Canada still has a STEM category in Express Entry, but IRCC has not held a STEM-only draw since April 11, 2024. Most STEM workers now get PR through the Canadian Experience Class, French-language draws or a provincial nomination. Build your plan around those routes, and treat the STEM pool as a bonus.

Can you still immigrate to Canada as a STEM professional?

Yes, you can. Canada still invites engineers, technologists and tech workers every year, just not through STEM-only draws right now.

We know this is frustrating. Many of you prepared for a STEM draw that never came. The good news is that the other routes are open, and they are moving.

What is the Express Entry STEM category in 2026?

The STEM category is a set of targeted Express Entry draws for workers in 11 science, technology, engineering and math occupations. IRCC renewed it for 2026 and raised the work experience rule to 12 months in the last 3 years, up from 6 months in 2025.

Your 12 months can be in Canada or abroad. It does not need to be continuous. You also need to qualify for an Express Entry program, usually the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class.

Which STEM occupations qualify in 2026?

Only 11 occupations qualify for the STEM category in 2026. The list is much shorter than it was in 2023 and 2024, so check your code before you plan around it.

Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), 2026 category list.

Software developers, programmers, data scientists, computer engineers, web developers and database analysts are not on the current list. If that is you, skip straight to the routes below. They work for tech workers too.

When was the last STEM Express Entry draw?

The last STEM draw was held on April 11, 2024. It invited 4,500 candidates with a CRS score of 491 or higher.

IRCC has not held a STEM-only round since then, and it publishes no draw schedule. You can track every new round in our Express Entry draws 2026 tracker.

How do STEM workers get PR while STEM draws are paused?

You get PR through the routes that are still running. Your profile is checked for every round you qualify for, so these do not cancel your STEM chances.

• Canadian Experience Class: 12 months of skilled work in Canada qualifies you for CEC rounds, which IRCC holds often.
• French-language draws: French at NCLC 7 or higher opens a category with some of the lowest cut-offs. It also adds up to 50 CRS points.
• Provincial nomination: Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta run streams or draws for tech and engineering workers. A nomination adds 600 CRS points. See our PNP for skilled workers guide.
• A higher CRS score: a language retest, an ECA or your spouse’s points can move you into general rounds. Try our CRS score calculator.
• The STEM pool: if a STEM round returns, your profile is already in place.

We break down each route, with the full eligibility rules, on our STEM Express Entry service page.

How to immigrate to Canada as a STEM professional, step by step

Follow these steps in order. Each one saves you money on the next.

1. Step 1: Confirm your NOC code. Match your real duties, not your job title, to one of the 11 STEM codes or another skilled code.
2. Step 2: Take a language test. Book IELTS General, CELPIP General or PTE Core for English, or TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French. Aim for CLB 9 if you can.
3. Step 3: Get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). You need one for a degree or diploma from outside Canada if you apply under the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
4. Step 4: Create your Express Entry profile. Check it line by line. A wrong NOC code or date can cost you your invitation later.
5. Step 5: Start a backup route. Apply to a provincial stream, or start French classes, while you wait in the pool.
6. Step 6: Accept your Invitation to Apply (ITA). You have 60 days to submit a complete PR application.
7. Step 7: Submit your documents. Send reference letters, police certificates, a medical exam, proof of funds if needed and your fees. IRCC aims to process most complete applications within 6 months.

Not sure where you stand? Answer 7 questions in our Express Entry eligibility checker.

Frequently asked questions about immigrating to Canada as a STEM professional

Are software developers eligible for the STEM category in 2026?

No. Software developers, programmers and data scientists are not on the 2026 STEM list. You can still get PR through CEC, French-language or general draws, or through a provincial tech stream.

How much work experience do I need for the STEM category?

You need 12 months of full-time work, or the same amount part-time, in one of the 11 STEM occupations within the last 3 years. It does not need to be continuous.

Does work experience outside Canada count?

Yes. For the STEM category, your 12 months can be in Canada or abroad. Canadian experience also qualifies you for the Canadian Experience Class and earns more CRS points.

Can I combine part-time work to meet the requirement?

Yes. IRCC counts 30 hours a week for 12 months, or 1,560 hours, as one year of full-time work. Part-time hours that add up to 1,560 count the same way.

What if my job is related to STEM but not on the list?

You can still apply through Express Entry if your job is skilled (TEER 0 to 3). You just compete in CEC, French or general rounds, or through a provincial nomination, instead of STEM rounds.

Do I need a job offer to immigrate as a STEM professional?

No. A job offer is not required for an invitation. Since March 25, 2025, a job offer also no longer adds CRS points.

How long does it take to get PR after an invitation?

You have 60 days to submit your application after an ITA. IRCC aims to process most complete Express Entry applications within 6 months.

Get your STEM immigration plan

Waiting for a STEM draw is not a plan. In a 30-minute session, we map your fastest route and give you a written plan you keep. Book a Strategy Consultation.

Amir Ismail is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC R412319) who has been associated with the immigration consulting industry since 1991.