Taking effect from February 2025, the IRCC added education as a category of Express Entry, giving teachers, early childhood educators and special needs instructors a more direct path to permanent residence.
In line with Canada’s new immigration strategy, the changes reflect broader policy updates focussing on labour market shortages and prioritising temporary residents already in Canada and French-speaking applicants.
“By addressing labour shortages, strengthening our economy and increasing Francophone immigration, we are building a more dynamic workforce with workers and professionals from in-demand fields,” said immigration minister Marc Miller.
Express Entry is Canada’s flagship system for those seeking permanent residence, with candidates ranked using a points-based system awarding points for factors such as education, work experience, language proficiency and job offers.
The update places a stronger emphasis on those with Canadian work experience, which the government said would help employers retain skilled workers and support a smoother integration for newcomers.
The measures are in line with the priorities of Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan, focussing on temporary residents already in Canada and labour market shortages in areas including healthcare and education.
It is my fervent hope that the government continues to recognise the dedication and hard work early childhood educators put in to serve Canadian families
Camille Yacaba, Humber Polytechnic student
In November 2024, immigration minister Marc Miller announced that 40% of permanent residents would come from the pool of people already in Canada, as he stressed the need to “focus on those that are already here”.
While STEM fields were a focus of last year’s Express Entry categories, many of these have been removed from this year’s targeted category-based draws, along with transport and agriculture occupations.
Professionals in these fields will now have to go through general Express Entry draws or Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) to immigrate to Canada.
The inclusion of education as an Express Entry category for the first time follows it being added to the list of PGWP eligible programs, giving international students studying in education-related fields a more direct path to obtaining a work permit.
Camille Yacaba, a Filipina student in early childhood education at Humber Polytechnic, said the PGWP changes were a “huge relief” amid the uncertainty of IRCC policies making it more difficult for international students to stay in Canada.
She welcomed the Express Entry updates as a “sign that early childhood education is starting to be recognised as an important profession”.
“It is my fervent hope that the government continues to recognise and appreciate the dedication and hard work early childhood educators put in to serve Canadian children and their families,” said Yacaba.
In line with the government’s target for 8.5% of new immigrants to be French speaking, the Express Entry changes also prioritise French language proficiency to continue increasing Francophone immigration outside Quebec.
