On February 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced significant updates to the Express Entry system. These changes impact who is eligible for category-based draws, which occupations are prioritized, and which ones have been removed.
If you are planning to immigrate to Canada in 2025 through Express Entry, these updates may affect your eligibility and chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Key Express Entry Changes for 2025
The following are the most significant changes:
1. Introduction of the new Education category – A new category prioritizing educators and teaching professionals.
2. Removal of the Transport category – Transport workers will no longer receive category-based ITAs.
3. Updates to existing categories – Significant additions and removals in Healthcare, STEM, and Trades.
4. New priority categories for Express Entry draws – Four categories will receive the most invitations in 2025.
2025 Priority Express Entry Categories
For 2025, IRCC has selected four categories that will receive priority in Express Entry draws:
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and Social Services occupations
- Trades occupations
- Education occupations (New in 2025)
Other categories, such as STEM and Agriculture, remain but will not be prioritized for category-based draws.
Introduction of the Education Category
The Education category has been introduced to address labor shortages in Canada’s teaching and childcare sectors.
Occupations that now qualify under this category:
- Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (NOC 43100)
- Instructors of persons with disabilities (NOC 42203)
- Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202)
- Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (NOC 41221)
- Secondary school teachers (NOC 41220)
Removal of the Transport Category
The Transport category has been removed from Express Entry in 2025. This means that occupations such as truck drivers, bus drivers, and other transportation workers will no longer receive category-based invitations through Express Entry.
If you were previously eligible under the Transport category, you may need to explore other pathways, such as:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Changes to Existing Express Entry Categories
Healthcare and Social Services
Canada continues to prioritize healthcare workers, but some occupations have been added, while others have been removed.
New occupations added to this category:
- Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (NOC 32104)
- Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists (NOC 32123)
- Dental hygienists and dental therapists (NOC 32111)
- Other medical technologists and technicians (NOC 32129)
- Pharmacists (NOC 31120)
- Pharmacy technicians (NOC 32124)
- Social and community service workers (NOC 42201)
- Social workers (NOC 41300)
Occupations removed from this category:
- Educational counsellors (NOC 41320)
- Instructors of persons with disabilities (NOC 42203)
- Kinesiologists and other professional therapy occupations (NOC 31204)
- Other assisting occupations in health services (NOC 33109)
- Other practitioners of natural healing (NOC 32209)
- Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists (NOC 32200)
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
The STEM category has seen significant removals, with fewer occupations now being prioritized.
New occupations added to this category:
- Civil engineering technologists and technicians (NOC 22300)
- Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (NOC 22310)
- Geological Engineers (NOC 21331)
- Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians (NOC 22301)
- Mechanical Engineers (NOC 21301)
- Insurance agents and brokers (NOC 63100)
Occupations removed from this category:
- Architects (NOC 21200)
- Software developers and programmers (NOC 21232)
- Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) (NOC 21311)
- Software engineers and designers (NOC 21231)
- Data scientists (NOC 21211)
- Mathematicians, statisticians, and actuaries (NOC 21210)
- Urban and land use planners (NOC 21202)
- Web designers and developers (NOC 21234)
Trades Occupations
The Trades category has been expanded in 2025, with 19 new occupations added and 4 occupations removed.
New occupations added to this category:
- Bricklayers (NOC 72320)
- Cabinetmakers (NOC 72311)
- Gas fitters (NOC 72302)
- Industrial electricians (NOC 72201)
- Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 72401)
- Home building and renovation managers (NOC 70011)
- Construction managers (NOC 70010)
Occupations removed from this category:
- Residential and commercial installers (NOC 73200)
- Elevator constructors and mechanics (NOC 72406)
- Machine fitters (NOC 72405)
- Contractors and supervisors (various trades) (NOC 72014)
Final Thoughts: How This Affects Express Entry Applicants
- If you work in Education, you now have a better chance of immigrating to Canada.
- Healthcare and Social Services occupations are still in demand, but some roles have been removed.
- Certain STEM professions (such as software engineering and architecture) may need to explore alternative pathways.
- Trades workers now have more options with several skilled jobs added to the Express Entry system.
Next Steps
If you want to check your eligibility for Express Entry under the 2025 categories, contact our team today for an assessment and consultation.
Need expert immigration advice? Visit Sela Immigration Services to get started!