Canada is giving priority to French speakers and individuals with specific work experience in selected sectors and occupations for permanent residence (PR) through Express Entry’s category-based selection (CBS).
To be eligible for a priority occupational category, you need to have six months of full-time, continuous work experience in a single eligible occupation within the last three years (in Canada or abroad). The French-language proficiency category requires a NCLC level 7 across all language abilities.
Qualifying for category-based draws is beneficial for obtaining PR, as these draws usually have lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cutoffs.
Express Entry Categories
| Category | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| French-language proficiency | NCLC level 7 |
| Healthcare and social services | 37 occupations |
| Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) | 11 occupations |
| Trade | 25 occupations |
| Agriculture and agri-food occupations | 1 occupation |
| Education | 5 occupations |
| *Physicians with Canadian work experience | 3 occupations |
*The “Physicians with Canadian work experience” category introduced in December 2025 requires candidates to have one year of work experience in an eligible occupation accumulated in Canada.
Checking Eligibility
You can assess your eligibility for Canada’s priority PR categories using the CanadaVisa+ online tool, available on desktop or mobile through any web browser. Simply visit the tool, click “Get started,” and complete the assessment form.