Afshin Yazdani, LL.M, M.L, LL.B
President, Barrister and Solicitor
Since its establishment in 1994, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (the IRCC) repeatedly change its policies and rules without previous warning. The IRCC is a department of the Government of Canada with responsibility for matters dealing with immigration and refugee and citizenship matters. To be clear, the Government of Canada is the agency responsible for the federal administration of Canada.
The IRCC just announced a new targeted Express Entry draws in 2023 implementation with category-based selection for Canada permanent residency (PR) aiming to address labour shortages by targeting candidates with work experience in key fields: healthcare, STEM professions, trades, transport, and agriculture.
In category-based rounds of invitations, for the year 2023, the IRCC invites candidates who are eligible for a specific category:
1. French-language proficiency
2. Healthcare occupations
3. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
4. Trade occupations
5. Transport occupations
6. Agriculture and agri-food occupations
How does The Express Entry work?
The IRCC ranks Express Entry candidates in the pool using a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). About every 2 weeks, the IRCC invites the top candidates in the pool to apply for permanent residence during rounds of invitations.
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is the points-based system the IRCC uses to assess and score candidates’ profiles and rank them in the Express Entry pool.
The points candidates get from the CRS include a core set of points up to 600 and a set of additional points of up to 600. Their total score will be out of 1,200.
Core: Up to 600 points
1. Skills and experience factors
2. Spouses or common-law partner factors, such as their language skills and education
3. Skills transferability, including education and work experience
Additional: Up to 600 points
1. Canadian degrees, diplomas or certificates
2. a valid job offer
3. a nomination from a province or territory
4. a brother or sister living in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident
5. strong French language skills
Core points + Additional points = your total score
Note that to get points from the CRS for a job offer in Express Entry, A Canadian employer will usually need to get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before offering the job to a foreign nation. Candidates in Express Entry Pool can get additional points for their job offers if their Canadian employers have offered them a full-time, non-seasonal job for one year or more, and importantly either that job offer is supported by an LMIA, OR the job is exempt from needing an LMIA but the workers are in Canada under work permit.
Selected Occupations for 2023
[1] Eligibility for the French-language proficiency category
To be eligible, candidates must have TEF Canada or TCF Canada that show a minimum score of 7 out of 12 in all 4 language abilities.
[2] Eligibility for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations category
To be eligible, Candidate must have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of continuous work experience (in Canada or abroad) in a single occupation listed in one of the following 24 occupations:
1. architects
2. architecture and science manager
3. business system specialists
4. civil engineers
5. computer and information systems manager
6. computer engineering (except software and designers)
7. computer system developers
8. cybersecurity specialist
9. data scientists
10. database analysts and administrators
11. other listed occupations under NOC 21
[3] Eligibility for the trade occupations category
To be eligible, Candidate must have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of continuous work experience (in Canada or abroad) in a single occupation listed in one of the following 10 occupations:
12. residential and commercial installer or services
13. elevator constructors and mechanics
14. machine fitters
15. heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning mechanics
16. carpenters
17. Plumbers
18. Electricians
19. Welders
20. Contractors and supervisors
21. Other listed occupations under NOC 72
[4] Eligibility for the healthcare occupations category
To be eligible, Candidate must have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of continuous work experience (in Canada or abroad) in a single occupation listed in one of the following 35 occupations:
22. audiologists and speech-language pathologists
23. chiropractors
24. dentists
25. dietitian and nutritionists
26. education counsellors
27. family and general practitioners
28. instructors of persons with disabilities
29. kinesiologists and therapy
30. licensed nurses
31. massage therapists
32. other listed mainly under NOC 31 or 32, 41
[5] Eligibility for the transport occupations category
To be eligible, Candidate must have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of continuous work experience (in Canada or abroad) in a single occupation listed in one of the following 10 occupations:
33. aircraft assemblers and inspectors
34. truck drivers
35. railway and marine traffic controller and regulators
36. deck officer
37. air pilots and flight engineers and flying instructors
38. aircraft mechanics and inspectors
39. managers in transportations
40. railway Carmen
41. other listed occupations under NOC 70, 72, 73, 93
[6] Eligibility for the agriculture and agri-food occupations category
To be eligible, Candidate must have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 6 months of continuous work experience (in Canada or abroad) in a single occupation listed in one of the following 3 occupations:
42. contractors and supervisors, landscaping under NOC 82031
43. farm supervisors under NOC 82030
44. butchers (retail and wholesale) under NOC 63201
Tips
1. it is very important to be inside the express entry pool under only one of these listed occupations, therefore if candidates are in Canada under a different NOC, they must either have a minimum of 6 months of work experience abroad in of these eligible occupations, or you must change their job.
2. No Program Specified, which means selection criteria apply to all candidates from the Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades and Provincial Nominee Program.
3. in this listed occupation candidates must have a minimum of 6-month work experience (Canadian or overseas) within the past 3 years.
4. for the French language category, there are no specific occupation requirements.
5. The list of selected eligible occupations is for the year 2023, and changes for following years as of Canadian labour market needs.