targeted to fill a high number of vacant positions in Canada. For this, targeted immigration can help reduce acute labor shortages in numerous industries. In addition, it can also help grow the number of French speakers in minority communities outside Quebec. 

Moreover, Minister Fraser asserts that inviting more skilled laborers in targeted professions will support Canada in recruiting in-demand professionals into communities nationwide. 

 

How Did IRCC Decide On New Categories? 

According to IRCC, categories are selected after significant discussions & public consultations with stakeholders, including provinces, industry members, unions, employers, workers, immigration researchers, settlement provider organizations, etc.    

 

Will The Categories Change? 

The categories might change yearly following an IRCC report to parliament, including: 

  • The categories from last year 
  • Why & how they were chosen 
  • The instructions to establish a category 
  • The number of invitations issued for every category

 

IRCC asserts that the reports will also have data regarding new category-based selection in Express Entry Year-End Report.