21231 Software engineers and designers
Yes. NOC 21231 is a high-wage occupation.
Level 2: at least 1.5× median wage TEER 1
TEER 0 to 3 work still counts for Canadian experience work-length points.
Points from November 3, 2026
| 12+ months Canadian experience in this occupation | +40 extra, on top of work-length points |
|---|---|
| Qualifying job offer in this occupation | 70 |
Calculate my score with this NOC
Example job titles
- application architect
- computer software engineer
- embedded software designer
- embedded software engineer
- software architect
- software design engineer
- software design verification engineer
- software designer
- software testing engineer
- telecommunications software engineer
Main duties
- Collect and document users' requirements and develop logical and physical specifications
- Research, evaluate and synthesize technical information to design, develop and test computer-based systems including mobile applications
- Develop data, process and network models to optimize architecture and to evaluate the performance and reliability of designs
- Plan, design and coordinate the development, installation, integration and operation of computer-based systems including mobile applications
- Assess, test, troubleshoot, document, upgrade and develop maintenance procedures for operating systems, communications environments and applications software
- May lead and coordinate teams of information systems professionals in the development of software and integrated information systems, process control software and other embedded software control systems.
What changes on November 3, 2026
- A new Labour Market Integration factor replaces the Canadian work experience points.
- Canadian experience in a high-wage occupation adds 20, 40 or 70 points on top of work-length points.
- A job offer in a high-wage occupation gives 50, 70 or 100 points, and no LMIA is needed.
- The two routes do not add up. You get the higher one: up to 150 points (140 with a spouse).
- Invitation rounds pause for up to two weeks while IRCC recalculates every profile.
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