Maple News reports that as of February 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has implemented significant updates to its Express Entry system, broadening eligibility for professionals in healthcare and social services. These changes aim to better align immigration policies with Canada’s labour market needs and to attract skilled workers who can ease shortages in critical sectors.
The most notable update includes the integration of social service occupations into the existing healthcare category for category-based draws. This means that professionals such as social workers, community service workers, dental hygienists, and pharmacists now have improved access to permanent residence pathways through Express Entry.
Under the revised National Occupation Classification (NOC) criteria, applicants must have at least six months of full-time, continuous work experience—or the part-time equivalent—within one of the eligible occupations in the past three years. This criterion remains a key eligibility standard for category-based invitations.
More than 35 occupations now qualify under the updated Healthcare and Social Services category. Newly added roles include social workers (NOC 41300), social and community service workers (NOC 42201), pharmacists (NOC 31120), dental hygienists and therapists (NOC 32111), pharmacy technicians (NOC 32124), and cardiology technologists (NOC 32123). These roles join a broad spectrum of other healthcare professionals such as licensed nurses, physicians, psychologists, and medical technologists.
The revised category aims to streamline Canada’s immigration intake by focusing on candidates with in-demand job skills, thereby accelerating the integration of essential workers into the Canadian workforce. Healthcare and social services continue to be high-priority sectors due to aging demographics, pandemic recovery demands, and regional shortages.
According to IRCC, category-based draws allow the government to issue Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with expertise in sectors currently facing labour shortages. By targeting specific NOC codes, the system ensures that immigration matches socio-economic needs more effectively.
These strategic changes were announced alongside the introduction of a new Education category and the removal of the Transport category, indicating a dynamic and responsive immigration framework. Candidates in eligible occupations are encouraged to create or update their Express Entry profiles to improve their chances of being invited to apply for permanent residence.
Maple News encourages prospective applicants to verify their NOC codes and assess their experience against the new eligibility criteria, ensuring they don’t miss out on this pivotal immigration opportunity.