Canada Shows Major Express Entry Immigration Changes for 2026
Canada’s federal government just announced big revisions to its Express Entry immigration system for 2026. The changes bring three new occupational categories to tackle labor shortages while keeping immigration at sustainable levels. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab revealed these updates on February 18, 2026. They’re part of the government’s plan to bring skilled workers into sectors that drive Canada’s economic growth and national security.
These changes to Canada’s immigration approach come as the government works to bring immigration back to sustainable levels. The plan will stabilize permanent resident admissions at 380,000 each year from 2026 to 2028. It will also cut the temporary resident population to less than 5% of Canada’s total population by late 2027. Economic immigration remains the life-blood of Canada’s immigration policy, and with good reason too – economic categories will make up 64% of all admissions by 2027-2028.
The refined Express Entry system will now give priority to candidates in three new occupational categories, along with existing priority streams. “Our Express Entry system is at the core of our approach for attracting and retaining the skilled workers Canada needs,” Minister Diab said during her announcement at the Canadian Club in Toronto. “We’re not waiting for the right people to find us. We will go out into the world to recruit the people our country needs, to connect them with Canadian employers and to highlight why Canada is the place to build their careers and lives.”
The first new category targets researchers and senior managers who have Canadian work experience. This group has university professors, post-secondary teaching and research assistants, and senior managers across construction, transportation, production, utilities, trade, broadcasting, health, education, financial services, and communications. The initiative matches the government’s International Talent Attraction Strategy, which aims to boost growth by bringing in top researchers and executives who know the Canadian market.
The second category focuses on transport jobs to fix critical shortages in aviation and logistics nationwide. This stream includes air pilots, flight engineers, flying instructors, aircraft mechanics, aircraft inspectors, aircraft instrument technicians, and automotive service technicians. “Strengthening those helps us move goods across the country and to new markets, supporting trade, supply chains and economic resilience,” Diab explained in her announcement. This category plays a key role in keeping Canada’s transportation infrastructure and international trade connections strong.
The third category opens a path for highly skilled foreign military applicants recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces. Military doctors, nurses, pilots, and other specialized roles crucial for national defense can now apply. “This new category will support our government’s commitment to strengthen our armed forces, to defend our sovereignty, and to keep Canadians safe,” Diab noted. The initiative supports Prime Minister Mark Carney’s defense industrial strategy announced on February 17, which plans to boost defense industry revenues by more than 240% and create up to 125,000 new jobs over the next decade.
All three new categories require candidates to have at least one year of relevant work experience within the past three years. This marks an increase from the previous six-month continuous work requirement. The change shows the government’s focus on bringing in experts who can contribute right away to Canada’s economy and society.
The Express Entry system continues to prioritize candidates with strong French language skills and experience in healthcare, social services, and trades. Healthcare roles include nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, and chiropractors, while trades cover carpenters, plumbers, and machinists. These ongoing categories show Canada’s dedication to filling persistent workforce gaps in essential sectors.
The first draw for physicians with Canadian work experience, added to Express Entry on December 8, 2025, will happen in late February 2026. This category looks for primary care doctors and specialists in surgery, clinical, and laboratory medicine who have worked in Canada for at least a year in the last three years and have a current job offer.
The government has removed the agriculture and agri-food occupations category from Express Entry. The current transport category is completely different from the previous Express Entry transport category that ended in February 2025.
Category-based selection still drives Canada’s Express Entry system. Candidates in the Express Entry pool who fit specific ministerial categories can apply for permanent residence based on economic needs. These category-based rounds work alongside other invitation rounds to find people with skills that match Canada’s labor market needs.
Since April 2024, category-based selection has been the main way for foreign nationals without Canadian work experience or provincial nominations to enter through Express Entry. All non-category-based, non-Provincial Nominee Program draws since April 23, 2024, have fallen under the Canadian Experience Class, which needs at least one year of skilled Canadian work experience.
Labor market data, projections, and input from provinces, territories, and stakeholders help the government choose categories. Each year, they report to Parliament about their category choices, reasons, and invitation numbers.
