Canada prioritizes foreign military in Express Entry, i.e., on February 18, Canada’s immigration department introduced a new priority category under the Express Entry system. This new pathway focuses on attracting skilled foreign military members who wish to immigrate to Canada.
The move highlights the growing importance of experienced military personnel to Canada’s long-term plans. The country’s recently released Defense Industrial Strategy also supports continued immigration pathways for skilled military recruits as part of national defense planning.
Foreign nationals who qualify under this new category may receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence even with lower ranking scores than many other Express Entry candidates. This makes the pathway especially important for eligible military professionals.
This article outlines the key requirements for Canada’s new Skilled military recruits category, including:
- General eligibility
- Work experience requirements
- Job offer requirements
- Education requirements
So, without further ado, let us begin!
General Eligibility Requirements
Foreign nationals who want to receive an ITA through this special category must first meet the base eligibility requirements of one of the three immigration programs managed under Express Entry:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
In addition to qualifying under one of these programs, candidates must also be an eligible foreign national currently serving in a recognized foreign military.
According to ministerial instructions, an “eligible foreign national” simply refers to someone who already has an active profile in the Express Entry pool.
However, the term “recognized foreign military” has not been clearly defined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). More details may emerge in future program updates.
Well, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has indicated that individuals with previous service in any foreign force may be considered persons with former service. These individuals are typically required to submit official release papers so their background can be reviewed.
Work Experience Requirements
To qualify under the Skilled military recruits category, candidates must meet strict work experience conditions.
Express Entry candidates must have:
- A minimum of 10 years of continuous service (in a recognized foreign military)
- Work experience and training that match one of the three eligible occupations under this category:
- Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces (NOC 40042)
- Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces (NOC 42102)
- Operations members of the Canadian Armed Forces (NOC 43204)
Each occupation is described in more detail below.
Note: The National Occupation Classification (NOC) system is Canada’s official framework for describing and grouping jobs across industries.
To correctly match work experience to an NOC code, candidates must show that they performed most of the main duties listed for that occupation. Simply having a similar job title is not enough.
Commissioned Officers Of The Canadian Armed Forces (40042)
Main Duties
Skilled workers in this role typically:
- Allocate material, human, and financial resources to implement military policies and programs, establish administrative controls, and approve overall personnel planning.
- Plan, organize, and command the activities of Canadian Armed Forces combat and strategic units within the Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Royal Canadian Navy, both in Canada and during overseas operations.
- Plan, organize, and command units involved in disaster relief, humanitarian missions, and peacekeeping operations at national and international levels.
- Set organizational goals in line with legislation and government policy; develop, approve, and evaluate programs and procedures independently or with senior government committees.
- Coordinate the work of multiple military strategic units and apply appropriate levels of military force when required.
- Develop and implement military policies and procedures tailored to unit capabilities and performance.
The following job titles are excluded from this occupation classification:
- Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces (42102)
- Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces (43204)
- Primary combat members of the Canadian Armed Forces (44200)
Specialized Members Of The Canadian Armed Forces (42102)
Main Duties
Skilled workers in this role typically:
- Approve and classify ammunition, explosives, and related scrap materials.
- Inspect, test, find faults, adjust, repair, rebuild, and modify electrical, electronic, mechanical, and optical equipment, including weapon and missile control systems.
- Maintain and repair machine guns, grenade launchers, mortars, and anti-tank weapons.
- Test, inspect, and repair aircraft weapon systems.
- Prepare test logs, evaluation reports, and maintenance records, and read electronic drawings.
The following job titles are not included in this classification:
- Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces (40042)
- Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces (43204)
- Primary combat members of the Canadian Armed Forces (44200)
Operations Members Of The Canadian Armed Forces (43204)
Main Duties
Skilled workers in this role typically:
- Check and analyze how combat information equipment and systems are performing.
- Maintain and operate engineering equipment such as weapons, vehicles, heavy machines, and supplies.
- Inspect motors while running, road-test vehicles, and use computer diagnostic tools to find and fix problems.
- Set up and operate intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems.
- Supervise the building of tools and devices that help infantry soldiers cross obstacles and break through enemy defenses.
- Operate weapon and missile systems used for defense.
The following job titles are not included in this classification:
- Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces (40042)
- Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces (42102)
- Primary combat members of the Canadian Armed Forces (44200)
Job Offer Requirements
To be eligible under the Skilled military recruits category, candidates must have a valid job offer from the Canadian Armed Forces.
The job offer must meet all of the following conditions:
- For continuous full-time work in Canada for at least three years;
- In one of the three eligible occupations listed above; and
- Issued by the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group.
The Canadian Forces Recruiting Group operates multiple recruitment centres across Canada. Interested candidates may contact the group by phone or email to learn about available opportunities.
The group also maintains an online help centre where applicants can find answers to common questions about the recruitment process.
Education Requirements
Candidates must also meet the minimum education standard to qualify under this category.
Applicants need to have completed at least a two-year post-secondary credential. This can include a college diploma or a bachelor’s degree obtained in Canada or abroad.
If the education was completed outside Canada, the credential must be evaluated through an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to confirm its Canadian equivalency. An ECA is generally valid for five years from the date it is issued.
Thus, this new Express Entry category shows Canada’s continued focus on attracting experienced military talent. Eligible candidates who meet the requirements may benefit from improved chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
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