On February 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced significant updates to the category-based selection process under the Express Entry system. These changes directly impact which candidates are prioritized for invitations to apply for permanent residence (PR).
Key Changes Announced
- New Category Introduced
A new “Education” category was added, including five eligible occupations that align with national labor market priorities. - Category Removed
The “Transportation” category has been eliminated from category-based draws. - Updates Across All Categories
All existing categories underwent revisions, with several occupations added or removed based on evolving workforce demands.
Priority Categories for 2025
IRCC confirmed that the Express Entry priority categories for 2025 will focus on:
- French-language proficiency
- Trade occupations
- Healthcare and social services occupations
Candidates who meet the criteria for these categories will benefit from a higher likelihood of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence during category-based draws.
What is Express Entry?
Express Entry is the federal government’s electronic application management system for economic immigration programs. Each year, the system issues over 100,000 ITAs to qualified candidates based on factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and category eligibility.
Category-based selection enhances the government’s ability to target applicants who meet specific labor market and demographic needs across Canada.
Why This Matters
If you are an Express Entry candidate or planning to become one, these updates may significantly affect your chances of receiving an ITA. Staying informed and ensuring your profile aligns with current priorities is essential.
At Northfield & Associates, we help clients:
- Evaluate their eligibility under the revised category-based selection criteria
- Strategically tailor their Express Entry profiles for maximum competitiveness
- Navigate changes to federal and provincial immigration policies with clarity
Schedule a Consultation
Let our experienced immigration team help you understand how these changes may impact your application strategy. Contact Northfield & Associates today to schedule a personalized consultation and take the next step toward permanent residence in Canada with confidence.
Working With Our Firm
In this evolving economic landscape, collaboration with our firm offers clients a strategic advantage. With Cambodia’s reform-driven investment environment and Canada’s expanding footprint in Southeast Asia, our team of experienced consultants and legal advisors provides tailored guidance to help businesses navigate cross-border opportunities. We specialize in developing comprehensive legal strategies, structuring international partnerships, and ensuring compliance in emerging markets.
By leveraging our regional insight and international expertise, you benefit from a trusted partner dedicated to helping you capitalize on growth potential in Cambodia and beyond.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is provided for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal or other professional advice. Readers should seek tailored legal advice in relation to their personal circumstances.
We serve our clients in English, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Mandarin and Cantonese, especially in Asian clients.
- If you or anybody that you know, think that you meet the requirements and wish to receive further information.
- We can help you start the application process and confirm eligibility requirements to participate.
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About Northfield
Northfield & Associates International Corporation is a global strategic advisory and consulting firm partnering with private equity, sovereign, and institutional investors to deploy capital, manage regulatory, supporting senior leadership, boards, and capital providers across Cambodia, Canada, and international markets operating in complex regulatory, economic, and geopolitical environments, and drive enterprise value creation across complex global markets.
We advise boards, executives, entrepreneurs, and public-sector decision-makers on business strategy, institutional transformation, and high-stakes market challenges requiring disciplined judgment, capital efficiency, and execution certainty. Our work is concentrated across priority global sectors, including agribusiness, aviation and automotive, energy and natural resources, financial services, healthcare, infrastructure, real estate, immigration, education, and information technology.
Our platform integrates sector-specific intelligence with multidisciplinary advisory capabilities. Clients benefit from coordinated access to consulting, legal and regulatory counsel, financial management, risk assessment, real estate advisory, immigration, education, and technology expertise. This integrated model supports informed capital allocation, regulatory-compliant investment structuring, and execution-ready strategies designed to optimise returns, preserve downside protection, and enhance risk-adjusted performance.
Northfield combines consulting rigor with legal and regulatory judgment to support capital markets-aligned decision-making in complex, regulated, and rapidly evolving environments. We partner with private enterprises, institutional investors, family offices, and public-sector entities to structure, deploy, and manage capital effectively; strengthen governance; mitigate regulatory and geopolitical risk; and drive sustainable enterprise value creation.
Our engagements span strategy formulation, operational optimisation, organisational design, and change execution. We deliver measurable outcomes that improve financial performance, support disciplined growth, enhance valuation, and generate durable returns on investment for investors, shareholders, and institutional stakeholders. We operate with independence, precision, and accountability, aligned with long-term value creation and fiduciary standards.
Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains forward-looking information. All statements, other than statements of historic fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future constitute forward-looking information.
This forward-looking information reflects the current expectations or beliefs of the Company based on information currently available to the Company.
Forward-looking information is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the Company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: the failure to finalize negotiations concerning the increase of the Loan or to close such transaction and the failure of the Company to complete the acquisition of the Company Facility; operating performance of facilities; environmental and safety risks; delays in obtaining or failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals from government authorities; unavailability of plant, equipment or labour; inability to retain key management and personnel; changes to regulations or policies affecting the Company’s activities; and the other risks disclosed under the heading “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in the Company’s amended annual information.
Forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the Company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking information are reasonable, forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such information due to the inherent uncertainty therein.
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NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Information made available on this website in any form is for information purposes only. It is not, and should not be taken as, legal advice. You should not rely on, or take or fail to take any action based upon this information. Never disregard professional legal advice or delay in seeking legal advice because of something you have read on this website. Northfield & Associates professionals will be pleased to discuss resolutions to specific legal concerns you may have.