“Canada’s future depends on a workforce ready to meet the challenges of a changing economy,” Minister Diab said. “By refining Express Entry to focus on the skills our communities truly need, we are strengthening our labor market, supporting provincial priorities and ensuring newcomers can contribute from day one”.
These updates match Canada’s 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan to increase Federal High Skilled program and Provincial Nominee Program admissions. This approach helps Canada attract talent for nation-building projects while meeting provincial and territorial labor needs.
The plan also strengthens Canada’s support for Francophone communities by raising Francophone admissions outside Quebec to 10.5% by 2028, working toward the 12% goal by 2029. Family reunification stays important, with family class admissions between 21.3-22.1% of total immigration.
These Express Entry changes reflect Canada’s effort to balance immigration with economic and social priorities. By targeting specific job categories and requiring more experience, Canada can fill critical labor gaps while keeping its immigration system sustainable. The Express Entry system continues to evolve as a vital tool to manage skilled immigration and support Canada’s long-term success.
Three New Occupational Categories Open Pathways to Permanent Residence
Canada’s Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab showed three new Express Entry occupational categories that create priority pathways to permanent residence. These streams target research, transportation, and military sectors where Canada needs workers. The new categories come with specific requirements and show how Canada is changing its economic immigration approach.
Researchers and Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience Gain Priority
Canadian institutions now have a dedicated pathway for researchers and senior managers. This recognizes their value to Canada’s innovation and leadership. The category rewards professionals who showed their skills in Canadian organizations.
Candidates need at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time hours) in Canada from the last three years. The requirements focus on roles that make a big difference in academic and business sectors.
Researchers can qualify if they work as university professors and lecturers (NOC 41200) or post-secondary teaching and research assistants (NOC 41201). This helps Canada keep its research strong and gives talented scholars a clear path to stay.
Senior managers can also use this category. The eligible roles include senior managers in construction, transportation, production and utilities (NOC 00015); trade, broadcasting and other services (NOC 00014); health, education, social and community services (NOC 00013); and financial, communications and other business services (NOC 00012). Canada wants to keep these leaders who help organizations grow and develop the economy.
This pathway supports bigger federal plans to improve Canada’s innovation. Minister Diab linked this category to “a CAD 2.37 billion initiative announced in December by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada to attract world-leading researchers to Canada”. The immigration stream helps Canada’s talent strategy by turning temporary workers into permanent residents, especially in jobs that take years to master.
Transport Occupations Address Critical Aviation and Logistics Shortages
The second category focuses on transport jobs, especially in aviation and mechanical transport services. Unlike the first category, candidates can use experience from Canada or other countries.
Applicants need one full year of work experience from the past three years in a qualifying job. Key roles include air pilots, flight engineers, and flying instructors (NOC 72600); aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors (NOC 72404); automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers (NOC 72410); and aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors (NOC 22313).
This category brings new changes rather than continuing old transport immigration streams. The jobs listed now are completely different from the Express Entry transport category that ended in February 2025. Minister Diab explained why these roles matter: “Strengthening them helps us move goods across the country and to new markets—supporting trade, supply chains, and economic resilience”.
These job choices show Canada knows how transportation keeps the economy stable. The government wants to fill important positions quickly to keep supply chains running and transportation safe.
Military Personnel Recruitment Supports Canada’s Defense Industrial Strategy
The most innovative addition is the category for skilled military recruits. This new pathway connects military recruitment directly to permanent immigration status and supports Canada’s defense goals.
Military applicants have special requirements beyond the usual Express Entry criteria. They must:
- Have served in a recognized foreign military for at least ten continuous years
- Have a full-time job offer for at least three years with the Canadian Armed Forces
- Hold a post-secondary credential from a program lasting at least two years
The category includes operations members of the Canadian Armed Forces (NOC 43204), specialized members (NOC 42102), and commissioned officers (NOC 40042). It targets experts like military doctors, nurses, and pilots.
Minister Diab tied this to national security: “This new category supports our government’s commitment to strengthen our armed forces, defend our sovereignty, and keep Canadians safe”. The pathway connects to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Defense Industrial Strategy announced before these Express Entry changes.
