Category-Based Selection: A Smarter Route to Canada PR

Category-Based Selection (CBS) was introduced in 2023 to meet the labour requirements in certain fields and to increase Francophone immigration in Canada. CBS improves the chance of receiving an ITA for candidates in eligible occupations or with French language proficiency in comparison to other draw types such as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws, which often have high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off scores.

The following are the current categories in Express Entry:

• Healthcare and social services
• French-language proficiency
• Trades
• Education
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
• Agriculture and agri-food
• Physicians with Canadian work experience

In 2025, 19 CBS Express Entry draws out of the total 58 Express Entry draws have been conducted. No draws have been conducted in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM); Agriculture and agri-food; or Physicians with Canadian work experience category in 2025.

To get an ITA in an Express Entry Category draw, the candidate should:

• Qualify for an Express Entry program
• Have at least six months (12 months for physicians with Canadian work experience) of eligible work experience in a listed occupation under the category
• Depending on the category, meet the French-language proficiency
• Meet all the rules and regulations

Category-Based Selection (CBS) Offers an Easier Route to PR—Know Why

The reasons why CBS is considered to be a more accessible path towards permanent residency (PR) are discussed in detail below.

Low CRS Cut-Off Score

The cut-off score of CBS draw is lower generally when compared to those of other Express Entry streams, such as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws. While candidates with the highest scores often get ITAs from IRCC, CBS targets a specific category of applicants; this increases the probability of receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) for those with even lower CRS scores. For instance, in 2025 the CEC draw cut-off scores were between 515 and 547, and for PNP draws the cut-off was between 699 and 855, whereas the cut-off scores for CBS in healthcare and social services were between 462 and 510, trades at 505, education between 462 and 479, and French-language proficiency between 379 and 481. 59% of all ITAs issued in 2025 were through CBS, reflecting the accessibility of PR through CBS.

Minimal Work Experience Requirements 

The work experience requirements CBS is only six months (can be gained in Canada or abroad) for a single qualifying National Occupational Classification (NOC) code within the last three years. This makes it more accessible for candidates with less work experience and even those with international experience to qualify for PR. Whereas to qualify for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), one year of Canadian work experience is required. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams are more restrictive with one or more years of work experience and a provincial nomination.

Priority Occupations and Language Requirements

CBS gives advantages not only to candidates with work experience in targeted occupations but also to those who want to switch their careers. Candidates transitioning to new careers require only six months of work experience in an eligible NOC in Canada or abroad. At present there are 79 unique eligible occupations, with 37 in healthcare and social services, 25 in trades, 11 in STEM, 5 in education, 1 in agriculture, and 3 in physicians with Canadian experience (these 3 are also eligible under the healthcare and social services category). French language category draws only require the language proficiency level of NCLC level 7, which is attainable for motivated learners.