How to Migrate to Canada in Category-Based Express Entry Draws for Health Professionals in 2025

Are you a healthcare professional aspiring to move to Canada? In 2025, Canada will be prioritizing Healthcare Occupations in its Express Entry program. Here’s a detailed guide on how health professionals can take advantage of this opportunity.

In category-based rounds of invitations, Canada invites candidates in the Express Entry pool who are eligible for a specific category established by the Minister to meet an identified economic goal. These draws specifically target skilled professionals in high-demand sectors, including healthcare. Canada invites candidates to apply for permanent residence based on criteria such as the ability to communicate in a specific official language, work experience in a specific occupation, and education. Category-based rounds add to general and program-specific rounds by inviting top-ranking candidates who can help meet these specific economic goals.

Candidates with a Provincial or Territorial Nomination

Canada will continue to invite candidates with a provincial or territorial nomination through general and Provincial Nominee Program-specific rounds. These candidates have demonstrated they have the skills, education, and work experience to contribute to the province or territory’s economy.

Categories Chosen for 2025

For 2025, Canada has chosen the following categories:

• French-language proficiency
• Healthcare occupations
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) occupations
• Trade occupations
• Transport occupations
• Agriculture and agri-food occupations

Who Is Eligible as a Health Professional?

To be eligible for a category-based draw as a health professional, you must meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry, including eligibility for one of the three covered immigration programs.

Eligibility for Healthcare Occupations Category:

To be eligible, you must:

• Accumulate at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience in a single occupation listed in the provided table.
• Have this experience within the past 3 years in Canada or abroad.
• Fulfill all requirements specified in the instructions for that round.

Occupations Included for Category-Based Draws for Health Professionals:

The following healthcare occupations are included in the category-based draws. To learn more about the specific requirements for each profession, please visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website: IRCC Healthcare Professions List.

• Medical sonographers
• Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates
• Nurse practitioners
• Nursing coordinators and supervisors
• Occupational therapists
• Optometrists
• Other assisting occupations in support of health services
• Other practitioners of natural healing
• Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
• Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
• Paramedical occupations
• Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
• Physician assistants, midwives, and allied health professionals
• Physiotherapists
• Psychologists
• Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
• Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists
• Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
• Specialists in surgery
• Therapists in counseling and related specialized therapies
• Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
• Veterinarians

Step-by-Step Guide: Creating Your Express Entry Profile

1. Show Your Interest: Create an online Express Entry profile in your IRCC Secure Account, highlighting your qualifications.
2. Placement in the Express Entry Pool: If eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class, or Canadian Experience Class, you will be placed in the Express Entry pool.
3. Check Your CRS Score: Your profile will be assigned a score in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Keep track of your score in your IRCC account.
4. Eligible Candidates Identified for Healthcare Occupations: Canada will identify eligible candidates for the Healthcare Occupations category based on their Express Entry profiles.
5. Ranking Your Express Entry Profile: Eligible candidates will be ranked based on their CRS scores, determining their position in the pool.
6. Category-Based Round of Invitations: Canada will conduct rounds of invitations specifically targeting healthcare professionals.
7. Apply for Permanent Residence: If invited, submit your application within 60 days for a specific program under Express Entry.
8. Decision on Your Application: A decision will be made based on program eligibility, profile accuracy, category eligibility, and admissibility.

So, if you are a health professional who has at least 6 months of full-time, paid, continuous work experience within the past 3 years, you may stand a good chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Permanent Residence under the Category-Based Express Entry Draws. The key here is to create your Express Entry Profile and be available in the pool of applicants as a potential candidate so that you may be considered for one of these special draws.

To learn about your immigration prospects and whether Canada is a good choice for you, please complete our free assessment form here: https://www.amirismail.com/free-immigration-assessment/

Amir Ismail is a Toronto-based licensed immigration adviser who has been assisting clients with their immigration and citizenship matters since 1991. Learn more about Mr. Ismail here: https://www.amirismail.com/amir-ismails-biography/

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