This smart approach shows how Canada combines defense needs with immigration policy. The clear path to permanent residence helps recruit specialized military personnel for hard-to-fill roles.
Increased Work Experience Requirements Now Apply Across All Categories
A big change comes with these new categories – all Express Entry occupational categories now need twice as much work experience. The old requirement was six months of continuous work.
Now, applicants need one year of full-time experience (or equivalent part-time work) from the past three years. The experience doesn’t need to be continuous anymore, which helps professionals who had gaps between jobs.
Each category has different rules about where you can get experience:
- Researchers and senior managers must get experience in Canada
- Transport workers can use experience from “Canada or abroad”
- Military personnel need service time in a recognized foreign military
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) wants candidates with deep expertise who can contribute right away. The higher experience requirement helps choose better-prepared candidates.
Express Entry keeps changing as Canada’s main economic immigration system. Since April 2024, category-based selection became the main way for foreign nationals without Canadian work experience or provincial nominations to get permanent residence. All other draws since April 23, 2024, used the Canadian Experience Class, which needs one year of skilled Canadian work experience.
Applicants should understand these detailed requirements. The one-year experience rule and specific requirements for each category create a clear but demanding path to permanent residence. Candidates must plan carefully and document their work history based on their chosen immigration stream.
These updates show Canada’s smart approach to economic immigration. The system balances the need for skilled newcomers with finding people who will succeed in Canada. Express Entry keeps improving as a tool to meet Canada’s economic and workforce needs.
How Category-Based Selection Transforms Immigration Priorities
CBS has changed how Canada picks skilled immigrants. The system creates special paths that match economic needs instead of just using points-based rankings. This 2023 innovation is now the life-blood of Express Entry operations. It lets Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) pick candidates with skills that Canada needs right now. Candidates who don’t fit these priority categories now have fewer options to get permanent residence, whatever their Comprehensive Ranking System scores.
Continuing Priority Categories for French Proficiency and Healthcare Workers
IRCC stands firm on several existing categories that tackle ongoing national priorities. French-language skills and healthcare paths lead these priorities. French language remains central to Canada’s bilingual immigration strategy and supports the government’s big plans for French-speaking communities outside Quebec.
The French-language path keeps its original requirements. Candidates need French-language test scores of at least 7 in all four language skills on the Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens. The government pays special attention to this category. IRCC ran nine French-language draws throughout 2025, more than any other category.
Canada’s broader French immigration goals show in these numbers. The federal government wants 8.5% of newcomers outside Quebec to speak French by 2025. This target goes up to 10% by 2027 and reaches 10.5% by 2028. The February 6, 2026 draw proved this commitment with 8,500 Invitations to Apply in one French-language round—the biggest such draw yet.
Healthcare and social services jobs stay as priority categories too. These help fix ongoing shortages in Canada’s medical system. IRCC held seven healthcare draws in 2025, which showed the government’s strong focus on this sector. Candidates must have worked full-time for at least 12 months (or part-time equivalent) in the last three years in eligible healthcare jobs.
Minister Diab confirms that both French-language and healthcare streams will stay priority categories for 2026. Healthcare remains a focus alongside other government investments to strengthen Canada’s medical workforce, including special immigration paths for doctors and international medical graduates.
Trades jobs also stay as a priority category for 2026. IRCC only ran one trades draw in 2025, which suggests they’re being more selective than with French-language and healthcare streams. Trades remain important because construction and manufacturing sectors still face worker shortages critical to Canada’s economic backbone.
The science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) category continues in 2026. IRCC didn’t run any STEM-specific draws in 2025. This shows how IRCC switches focus between different priority streams based on job market needs.
The education category that started in February 2025 stays active. IRCC ran two draws that year. This path helps fill gaps in Canadian schools from elementary level through universities.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Category Retired as Transport Stream Returns
Express Entry priorities saw a big change when the agriculture and agri-food jobs category ended. This category started in May 2023. It focused on three main jobs: contractors and supervisors in landscaping and horticulture services (NOC 82031), agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors (NOC 82030), and retail and wholesale butchers (NOC 63201).
