Canada has recently included the Cook profession in its category-based draws for Express Entry. This is great news for students, new graduates, and skilled workers who want to work as cooks and immigrate to Canada! However, there’s a lot of confusion about the eligibility requirements, especially regarding work experience. Let’s clarify this in simple terms:

What Are Category-Based Draws?

Category-based draws are a new way for Canada to invite skilled workers who meet specific labor market needs. Instead of selecting candidates based only on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) now targets certain professions, such as cooks, to address shortages in those fields.

Why Are Cooks Included?

The Cook profession has been included in category-based draws because Canada is facing a shortage of skilled cooks in many provinces. This means cooks, including students and new graduates, now have a better chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Permanent Residency (PR) through Express Entry.

Eligibility for Express Entry: The Key Requirement

To be eligible for Express Entry, including category-based draws, you must meet the minimum work experience requirement. Here’s the important clarification:

  • You need at least 1 year of skilled work experience (NOC code 63200 for cooks) to be eligible for Express Entry.
    • This experience can be gained in Canada or abroad.
    • It must be continuous (or a total of 1,560 hours) and paid work.
  • Category-Based Draws Do Not Lower the Work Experience Requirement:
    • Even though category-based draws target specific professions like cooks, they do not reduce the minimum work experience requirement for Express Entry.
    • You still need 1 year of skilled work experience to qualify, even if you’re applying under a category-based draw.

Common Misconception: 6 Months of Experience

Many students and new graduates think that working as a cook for 6 months in Canada makes them eligible for Express Entry under category-based draws. This is not true.

  • 6 Months of Experience:
    • If you have only 6 months of work experience as a cook, you are not yet eligible for Express Entry.
    • You must complete 1 year of skilled work experience before you can create an Express Entry profile.
  • What You Can Do After 6 Months:
    • After 6 months of work experience, you can start preparing for your Express Entry application (e.g., take a language test, gather documents).
    • Once you complete 1 year of work experience, you can create your Express Entry profile and become eligible for category-based draws.

How Does It Work for Students and New Graduates?

If you’re a student or a recent graduate who wants to work as a cook and apply for PR, here’s what you need to do:

  1. Gain Work Experience:
    • Work as a cook for at least 1 year (in Canada or abroad) to meet the Express Entry eligibility requirement.
  2. Check Your Eligibility:
    • Ensure you meet the general requirements for Express Entry (e.g., language proficiency, education, and work experience).
  3. Improve Your CRS Score:
    • Boost your score by improving your language test results (English or French) or obtaining a valid job offer in Canada.
  4. Create an Express Entry Profile:
    • Submit your profile and indicate your work experience as a cook.
  5. Stay Updated:
    • Keep an eye on IRCC announcements for category-based draws targeting cooks.

Example Scenario for Students and New Graduates

Let’s say you’re a recent graduate with:

  • Age: 25 years (110 CRS points).
  • Education: Post-secondary diploma (98 points).
  • Language Proficiency: CLB 8 in English (88 points).
  • Work Experience: 1 year as a cook (40 points).

Total CRS Score: 110 + 98 + 88 + 40 = 336.

In a category-based draw for cooks, you might receive an ITA even with a CRS score of 336, as the cut-off could be lower than general Express Entry draws.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a student or new graduate willing to work as a cook, you can use this pathway to apply for Canadian Permanent Residency through Express Entry. However, remember that you need 1 year of skilled work experience to be eligible, even for category-based draws.

If you have any questions or need help with your application, feel free to ask in the comments!

Good luck! 🍳🇨🇦