These category-based draws operate alongside other Express Entry draw types conducted by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This includes general Express Entry draws that consider candidates across all three Express Entry programs, as well as program-specific draws that target applicants eligible under a particular Express Entry-managed program.

No matter which draw type is conducted, IRCC always issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with the highest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores. In category-based and program-specific draws, this ranking process is combined with additional filters to select candidates who meet the specific criteria set for that particular draw.

To receive an ITA through a category-based draw, applicants must satisfy all eligibility requirements outlined by IRCC in the official ministerial instructions for that draw.

Currently, IRCC has identified six Express Entry categories:

• Healthcare and social services occupations

• Education occupations

• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) occupations

• Trade occupations

• Agriculture and agri-food occupations

• Candidates with strong French-language proficiency

Some of these have been identified as priority categories, meaning IRCC places greater emphasis on selecting candidates from these groups through category-based draws.

For the year 2025, the Express Entry priority categories are:

• Healthcare and social services occupations

• Trade occupations

• Education occupations

• Strong French-language proficiency

At Career Education Consultancy Australia (CECA), we assist applicants in understanding whether they fall under these categories and guide them through the Express Entry process based on current IRCC requirements.