On February 18, 2026, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Lena Metlege Diab announced a major revision to Canada’s Express Entry system. The announcement introduced five new express entry category based selection streams and renewed several priority pathways from 2025. The changes are part of the International Talent Attraction Strategy and reflect the government’s two goals: keeping immigration levels sustainable while addressing critical labor shortages across key economic sectors.

The new express entry categories target medical doctors with Canadian work experience, researchers with Canadian work experience, senior managers with Canadian work experience, transport occupations including pilots and aircraft mechanics, and skilled military recruits holding job offers from the Canadian Armed Forces. These additions signal a move toward retaining specialized talent already integrated into Canadian workplaces rather than recruiting from international pools alone.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has renewed express entry category based draws for French-language proficiency, healthcare and social services, education, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) occupations, and skilled trades. But a major change affects all renewed categories: the minimum work experience requirement has increased from six months to one year. Candidates need to have gained this experience within the previous three years. This higher threshold aims to strengthen workforce integration and long-term retention.

The first entry express draw targeting physicians with Canadian work experience is scheduled to occur on or before February 20, 2026. All invitation rounds will operate within the parameters the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan established, which stabilizes permanent resident admissions at 380,000 annually.

 

New Express Entry Categories Target Top Talent

The physicians with Canadian work experience pathway marks the first express entry category based selection stream to launch under the 2026 framework. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issued 391 invitations to apply on February 19, 2026, with a Comprehensive Ranking System cut-off score of 169. This low threshold reflects the government’s dedication to retaining medical professionals already practicing in Canada. Eligible occupations include general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102), specialists in surgery (NOC 31101), and specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (NOC 31100). Candidates must demonstrate at least 12 months of full-time Canadian work experience in one of these occupations within the previous three years.

Medical Doctors with Canadian Work Experience

The physician category addresses critical healthcare labor shortages by prioritizing doctors already integrated into provincial health systems. A temporary public policy now counts publicly funded medical services as eligible Canadian work experience, and this includes fee-for-service arrangements. This adjustment recognizes that many physicians work through billing models rather than traditional employment contracts. All candidates must hold valid medical licensure from provincial regulatory bodies and maintain eligibility under either the Canadian Experience Class or Federal Skilled Worker Program.

Researchers and Senior Managers Join Priority List

The researchers with Canadian work experience category targets university professors and lecturers (NOC 41200), and post-secondary teaching and research assistants (NOC 41201). Both occupations require 12 months of Canadian work experience gained within the past three years. Senior managers must demonstrate one year of Canadian experience in executive-level positions classified under NOC 00012 (financial, communications and business services), 00013 (health, education and social services), 00014 (trade and broadcasting services), or 00015 (construction, transportation and utilities). These NOC codes denote high-level executives who hold titles such as CEO, CFO, president or vice-president.

Transport Occupations and Military Recruits Added

Transport occupations cover air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors (NOC 72600), aircraft mechanics and inspectors (NOC 72404), aircraft instrument and avionics technicians (NOC 22313), and automotive service technicians and truck mechanics (NOC 72410). Transport workers may qualify through foreign or domestic work history, which differs from categories requiring Canadian experience. The skilled military recruits pathway requires foreign nationals serving in recognized foreign militaries with at least 10 years of continuous service. Applicants must hold a job offer from the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group for continuous full-time work lasting at least three years in commissioned officer (NOC 40042), specialized member (NOC 42102), or operations member (NOC 43204) roles.

Key Changes to Work Experience Requirements

All occupational categories under express entry category based draws now mandate 12 months of work experience, doubling the previous six-month threshold. This experience must be accumulated within the past three years but does not need to be continuous. Full-time work experience is defined as a minimum of 30 hours per week. Candidates can meet the requirement through equivalent part-time hours over a longer period. Hours worked beyond 30 per week do not count as additional experience. Work experience gained during full-time studies remains ineligible for Canadian work experience consideration, and this includes co-op terms.

 

Healthcare Occupations Remain Priority in Express Entry Category Based Draws

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada continues prioritizing healthcare professionals through express entry category based draws. The agency issued 4,000 invitations on February 20, 2026, with a Comprehensive Ranking System cut-off of 467 points. This marks the second healthcare-focused round under the 2026 framework and demonstrates sustained demand for medical professionals.

Expanded Healthcare and Social Services Category

The healthcare category expanded in February 2025 to include social services occupations among clinical roles. Social workers (NOC 41300), therapists in counseling and related specialized therapies (NOC 41301), and social and community service workers (NOC 42201) qualify for express entry health care draws. Pharmacy technicians (NOC 32124) and other medical technologists and technicians (NOC 32129) were added as well. This expansion addresses labor shortages in both direct patient care and community support sectors.

