If you’re an internationally trained professional working in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM), there’s an important update you should know about: Canada’s Express Entry STEM category has changed significantly in 2025.
In February, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated this category, removing 19 occupations and adding six new ones. This means that many foreign nationals who were previously eligible for a category-based draw no longer qualify—while others are now newly eligible.
Canada uses the Express Entry system to select skilled immigrants for permanent residence (PR). If you qualify under a specific category—like STEM—you may have a better chance of receiving an invitation to apply, especially if your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is not high enough for a general draw.
Who is now eligible under the STEM category?
As of 2025, the STEM category includes 11 occupations. Here are a few examples:
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Civil Engineers
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Mechanical Engineers
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Cybersecurity Specialists
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Geological Engineers
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Insurance Agents and Brokers
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Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical Technicians and Technologists
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Architecture and Science Managers
New job titles that were added include HVAC designers, tool and die designers, municipal engineering assistants, and electronics engineering technologists. Each job title is tied to a National Occupation Classification (NOC) code. It’s important to check if your work experience matches one of these eligible NOC codes.
Which jobs were removed?
Many popular tech roles were taken off the list in February 2025, including:
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Software Developers and Programmers
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Web Designers and Developers
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Data Scientists
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Computer Systems Analysts
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Engineering Managers
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Architects
If your job falls into one of these roles, you may need to explore other Express Entry options or categories.
How to check if you’re eligible
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Go to Canada’s official NOC website and search for your current or past job titles.
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Find the NOC code that most closely matches your work experience.
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Confirm you’ve worked in that role for at least six months full-time (or equivalent part-time) in the last three years.
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Compare your duties to those listed under the NOC. You must have performed most of the main duties for it to count.
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Finally, check if your NOC code appears in the updated list of STEM occupations.
If it does, and you meet the basic criteria for Express Entry (under the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, or Federal Skilled Trades Program), you may be eligible to be selected in a future STEM draw. These updates show how quickly immigration rules can change. If you’re working in a newly added field, now may be the best time to apply. Staying informed and understanding where your occupation stands can open the door to permanent residency in Canada.
For more help, visit www.canada.ca or speak to a licensed immigration consultant.
