Category-based selections gave people a chance to receive an invitation who aren’t competitive in general draws. But being eligible for a category is not the same as getting an invitation: IRCC may not conduct a draw at all, CRS remains important, and eligibility itself can expire before the next draw happens.
Having a category doesn’t guarantee a draw
The main misconception: if your profession is on the category-based list, it doesn’t mean IRCC will conduct a draw for that category. STEM has been part of Express Entry since 2023 and remains on the list in 2026, but the last STEM draw was in 2024. IRCC explains that it sees no point in conducting category-based draws if enough eligible candidates have already received invitations through other types of draws.
It’s not recommended to build your entire immigration strategy around waiting for a category-based draw, especially if the history shows it may not happen. This doesn’t mean you should abandon pursuing a category—it’s about being informed. Look at the data, assess the risks, make decisions based on facts, not hope.
CRS score remains critical
When a candidate enters a category-based draw, they are ranked by CRS, just like in regular draws. Category-based draws do often have lower cut-off scores than, for example, Canadian Experience Class. But this doesn’t mean the cut-off score for your category will be low or that it will drop in the next draw.
The cut-off score depends on how many people qualify for the category, what their scores are, and how many invitations IRCC decides to issue. If you’re eligible for a category but your CRS is much lower than the last cut-off score for that category, don’t assume the next draw will be low enough for you.
Not all categories conduct draws regularly
The frequency of draws varies. Canadian Experience Class may have draws every couple of weeks, while draws for individual professional categories happen much less frequently. In healthcare since early October 2026, there have been only three draws per year. The last one took place on September 4th, and it’s unclear when the next will be—it could be next week or months away.
This is especially critical if you’re already in Canada and your work permit is approaching expiration. If you’re planning to simply wait for the next draw, you need to have a Plan B: improve your language scores, become eligible for CEC, explore the Provincial Nominee Program, or find a way to extend your stay. Relying solely on IRCC’s schedule is risky.
Categories and profession lists change
Category-based selection was designed to help IRCC respond to changing needs of Canada’s labor market. The list of categories and the professions within them are not set in stone.
When STEM was introduced, it included various IT professions, but many were subsequently removed. You might hear that STEM is still a category and you work in IT, but your specific NOC code may no longer be on the list. You need to check both the existence of the category itself and whether your profession is on the current list. Don’t assume that a profession eligible today will remain eligible by the next draw.
Eligibility has an expiration date
It’s important to understand work experience requirements and the time window for eligibility, which may differ from the immigration program you fall under. In 2026, IRCC increased the required work experience from 6 months to 12 months within the last 3 years.
For the STEM category, you need a minimum of 12 months of qualifying work experience in one profession within the last 3 years. The experience doesn’t need to be continuous and can be obtained in Canada or abroad. But here’s the key: work experience can fall outside the three-year window. Someone who was eligible when entering the Express Entry pool may become ineligible over the course of their 12-month profile. If you’re no longer working in that profession, you need to track this continuously.
Clarity on which profession makes you eligible, the dates you worked in it, and when your experience will no longer meet category requirements is essential. The last thing you need is to discover you’re no longer eligible when a draw finally happens.
Strategy: category plus a Plan B
Category-based selections are indeed valuable for those who don’t qualify for Canadian Experience Class or have a non-competitive CRS. But there’s a difference between two approaches: ‘I’m eligible for a category and will improve my CRS while exploring other options’ and ‘I’m eligible, I’ll just wait for a draw’.
The second approach gives you minimal control. When assessing your chances, consider the full picture: what is your CRS, which Express Entry programs are available to you, are you eligible for a category, how long will that eligibility last, what is the history of that category, what else can be done to improve your chances. Category-based selections can be an excellent tool, but don’t make them your only strategy if trends don’t support that approach.
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