Express Entry: Category-based selection
On this page
- What is category-based selection
- Current categories
- How we choose and report on categories
- Who's eligible for each category
What is category-based selection
In category-based rounds of invitations, we invite candidates in the Express Entry pool who are eligible for a specific category established by the Minister to meet an identified economic goal.
We 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 occupation
- education
We’ll announce the chosen categories in advance.
Step-by-step guide to category-based selection
Current categories
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and social services occupations
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
- Trade occupations
- Agriculture and agri-food occupations
- Education occupations
Category-based rounds are intended to supplement other round types to meet the identified economic goal.
We may not need a category-based round if there are enough top-ranking candidates eligible for a category being invited to apply through general or program-specific rounds.
How we choose and report on categories
We choose categories based on:
- labour market information and projections
- input we received from our partners, including provinces and territories, and stakeholders across the country
Each year, we’ll report to Parliament on:
- the categories we chose the previous year
- why and how we chose them
- the instructions to establish a category
- the number of invitations we 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's eligible for each category
To be eligible for an invitation through a category-based round, you must:
- meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry, including being eligible for 1 of the 3 immigration programs it covers, and
- 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
