There are multiple programs, scoring systems, and government requirements. This guide describes the general stages of one common path, Express Entry, in plain terms. It's general information, not a personalized assessment of your case, and it's not a substitute for a consultation with Irshad Osman, RCIC-IRB.
Every immigration journey begins with a structured eligibility review, evaluated against official IRCC criteria.
This step determines whether the published minimum eligibility requirements are met, and what needs to happen before moving forward.
Once eligibility and ranking potential are reviewed, a personalized strategy is developed.
Immigration isn't one-size-fits-all. Selecting the right pathway before submission matters.
As a licensed representative, ZIMMR prepares and submits your Express Entry profile on your behalf.
Once submitted, your profile enters the Express Entry pool and receives a CRS score.
IRCC conducts regular Express Entry draws. If your CRS score meets the cut-off for a draw, you receive an Invitation to Apply.
Timelines are strict once an ITA arrives, and preparation has to be precise.
After an ITA, the complete permanent residence application must be submitted within the required timeframe.
Accuracy and consistency at this stage matter. Even minor errors can cause delays.
Once submitted, IRCC reviews the application. Timelines and outcomes are set by IRCC, not by ZIMMR.
ZIMMR continues to guide clients through final steps, including landing preparation, if the application proceeds to that stage.
Qualifying for one of the three Express Entry programs puts a candidate in the pool. It does not, on its own, produce an invitation. Rounds of invitations are run against the pool, and many of them are category-based: IRCC names a category, then invites the highest-ranking candidates in the pool who are eligible for it.
That means two candidates with the same score can have very different prospects, because one of them holds twelve months of experience in an occupation on a category list and the other does not. It is the part of Express Entry least reflected in older guides.
The categories were overhauled in February 2026 and the occupation lists were rewritten with them. The STEM category in particular is much narrower than it once was: it no longer includes software engineers, software developers, data scientists, computer engineers or web developers. Guides written before 2026 — and most third-party category checkers — still show the old lists.
The only category based on language rather than occupation. No job list applies — it turns on French test results.
The largest category by occupation count, spanning physicians and nurses through to technologists, assistants and social services roles.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 31100 | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 1 |
| 31101 | Specialists in surgery | 1 |
| 31102 | General practitioners and family physicians | 1 |
| 31103 | Veterinarians | 1 |
| 31110 | Dentists | 1 |
| 31111 | Optometrists | 1 |
| 31112 | Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 1 |
| 31120 | Pharmacists | 1 |
| 31121 | Dietitians and nutritionists | 1 |
| 31200 | Psychologists | 1 |
| 31201 | Chiropractors | 1 |
| 31202 | Physiotherapists | 1 |
| 31203 | Occupational therapists | 1 |
| 31209 | Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 1 |
| 31300 | Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 1 |
| 31301 | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 1 |
| 31302 | Nurse practitioners | 1 |
| 31303 | Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 1 |
| 32101 | Licensed practical nurses | 2 |
| 32102 | Paramedical occupations | 2 |
| 32103 | Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 2 |
| 32104 | Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 2 |
| 32109 | Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 2 |
| 32111 | Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 2 |
| 32120 | Medical laboratory technologists | 2 |
| 32121 | Medical radiation technologists | 2 |
| 32122 | Medical sonographers | 2 |
| 32123 | Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 2 |
| 32124 | Pharmacy technicians | 2 |
| 32129 | Other medical technologists and technicians | 2 |
| 32201 | Massage therapists | 2 |
| 33101 | Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 3 |
| 33102 | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 3 |
| 33103 | Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 3 |
| 41300 | Social workers | 1 |
| 41301 | Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 1 |
| 42201 | Social and community service workers | 2 |
Much narrower than its name suggests. It is built around engineering and engineering technology — not software.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 20011 | Architecture and science managers | 0 |
| 21220 | Cybersecurity specialists | 1 |
| 21300 | Civil engineers | 1 |
| 21301 | Mechanical engineers | 1 |
| 21310 | Electrical and electronics engineers | 1 |
| 21321 | Industrial and manufacturing engineers | 1 |
| 21331 | Geological engineers | 1 |
| 22300 | Civil engineering technologists and technicians | 2 |
