Canada Announces Second STEM-Targeted Express Entry Draw

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted its second dedicated Express Entry draw for skilled workers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields on 8^th December 2023. In this draw, 5,900 invitations to apply for permanent residency were issued, targeting individuals with work experience in 24 specific occupations deemed vital to Canada’s economic growth.

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score cutoff for this draw was 481, marking a 5-point decrease compared to the inaugural STEM-focused draw held in July. This reduction reflects IRCC’s ongoing efforts to attract and retain top talent in critical STEM fields where labor shortages persist.

Key Details of the December 8th STEM Express Entry Draw:

• Category: STEM occupations
• Number of Invitations Issued: 5,900
• CRS Score Cutoff: 481
• Date and Time: December 8, 2023, at 03:02:52 UTC
• Tie-Breaking Rule: November 25, 2023, at 09:48:36 UTC
• IRCC’s Commitment to Skilled Immigration:

This week, IRCC has issued a total of 11,650 invitations to apply for permanent residency through three Express Entry draws. This includes 1,000 invitations issued on December 7th in a French-focused draw and another 4,750 invitations issued on December 6th in a general draw. These actions demonstrate the government’s commitment to welcoming skilled newcomers who can contribute to Canada’s economic prosperity.

List of Eligible STEM Occupations:

A complete list of the 24 STEM occupations targeted in today’s draw is provided below:

NOC Code          Occupation

• 20010   Engineering managers
• 20011   Architecture and science managers
• 20012   Computer and information systems managers
• 21200   Architects
• 21201   Landscape architects
• 21202   Urban and land use planners
• 21203   Land surveyors
• 21210   Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
• 21211   Data scientists
• 21220   Cybersecurity specialists
• 21221   Business systems specialists
• 21222   Information systems specialists
• 21223   Database analysts and data administrators
• 21230   Computer systems developers and programmers
• 21231   Software engineers and designers
• 21232   Software developers and programmers
• 21233   Web designers
• 21234   Web developers and programmers
• 21300   Civil engineers
• 21310   Electrical and electronics engineers
• 21311   Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
• 21321   Industrial and manufacturing engineers
• 21322   Metallurgical and materials engineers
• 41400   Natural and applied science policy researchers, consultants and program officers

Next Steps for Candidates:

Individuals who received an invitation to apply in today’s draw will receive instructions on how to submit their application for permanent residency. They will have 90 days to complete and submit their application.