The agriculture stream ended even though earlier forecasts showed Canada’s farming industry would face big worker shortages. Over 40% of agricultural workers might retire by 2033. Many immigrants wanted this category – draws in September and December 2023 gave out 600 and 400 invitations.
IRCC brought back a transport category at the same time – but it’s completely different from the one that ended in February 2025. The new transport stream focuses on aviation and mechanical transport services jobs. This matches Minister Diab’s push to improve Canada’s supply chains and transportation systems.
This switch from agriculture to transport shows how CBS lets IRCC quickly change immigration priorities when economic needs shift. Bringing back transport, even in a new form, shows the government knows transportation infrastructure matters for economic stability and supply chains.
Five of the six original 2023 categories (French-language proficiency, healthcare, STEM, trades, transport, and agriculture/agri-food) still run today. Only agriculture has completely ended. The others continue but with different levels of activity in Express Entry.
First Physician Draw Scheduled Following December 2025 Category Launch
IRCC announced a new Express Entry category for international doctors with Canadian work experience on December 8, 2025. Minister Diab says the first draw for this special category will happen in February 2026. This marks a big step in Canada’s targeted approach to getting medical professionals.
This doctor-focused stream shows a change from recruiting to keeping doctors who already work in Canada and know how to work in provincial healthcare systems. Doctors must have worked full-time for at least 12 months (or part-time equivalent) in Canada within the last three years to qualify.
The category looks for three specific job groups: general practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102), specialists in surgery (NOC 31101), and specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (NOC 31100). This precise targeting helps IRCC fix specific doctor shortages in Canada’s medical system.
This special stream tackles ongoing doctor shortages that affect many Canadians. Recent numbers show 5.7 million Canadian adults and 765,000 children don’t have a regular doctor. The Canadian Medical Association says Canada needs about 23,000 more family doctors. They also found that more than 13,000 internationally trained doctors in Canada can’t work in their field because of licensing and integration barriers.
Beyond the Express Entry path, IRCC gave provinces 5,000 more Provincial Nominee Program spots just for licensed doctors with job offers. These add to existing provincial numbers and include faster 14-day work permit processing for nominated doctors, so they can start working while waiting for permanent residence.
The physician category shows how CBS has grown from an extra selection tool to the main way of picking immigrants. IRCC can directly fix workforce gaps in essential services by targeting specific professional groups where we know there are shortages.
Since April 2024, CBS has become the only way for foreign nationals without Canadian work experience or provincial nominations to get picked through Express Entry. All non-category-based, non-Provincial Nominee Program draws since April 23, 2024, have been under the Canadian Experience Class, which needs at least one year of skilled Canadian work experience.
This Express Entry change shows that job background, sector experience, and language skills now matter more than just ranking scores for immigration decisions. People who want permanent residence must understand these category-specific rules to plan their immigration strategy.
The physician category’s start, plus three new streams for researchers, transport workers, and military personnel, shows how Express Entry keeps splitting into more specialized paths targeting specific shortages. The government can now issue invitations with pinpoint accuracy while keeping overall immigration numbers steady.
This strategic specialization helps both Canada and potential immigrants. It creates clear paths to permanent residence for professionals whose skills match national needs. Candidates in the Express Entry pool get different routes to permanent residence that might be easier than competing based on CRS scores alone.
What These Changes Mean for Your Permanent Residence Application
Guiding You Through the New Immigration Landscape: Preparing Your Permanent Residence Application
The Express Entry system has transformed, bringing new challenges and opportunities for future permanent residents. These changes have reshaped how candidates need to position themselves to succeed in Canada’s immigration system. You need to grasp these detailed requirements to make your way through the complex permanent residence pathways.
Understanding the One-Year Work Experience Requirement
Express Entry categories now require double the minimum work experience, making it tougher for applicants. You now need at least one year of skilled work experience within the past three years, up from the previous six-month requirement. This applies to all job categories, showing IRCC’s focus on bringing in professionals with solid expertise.
Canadian Experience Class applicants must get this experience while working in Canada with proper authorization. You can count remote work only if you were physically in Canada working for a Canadian employer. Your experience should match occupations listed as TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 under Canada’s National Occupation Classification system.
