Canada holds education-focused Express Entry draw, invites 1,000 PR applicants

On May 1, 2025, Canada created history by hosting its inaugural Express Entry draw that specifically catered to the education field, issuing 1,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence. This first milestone, conducted by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), is evidence of Canada's attempt to synchronize its immigration framework with urgent labour market needs, as per a report by The Economic Times.

Launched in February 2025, the education category is a new entry to the Express Entry system, which manages skilled immigration applications. The category will seek to attract experienced teachers to fill teacher shortages across Canada.

Addressing teacher shortages

Canada's public education system experiences acute shortages of trained teachers, early childhood educators, and education administrators. Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta provinces have pinpointed the pressing need for foreign talent to address growing student populations, particularly in rural and underrepresented communities.

Eligibility criteria

Invited candidates in the May 1 draw were expected to possess relevant academic qualifications, language skills, and professional backgrounds in major education disciplines, such as:

• Teaching elementary and secondary schools
• Early childhood education
• Special needs education
• Educational administration and policy development

Although the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this draw hasn't been released, initial reports indicate it was lower than usual general draws due to the strong demand for education professionals, according to the report.