| 22301 | Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians | 2 |
| 22310 | Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians | 2 |
| 63100 | Insurance agents and brokers | 3 |
Construction and skilled trades, plus the management roles that run them.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 22303 | Construction estimators | 2 |
| 63201 | Butchers — retail and wholesale | 3 |
| 70010 | Construction managers | 0 |
| 70011 | Home building and renovation managers | 0 |
| 72100 | Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors | 2 |
| 72102 | Sheet metal workers | 2 |
| 72106 | Welders and related machine operators | 2 |
| 72200 | Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 2 |
| 72201 | Industrial electricians | 2 |
| 72300 | Plumbers | 2 |
| 72302 | Gas fitters | 2 |
| 72310 | Carpenters | 2 |
| 72311 | Cabinetmakers | 2 |
| 72320 | Bricklayers | 2 |
| 72400 | Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 2 |
| 72401 | Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 2 |
| 72402 | Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 2 |
| 72422 | Electrical mechanics | 2 |
| 72501 | Water well drillers | 2 |
| 72999 | Other technical trades and related occupations | 2 |
| 73100 | Concrete finishers | 3 |
| 73110 | Roofers and shinglers | 3 |
| 73112 | Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) | 3 |
| 73113 | Floor covering installers | 3 |
| 82021 | Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services | 2 |
School teaching and early childhood education. Post-secondary teaching sits in the researchers category instead.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 41220 | Secondary school teachers | 1 |
| 41221 | Elementary school and kindergarten teachers | 1 |
| 42202 | Early childhood educators and assistants | 2 |
| 42203 | Instructors of persons with disabilities | 2 |
| 43100 | Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants | 3 |
A short list weighted towards aviation, plus vehicle mechanics.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 22313 | Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors | 2 |
| 72404 | Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 2 |
| 72410 | Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers | 2 |
| 72600 | Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors | 2 |
The same three physician occupations as the healthcare category, but the experience must have been gained in Canada.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 31100 | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 1 |
| 31101 | Specialists in surgery | 1 |
| 31102 | General practitioners and family physicians | 1 |
The four TEER 0 senior management occupations, with Canadian experience required.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 00012 | Senior managers — financial, communications and other business services | 0 |
| 00013 | Senior managers — health, education, social and community services and membership organizations | 0 |
| 00014 | Senior managers — trade, broadcasting and other services | 0 |
| 00015 | Senior managers — construction, transportation, production and utilities | 0 |
University teaching and research roles, with Canadian experience required.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 41200 | University professors and lecturers | 1 |
| 41201 | Post-secondary teaching and research assistants | 1 |
A narrow route tied to the Canadian Armed Forces' Foreign Skilled Military Applicant process, not to ordinary work experience.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 40042 | Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces | 0 |
| 42102 | Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces | 2 |
| 43204 | Operations members of the Canadian Armed Forces | 3 |
Being eligible for a category does not mean an invitation will follow. Candidates must first qualify for one of the three Express Entry programs to enter the pool at all, and category-based rounds still invite by ranking. IRCC sets and changes these categories, and the occupation lists are revised — check the IRCC page linked here for the version in force on the day you apply. ZIMMR does not publish target scores or predict rounds.
Reproduced from IRCC's published criteria. IRCC page last modified 22 June 2026; checked against the source on 12 September 2026.
Category-based selection on canada.caGeneral information. Which program fits your situation is a consultation question.
September 12, 2026
Most Express Entry rounds now invite by category, not score alone. The ten categories, what each asks for, and why a high CRS score is no longer enough.
ReadSeptember 12, 2026
Your NOC code decides which Express Entry programs and categories apply to you. It is assigned on duties, not job titles — which is where most people go wrong.
ReadSeptember 12, 2026
Express Entry's French-language category turns on NCLC 7 in all four abilities, not occupation. How it works, and how it differs from CRS points for French.
ReadUnderstanding the general process is one thing. Applying it to your specific situation is what a consultation with the RCIC-IRB is for.