There are a number of ways that a person may be able to immigrate permanently to Canada. The most common is what is referred to as ‘Express Entry’. This is an umbrella grouping for some underlying programs, notably Federal Skilled Workers (FSW; based on points awarded for certain characteristics), Canadian Experience Class (CEC; based primarily on a work history in Canada), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP; similar to FSW, but for trades). Without going into full details, these are some of the primary programs to secure permanent residence in Canada, though there are others through provincial nomination, etc.
Under the Express Entry system, applications are ranked, and there are regular draws – usually every two weeks – where selections are made. Sometimes these draws are open to people in any category. Sometimes they are program specific, e.g., CEC only.
Today, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that they will start selecting permanent resident applicants in some draws based on specific categories. This is designed to address targeted issues, including labour shortages in particular fields. IRCC has indicated that designated categories from which they will choose, include people with/in:
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare occupations
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
- Trade occupations
- Transport occupations
- Agriculture and agri-food occupations
They have also indicated that they will announce in advance any particular category-based draw.
Certainly, there are specific criteria within each category, and this must be considered. For instance, within healthcare occupations, there are designated National Occupational Classifications (NOC) classifications which qualify, so anything outside those qualifications, would not.
Further details on the program can be seen at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/submit-profile/rounds-invitations/category-based-selection.html.
This may be something to consider in planning a prospective permanent residence application, both from the point of view of the immigrant/applicant, as well as from the point of view of a prospective employer.
Please consult immigration counsel about details before making any such application.
The information in this article is for general purposes only, and not intended as legal advice for any particular situation.