Canada Announces New 2026 Express Entry Categories for International Workers

Canada’s immigration ministry, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has unveiled new 2026 Express Entry categories designed to attract international workers with specific skills and experience needed in the country.

IRCC Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the new categories will help Canada invite candidates who can quickly contribute to the economy, while keeping immigration at levels the government describes as sustainable.

Express Entry is Canada’s main application system for people seeking permanent residence through routes such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, Canadian Experience Class, and parts of the Provincial Nominee Program. Canada says the system is designed to attract highly skilled workers to fill labour shortages and support economic growth.

Under Canada’s 2025–2026 immigration plans, the government is placing stronger emphasis on selecting candidates who already have Canadian work experience, making it easier for them to transition into permanent residence. At the same time, Canada plans to keep permanent resident admissions below 1% of the country’s population annually beyond 2027, while still attracting global talent.

Canada also aims to reduce the share of temporary residents to 5% of the population by the end of 2026. The plan sets overall temporary resident targets of 673,650 for 2025, 516,600 for 2026, and 543,600 for 2027.

The newly announced Express Entry categories are expected to create clearer pathways for top international talent, especially those with Canadian experience in key sectors. Canada is particularly interested in inviting foreign medical doctors with Canadian work experience, and it has also introduced new categories covering research roles and senior management positions for candidates with Canadian experience.

Other newly highlighted areas include aviation, transportation, and foreign military officers. IRCC also said it will continue selecting candidates with strong French-language skills, as well as those working in health care and social services.

Officials noted that immigration accounts for almost all of Canada’s labour force growth, helping the country address worker shortages in important sectors. The minister added that these targeted categories are meant to strengthen Canada’s economy through focused recruitment of medical doctors, graduate students, and researchers, and by supporting priorities linked to the country’s defence industrial strategy.

2026 Express Entry categories mentioned

The categories include candidates such as medical doctors, researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience; people with French-language proficiency; health care and social services professionals; trades workers; educators; STEM professionals; transport workers; pilots, aircraft mechanics and inspectors; and highly skilled foreign military applicants recruited for critical roles like military doctors, nurses and pilots.

The update follows earlier reforms in 2025, when Canada introduced new categories and expanded eligible occupations to address labour shortages, including launching additional permanent residence pathways even while adjusting overall immigration targets.