What this category means
The 2026 list targets selected management, cybersecurity, engineering, technical and insurance occupations.
Category eligibility comes after Express Entry eligibility
You must first qualify for the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program and have a valid Express Entry profile. A category does not replace those program rules.
Who may qualify
- Be eligible for at least one of the three federal programs managed by Express Entry.
- Have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool when IRCC holds the round.
- Meet every requirement in the ministerial instructions for that specific round.
- Within the 3 years before the round, have at least 12 months of full-time work experience—or an equal amount of part-time experience—in one listed occupation. The experience does not need to be continuous and may be gained in canada or abroad.
Eligible STEM occupations
Search the current 2026 list by official occupation title or 2021 NOC code. IRCC looks at the lead statement and actual main duties—not only a similar job title.
11 of 11 occupations shown
| Official occupation title | 2021 NOC | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture and science managers | 20011 | 0 |
| Cybersecurity specialists | 21220 | 1 |
| Civil engineers | 21300 | 1 |
| Mechanical engineers | 21301 | 1 |
| Electrical and electronics engineers | 21310 | 1 |
| Industrial and manufacturing engineers | 21321 | 1 |
| Geological engineers | 21331 | 1 |
| Civil engineering technologists and technicians | 22300 | 2 |
| Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians | 22301 | 2 |
| Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians | 22310 | 2 |
| Insurance agents and brokers | 63100 | 3 |
Current rules compared with the 2024 round
The April 2024 ministerial instructions cannot be used as the current eligibility test. IRCC has since changed both the work-experience rule and the occupation list.
| Factor | Current 2026 category page | Round #293 · April 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Work experience | At least 12 months within the past 3 years | At least 6 continuous months within the relevant 3-year period |
| Continuity | The 12 months do not need to be continuous | The qualifying 6 months had to be continuous |
| Occupation list | 11 listed 2021 NOC occupations | 24 occupations in STEM Version 1 |
| Location of work | Canada or abroad | Canada or abroad |
For a future round, the live IRCC category page and the ministerial instructions issued for that exact round will control. Do not rely on an older occupation list simply because a NOC appeared in the 2024 draw.
Historical STEM round: April 11, 2024
Round #293 was a dedicated STEM occupations (Version 1) invitation round. These figures are useful history, but the cut-off and the old list do not predict a future STEM round.
Date and time
April 11, 2024 · 13:23:42 UTC
Invitations
4,500
Lowest CRS
491
Tie-breaking rule
February 25, 2024 · 11:55:12 UTC
STEM occupations (Version 1) · round #293
Candidates eligible under FSWP, CEC or FSTP could be invited through this category round.
IRCC’s 2024 year-end report records one STEM category-based round in 2024, issuing 4,500 invitations. Category membership does not guarantee that IRCC will hold a dedicated STEM round in a particular year.
Open official round #293How category-based selection works
- 01
Qualify for Express Entry
Meet the minimum rules of CEC, FSWP or FSTP and create an accurate profile.
- 02
IRCC identifies eligible profiles
IRCC checks the profile information against the requirements of the announced category.
- 03
Candidates are ranked by CRS
Eligible category candidates are still ranked against one another using their CRS scores.
- 04
Highest-ranking candidates may be invited
The number invited, cut-off, tie-breaker and exact category rules are set for the individual round.
- 05
Submit the permanent-residence application
An invited candidate must prove both program and category eligibility with documents and remain admissible to Canada.
Documents to prepare
- Employer letters confirming position, dates, hours, pay and detailed duties
- Supporting pay, tax, contract or employment records where appropriate
- Evidence that the claimed duties match the listed NOC
- Certified translations for documents not in English or French
- All documents required by the underlying Express Entry program
Important limits
- Meeting a category requirement does not add separate CRS points and does not guarantee that IRCC will hold a round for that category.
- The category occupation list, work-experience period and round instructions can change. The live IRCC page and the instructions for the exact round control.
- An invitation does not remove the need to prove the underlying Express Entry program, the CRS score claimed, category eligibility and admissibility.
- A job title alone is not enough for an occupation category. The evidence must support the correct NOC lead statement and main duties.
Frequently asked questions
Does a STEM degree make me eligible?
Not by itself. The current category is based on qualifying work experience in one listed occupation. Education may help with Express Entry eligibility or CRS, but it does not replace the occupation requirement.
Can I combine experience from two different STEM NOCs?
The category requires at least 12 months in a single listed occupation. Different periods may be non-continuous, but the qualifying experience must be in the same NOC.
Can the 12 months be part-time?
Yes. IRCC permits an equal amount of qualifying part-time experience. The hours, dates and duties must be supportable with reliable evidence.
Does foreign work experience count?
Yes. Current STEM-category experience may be gained in Canada or abroad, provided it falls within the relevant three-year period and meets the listed NOC requirements.
Is my job eligible if the title is slightly different?
Possibly. The NOC code, lead statement and a substantial number of main duties matter more than the title alone. The evidence should describe the work actually performed.
Why is insurance agent or broker included in STEM?
NOC 63100 appears on IRCC’s current official STEM list. Category eligibility follows the published NOC list even when an occupation may not match a visitor’s everyday understanding of STEM.
Does STEM eligibility add CRS points?
No separate CRS points are awarded simply for meeting this category. Eligible candidates are still ranked by CRS when IRCC runs a category-based round.
Is the April 2024 CRS cut-off still applicable?
No. CRS 491 was the lowest score invited in that historical round only. Each round has its own invitation total, pool composition, cut-off and tie-breaking rule.
Official government sources
General information only. This page was reviewed on the date shown, but IRCC may change categories or instructions without notice. Verify the live government source before relying on any requirement.