The one-year requirement equals 1,560 hours of paid work, which means 30 hours per week for 12 months. You can meet these hours in different ways. Working one full-time job, multiple part-time positions, or even several full-time jobs at once will work. To cite an instance, you could work 15 hours weekly for 24 months instead of 30 hours weekly for 12 months.
Some work experience doesn’t count toward this requirement. Self-employment and work done as a full-time student usually don’t qualify. All the same, foreign physicians providing publicly funded medical services in Canada can count their experience even if they’re self-employed.
Special Requirements for Military Applicants Joining Canadian Armed Forces
Military personnel have their own unique path with specific eligibility rules. Beyond the one-year work experience, military applicants must meet three extra conditions.
Military candidates need at least ten years of continuous service in a recognized foreign military. This extensive requirement ensures only experienced military professionals qualify.
You’ll need a full-time job offer with the Canadian Armed Forces lasting at least three years. This commitment helps Canada build its military strength. The roles include military doctors, nurses, pilots, and other key positions vital to national defense.
Military applicants also need a post-secondary credential from a program lasting at least two years. This shows you have both hands-on military experience and theoretical knowledge.
These tough requirements mean you should talk to immigration experts to check if you qualify and plan your application. Slayen Law’s lawyers can help determine if this specialized immigration path fits your military background.
Strategic Positioning Under Express Entry‘s Comprehensive Ranking System
Category-based selection now leads Express Entry, making strategic positioning crucial. Since April 2024, foreign nationals without Canadian work experience or provincial nominations can only enter through category-based selection. Every non-category, non-PNP draw since April 23, 2024, has used the Canadian Experience Class, which requires at least one year of skilled Canadian work experience.
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) still determines candidate selection based on age, education, language skills, and work experience. IRCC made changes in March 2025 by removing job offer points from the CRS. This eliminated the 200-point bonus for senior management positions and the 50-point bonus for other skilled jobs.
You have several ways to boost your CRS score. French language skills can add up to 50 points and open doors to French speaker draws. Getting a provincial nomination gives you 600 extra points, almost guaranteeing your selection regardless of your base CRS score.
Canadian experience adds substantial value. One more year of Canadian work experience can push you into a higher scoring range. Many international workers and graduates aim to get Canadian work experience before applying for permanent residence.
If you don’t qualify for category-based draws or provincial nominations, getting one year of Canadian work experience for Canadian Experience Class eligibility might be your best option. CEC draw cutoffs have dropped recently, with January 21, 2026, seeing a 509 cutoff, giving candidates with moderate CRS scores better chances.
If you’re already in Canada, keeping your legal status matters regardless of your CRS score. Managing your status, including timely extensions and following permit rules, can determine your Express Entry eligibility. IRCC states that working in Canada with an expired permit can disqualify you from Express Entry.
The updated Express Entry system brings new challenges but offers clear paths for qualified candidates. Understanding these requirements and building qualifications that match Canada’s immigration goals will boost your chances of successful immigration to Canada.
FAQs
Q1. What are the three new occupational categories added to Express Entry? The three new categories are: researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience, transport occupations addressing aviation and logistics shortages, and military personnel recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces.
Q2. How much work experience is now required for Express Entry categories? All Express Entry categories now require at least one year of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time hours) within the past three years, an increase from the previous six-month requirement.
Q3. What are the special requirements for military applicants under the new Express Entry category? Military applicants must have served in a recognized foreign military for at least ten years, secure a full-time job offer with the Canadian Armed Forces for a minimum of three years, and hold a post-secondary credential from a program of at least two years in length.
Q4. Is the agriculture and agri-food category still part of Express Entry? No, the agriculture and agri-food occupations category has been retired from Express Entry. It has been replaced by a new transport category focusing on aviation and mechanical transport services.
Q5. How has category-based selection changed the Express Entry system? Category-based selection has become the primary method for selecting candidates without Canadian work experience or provincial nominations. This approach allows Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to target specific occupations and skills that align with Canada’s economic needs.
