Canadian Immigration Updates in 2025 – Part 2

Following the recent changes in Canadian immigration policies, new updates have been made to manage our population and address growth and economic needs. This is Part 1 of our two-part series on recent updates in Canadian immigration policies. We have compiled a list demonstrating the newly added features in the Express Entry System and other immigration streams in Ontario in 2025.

Express Entry Updates

Express Entry is an online system we use to manage applications for permanent residency in Canada for skilled workers. The three programs it oversees are:

• The Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Workers
• Federal Skilled Trades Program

Many people have applied through these programs and have gained permanent residency status through the eligible categories. However, it was indicated that the emphasis for 2025 draws will be on candidates in the Express Entry pool who qualify under the Canadian Experience Class. The new focus on education is meant to align the selection of federal economic immigrants with Canada’s long-term labour shortages.

For 2025, the focus of the federal economic class draws will be to invite candidates with experience working in Canada (Canadian Experience Class) to apply for permanent residence.

Category-based draws were introduced in 2023 to allow the government to focus on Express Entry invitations in priority areas such as;

• French- language proficiency
• Healthcare occupations
• Science, Technology, Engineering and mathematics (STEM) occupations
• Trade occupations
• Transport occupations
• Agriculture and Agri-Food occupations

For the French-speaking draws, candidates are required to have achieved a French level of at least 7 on the Niveaux de competence linguistique canadien (NCLC) in Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing on the Test de conaissance du français (TCF) or Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) exams. For the other category-based draws, candidates must have 6 months of full-time experience in the last 3 years in an occupation listed in the category. In a category-based draw, the highest-ranking candidates are selected, and the chosen lowest-ranking score is published.

New Education Category

Since 2023, there have been little to no changes to the categories or list of occupational codes within each category. However, the Minister has introduced a new category for candidates with experience in Education-based occupations. The five occupations listed under the new category are as follows;

• Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants (43100)
• Instructors of persons with disabilities (42203)
• Early childhood educators and assistants (42202)
• Elementary school and kindergarten teachers (41221)
• Secondary school teachers (41220)

The new focus on education is meant to align the selection of federal economic immigrants with Canada’s long-term labour shortages.

Healthcare and Social Services category updates

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (“IRCC”) has also added several social services occupations to the healthcare category, such as;

• Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (32104)
• Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists (32123)
• Dental hygienists and dental therapists (32111)
• Other medical technologists and technicians (32129)
• Pharmacists (31120)
• Pharmacy technicians (32124)
• Social and community service workers (42201)
• Social workers (41300)

IRCC will conduct category-based invitation rounds in the following categories to issue invitations to prospective permanent residents with specific skills, training, or language abilities to bring those in-demand professionals to Canada.

New Construction Pathway

In part to assist with Canada’s housing shortage, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced the government’s intent to introduce several new measures to support Canada’s construction industry. These measures are within the scope of the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan. The plans include convening a tripartite advisory council to assess industry and advise on new pathways to bring in the skilled workers we need, a regularization pathway for out-of-status construction workers, and support for foreign apprentices.

As Canada grapples with a housing crisis and economic uncertainty from tariff threats, it will establish a tripartite advisory council. This council, composed of federal government representatives, union leaders, and industry experts, will assess labour needs and recommend strategies to attract and retain construction workers for the long term.

In addition to this new pathway, IRCC intends to create a pathway that would offer opportunities for undocumented migrants in the construction sector. These undocumented migrants are already living and working in Canada. They are, therefore, contributing to the sector, and this pathway will keep them here legally so that they can continue to build the homes our economy and communities need with the proper protections.

Furthermore, to support foreign apprentices in construction programs and address the construction sector’s current labour market needs, they are also introducing a temporary measure to allow foreign apprentices to complete their studies without a study permit.

More information about these pathways will be shared soon.

Takeaway

IRCC will continue to support francophone immigration, category-based draws in Express Entry, and the new pathway for construction workers. These priorities shift the focus on bringing in skilled workers with the potential to integrate and contribute to Canada’s future, including transitioning more temporary residents to permanent residents.

These changes are being made in response to the challenges Canada has faced, with a focus on growing the economy to combat these challenges. As Immigration in Canada continues to evolve, we will provide updates in 2025 to inform and discuss these new policy adjustments.

If you would like to review immigration options available to you, your friends or family, we strongly encourage you to contact Sultan Lawyers  online or by telephone at 416-214-5111.