Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) significantly updated its Express Entry system in 2025, particularly in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) category. These changes went on to renounce and validate demarcations for who qualifies to be in or out, thereby opening for some and closing for others.

Suppose you consider moving to Canada and have a technical or scientific field of experience under your belt. In that case, it is better to understand these changes: what they might mean as far as your chances for receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency go.

What’s New in the STEM Occupations List?

In February 2025, IRCC updated the list of eligible STEM occupations under category-based Express Entry draws. A total of 19 occupations were removed, while six new ones were added, resulting in a streamlined list of 11 eligible occupations.

Here’s an overview of the revised list:

• Architecture and Science Managers – NOC 20011
• Civil Engineers – NOC 21300
• Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians – NOC 22300
• Cybersecurity Specialists – NOC 21220
• Electrical and Electronics Engineers – NOC 21310
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians – NOC 22310
• Geological Engineers – NOC 21331
• Industrial and Manufacturing Engineers – NOC 21321
• Mechanical Engineers – NOC 21301
• Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians – NOC 22301
• Insurance Agents and Brokers – NOC 63100

Each of these roles falls under Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system, which aligns jobs with specific duties and responsibilities.

Understanding Your Eligibility

To qualify for the STEM-specific Express Entry stream, candidates must meet a few important criteria:

• Have at least six months of continuous full-time work experience (or a part-time equivalent) in the past three years in one of the listed occupations.
• Be eligible for one of the core Express Entry programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

In addition, your job experience must correspond to the tasks and responsibilities listed for your occupation’s NOC code.

How to Match Your Experience with the NOC System

Step 1: Search Your Job Title First, you need to go to the Government of Canada’s NOC portal and type in your title. You might have to find a somewhat different keyword or synonyms to get the nearest match.

Step 2: Verify Job Duties Once you identify the correct NOC code, examine the tasks associated with it. Your experience should mostly get the main responsibilities listed under the particular job for a good match.

Step 3: Cross-Check With the Updated STEM List If your NOC code appears on the updated list of STEM occupations, then you meet the occupational eligibility for this specific category-based draw.

What if you lost your job?

The STEM category no longer includes many of the previously qualifying occupations. Some of these are now roles such as architects, software developers, data scientists, and many more, leading to the IT and design fields. If you are in one of the occupations listed, you may need to consider other Express Entry categories or provincial nomination programs.

Why This Matters: The Advantage of Category-Based Draws

Compared to general or CEC draws, the categorical draws usually have lower Comprehensive Ranking System cut-off scores. To demonstrate, in 2024, the following comprised parts of these:

• General Draws: CRS cut-offs ranged from 524 to 549.
• CEC Draws: Cut-offs were between 507 and 547.
• STEM Draws: The lowest cut-off was 491, with over 4,500 invitations issued in one round alone.

The result means that even candidates with moderate CRS scores stand a better chance if their occupation is in demand under a targeted draw.

Final Thoughts

The evolution of Canada’s STEM pack under Express Entry emphasizes the importance of keeping pace with the changing face of immigration policy. But it is even more important now that one’s profile is up to date with the current requirements, since fewer occupations have been included, but to those, the chances are higher.

If your background matches one of the listed STEM occupations and you meet the basic Express Entry criteria, now might be an ideal time to prepare your application.

Want a personalized consultation on determining eligibility? If so, contact a licensed immigration consultant for professional advice based on your career profile.