Eligible Healthcare Professions Under 2026 Framework

The express entry category based selection stream covers 37 healthcare occupations spanning TEER categories 0 through 3. Eligible professions include registered nurses (NOC 31301), pharmacists (NOC 31120), dental hygienists (NOC 32111), licensed practical nurses (NOC 32101), paramedical occupations (NOC 32102), and nurse aides (NOC 33102). No Labor Market Impact Assessment or job offer is required.

Minimum Work Experience Set at 12 Months

Candidates must accumulate 12 months of full-time work experience in one eligible occupation within the previous three years. This experience need not be continuous. You can gain it in Canada or abroad.

Trade Workers Get Refined Focus in 2026 Entry Express Draw

A fundamental restructuring of the trade occupations category took effect at the time Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada updated its category-based draws webpage, removing two food service occupations that had dominated invitation rounds.

Cooks and Chefs Removed from Trade Category

Cooks (NOC 63200) and Chefs (NOC 62200) were disqualified from targeted trades draws on February 18, 2026. The median Comprehensive Ranking System score for cooks stood at 419. All other hands-on trade occupations registered a median of just 399. This imbalance explains why Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada held only a single trade occupations draw in 2025, issuing just 1,250 invitations compared to 3,600 in 2024.

Construction and Skilled Trades Take Center Stage

The stated purpose brings skilled tradespeople to build housing and increase affordability in Canada. Construction and building maintenance account for nearly half the 25 targeted trades.

Butchers Added as Trade Category Expands

Butchers (NOC 63201) transitioned from the now-retired agriculture and agri-food category to trade occupations. This occupation was the only remaining role under the agriculture stream before the category’s elimination.

How Work Experience Requirements Changed for Trades

Construction workers face seasonal layoffs and project-based employment gaps. The removal of the continuous requirement represents a substantial benefit for them. Candidates now need 12 months of work experience within the past three years, but this experience does not need to be continuous.

What Category-Based Selection Means for Applicants

Category-based selection operates within the Express Entry pool automatically. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada identifies eligible candidates based on their National Occupational Classification code and profile details. Applicants do not submit separate applications for express entry categories. They are assessed for all matching streams at once.

French Language Proficiency Continues as Priority

French-language proficiency remains a designated priority category for 2026, with dedicated draws continuing throughout the year. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada issued 8,500 invitations at a Comprehensive Ranking System score of 400 on February 6, 2026. The agency issued 5,500 invitations at a cut-off of 397 on March 4, 2026. Candidates achieving NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities with English CLB 5 or above receive 50 bonus CRS points. Those with lower English proficiency gain 25 points.

STEM Express Entry Categories Renewed for 2026

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics occupations were renewed for 2026, though Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has not conducted a dedicated STEM express entry draw since April 2024. Candidates in software development and engineering remain eligible when draws resume.

How to Maximize Your Express Entry Profile

Confirm your NOC code lines up with your actual job duties rather than your job title. Verify your 12-month work experience falls within the past three years. Update your profile upon qualifying. Let Joshua Slayen’s top lawyers guide you through express entry category based selection requirements and maximize your CRS score through strategic profile optimization.

Expected Draw Timelines and Invitation Strategies

Express entry category based draws occur without advance notice on any weekday. Profiles qualify for multiple express entry categories at once. Healthcare workers with French proficiency have eligibility under both streams.

Canada’s Strategic Shift Toward Targeted Immigration

The 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan positions economic immigration as the dominant admission stream, so it reaches 64% of all permanent resident allocations in 2027 and 2028. This represents a fundamental recalibration from volume-focused intake toward precision-targeted selection that addresses critical labor gaps in high-demand occupations. Permanent resident admissions stabilize at 380,000 annually through 2028. The operational range sits between 350,000 and 420,000 to accommodate processing capacity fluctuations.

The government commits to reducing Canada’s temporary population to less than 5% of total population by the end of 2027. Temporary resident targets are set at 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028. Federal High Skilled and Provincial Nominee Program admissions increase to ensure Canada attracts talent for nation-building projects while responding to distinct provincial labor market needs.

Francophone immigration targets outside Quebec climb to reach 10.5% by 2028 in support of the broader goal to achieve 12% by 2029. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has announced plans to reintroduce Comprehensive Ranking System points for job offers and Canadian work experience in high-wage occupations, though no implementation timeline has been confirmed. Let Joshua Slayen’s top lawyers guide you through these evolving immigration pathways and position your profile within Canada’s targeted selection framework.