Category-based selection
STEM occupations draws
No recent rounds3 rounds on record, 10,900 invitations issued. At least 12 months of full-time work experience in an eligible occupation, accumulated within the past 3 years.
Caution: IRCC still lists this category, but the last round was on 11 April 2024, 848 days ago. The figures below are from those earlier rounds and describe what happened then, not a current rhythm.
Most recent round
491CRS cutoff
4,500 invitations on 11 April 2024, round #293.
- Lowest ever
- 481
- 8 December 2023
- Typical gap
- 141 days
- Rounds held
- 3
Cutoff history
The last 3 stem occupations rounds as a table
| Round | Date | CRS cutoff | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| #254 | 5 July 2023 | 486 | 500 |
| #274 | 8 December 2023 | 481 | 5,900 |
| #293 | 11 April 2024 | 491 | 4,500 |
Who qualifies
At least 12 months of full-time work experience in an eligible occupation, accumulated within the past 3 years.
Occupations in this category
- · Architecture and science managers
- · Civil Engineers
- · Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- · Cybersecurity specialists
- · Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
- · Electrical and electronics engineers
- · Geological Engineers
- · Industrial and manufacturing engineers
- · Experience gained in Canada or abroad, within the past 3 years.
- · Full-time, or an equal amount of part-time. It does not have to be continuous, but it must all be in one occupation on the list.
Common questions
- Who qualifies for stem occupations draws?
- At least 12 months of full-time work experience in an eligible occupation, accumulated within the past 3 years.
- What was the lowest stem occupations cutoff?
- CRS 481, in a round on 8 December 2023, which issued 5,900 invitations.
- How often does IRCC hold stem occupations draws?
- IRCC has not held a stem occupations round since 11 April 2024. It remains one of the established categories, so a further round is possible, but there is no recent cadence to quote.
Alert me about stem occupations rounds
We check every new round of invitations and email you the same day one lands.
Note: IRCC reviews its categories periodically and has revised, added and dropped them. Nothing here predicts which categories will be drawn from next.
Source: Express Entry rounds of invitations; IRCC — Category-based selection. Data current as of 7 August 2026.