Immigration to Canada for Scientists and Researchers

Canada does not have one immigration program for all scientists, researchers, university instructors, and employees of research organizations. A suitable pathway depends on the applicant’s actual duties, NOC code, education, work experience, language test results, age, Canadian experience, and other factors.

A master’s degree or PhD does not create an automatic right to immigrate. For immigration purposes, an occupation must be determined from the applicant’s actual duties—not only a job title, academic degree, or field of research.

In 2026, some researchers may benefit from a dedicated Express Entry category. However, this category does not cover every scientist or research professional.

Express Entry category for researchers with Canadian work experience

The current Express Entry categories include Researchers with Canadian work experience. Only two occupations are listed:

• NOC 41200, TEER 1 — University professors and lecturers
• NOC 41201, TEER 1 — Post-secondary teaching and research assistants

To qualify for this category, a candidate must generally:

• have at least 12 months of full-time work experience or an equivalent amount of part-time experience;
• have gained the experience within the previous three years;
• have experience in one of the two listed occupations;
• have gained the qualifying experience in Canada;
• meet the instructions for the applicable invitation round;
• qualify for at least one of the immigration programs managed through Express Entry.

The required experience does not have to be continuous. However, meeting the category requirements does not guarantee an invitation. IRCC ranks eligible candidates and invites the highest-ranking candidates in the applicable round.

The category does not automatically include biologists, chemists, physicists, laboratory researchers, private-sector scientists, or other professionals simply because their work involves science. Their NOC must be determined separately from their actual duties.

Can scientists use regular Express Entry?

Yes. A scientist, researcher, or university instructor may qualify for Express Entry without qualifying for the researchers category.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program may be available to candidates with qualifying foreign work experience. In general, the experience must:

• be in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3;
• match the selected NOC and most of its main duties;
• be paid;
• include at least one continuous year or 1,560 hours;
• have been obtained within the previous ten years.

The applicant must also obtain at least 67 out of 100 Federal Skilled Worker selection-factor points. These are different from the CRS points used to rank candidates in the Express Entry pool.

Paid research or teaching work completed while studying may sometimes count under the Federal Skilled Worker Program if it was continuous and meets all other requirements. Contracts, payment, hours, and duties must be reviewed individually.

Canadian Experience Class

A candidate with qualifying Canadian skilled work experience may also be eligible under the Canadian Experience Class.

The general requirements include:

• at least one year or 1,560 hours of paid skilled work in Canada;
• experience obtained within the previous three years;
• employment in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3;
• authorization to work;
• physical presence in Canada while performing the work;
• duties that correspond to the selected NOC.

Work experience gained while the applicant was a full-time student generally does not count toward the minimum Canadian Experience Class requirement. Canadian research-assistant or teaching-assistant experience therefore requires careful review.

English or French language requirements

Express Entry applicants must take an IRCC-approved English or French language test. Accepted tests are:

• CELPIP-General
• IELTS General Training
• PTE Core
• TEF Canada
• TCF Canada

IELTS Academic and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted for Express Entry.

The minimum first-official-language level for the Federal Skilled Worker Program is CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

Canadian Experience Class applicants working in TEER 0 or TEER 1 occupations, including NOC 41200 and 41201, also require at least CLB 7 or NCLC 7 in all four abilities.

For IELTS General Training, CLB 7 corresponds to a score of 6.0 in each ability. Higher language results may substantially increase a candidate’s CRS score.

Language results must be less than two years old both when the Express Entry profile is completed and when the permanent residence application is submitted.

Candidates who obtain at least NCLC 7 in French in all four abilities may also be considered under the French-language proficiency category if they meet the other Express Entry requirements.

Educational Credential Assessment

An applicant educated outside Canada will generally need an Educational Credential Assessment for Federal Skilled Worker eligibility and to claim Express Entry points for foreign education.

The ECA must be issued by an IRCC-designated organization and must be less than five years old when the profile and permanent residence application are submitted.

An immigration ECA confirms the Canadian equivalency of an educational credential. It does not guarantee:

• recognition by a university or employer;
• a professor or research position;
• professional licensing;
• a research grant or funding.

Academic employers may separately require a PhD, publications, postdoctoral experience, teaching experience, or knowledge of specific research methods.

Are all scientists included in the STEM category?

No. A science degree, PhD, or research position does not automatically make a candidate eligible for the Express Entry STEM category.

The current STEM list contains a limited number of occupations. For example, NOC 20011, Architecture and science managers, is listed. Many occupations involving biology, chemistry, physics, and other scientific research are not currently included.

The candidate’s NOC and the current IRCC occupation list must be checked before relying on a category-based selection pathway.

Is a Canadian job offer required?

A job offer is not required for the Canadian Experience Class and is not always required for the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

As of March 25, 2025, Express Entry no longer awards the previous 50 or 200 CRS points for a job offer. However, a valid job offer may still be important for:

• certain Federal Skilled Worker requirements;
• some provincial nominee streams;
• the Atlantic Immigration Program;
• community immigration pilots;
• a Canadian work permit.

A work permit by itself is not a job offer.

Some professors, visiting lecturers, researchers, postdoctoral fellows, and holders of Canadian academic awards may qualify for an LMIA exemption. An exemption is not automatic for every researcher. The employer, position, and exemption basis must be verified before an application is submitted.

Other immigration pathways for researchers

Depending on the applicant’s profile, possible pathways may include:

• the Provincial Nominee Program;
• the Atlantic Immigration Program with a qualifying offer from a designated employer;
• the Rural Community Immigration Pilot;
• the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot;
• provincial streams for eligible master’s or doctoral graduates;
• a temporary work permit for an academic or research position;
• a later permanent residence application after obtaining qualifying Canadian experience.

Program requirements and provincial priorities can change. A scientific degree does not replace the requirements of the applicable immigration program, province, or employer.

Why professional case assessment is important

Applicants are permitted to apply independently, and using an immigration representative is not mandatory. However, researchers may face complex questions involving:

• selection of the correct NOC;
• research-assistant or teaching-assistant experience;
• paid work completed during a PhD;
• continuity and calculation of work hours;
• eligibility for the researchers category;
• language requirements and CRS improvement;
• Educational Credential Assessments;
• Express Entry, PNP, and regional alternatives;
• job-offer and work-permit requirements;
• supporting evidence for duties, hours, and compensation.

CUSC can assess the applicant’s profile, review the NOC and work experience, calculate applicable points, and develop an individualized immigration strategy.

We cannot guarantee an invitation, visa, work permit, employment, or permanent residence. Decisions are made by IRCC, provincial authorities, and Canadian employers.