BREAKING: IRCC updates Express Entry for 2026 – new targeted categories and a 1-year work experience minimum.

What IRCC officially confirmed (Feb 18, 2026)

IRCC published a news release confirming the 2026 Express Entry categories and the new focus areas: transport occupations, senior managers with Canadian work experience, researchers with Canadian work experience, and skilled military recruits (plus the previously announced physicians category).
Official source: IRCC news release  “Canada prioritizes top talent in 2026 immigration Express Entry categories” (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2026/02/canada-prioritizes-top-talent-in-2026-immigration-express-entry-categories.html).

IRCC also updated its official “Category-based selection” page (page details show 2026-02-18) listing all current categories and the exact eligibility rules and NOC codes:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/rounds-invitations/category-based-selection.html

Current Express Entry categories (as of Feb 18, 2026)

IRCC’s list now shows 10 categories, including:

• French-language proficiency

• Healthcare and social services

• STEM

• Trades

• Education

• Transport occupations

• Physicians with Canadian work experience

• Senior managers with Canadian work experience

• Researchers with Canadian work experience

• Skilled military recruits

Work experience rule (important update)

On IRCC’s official eligibility sections, most occupation-based categories now require at least 12 months (1 year) of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time) gained within the past 3 years, and it does not need to be continuous.

This matches the idea that the requirement is now one year (even if some older articles previously described a 6-month rule).

NOC lists IRCC shows for the new/updated categories (official)

Transport occupations (Canada or abroad)

IRCC lists:

• 72404 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors

• 72600 Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors

• 22313 Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics/technicians/inspectors

• 72410 Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers

Senior managers with Canadian work experience (must be in Canada)

• 00012, 00013, 00014, 00015

Researchers with Canadian work experience (must be in Canada)

• 41200 University professors and lecturers

• 41201 Post-secondary teaching and research assistants

Skilled military recruits (extra requirements)

IRCC’s page includes additional conditions (not just work experience), including:

• Foreign Skilled Military Applicant with 10 years continuous service

• CAF arranged employment for at least 3 years

• At least a 2-year post-secondary credential (and ECA if outside Canada)

One correction to the CIC News wording (based on government sources)

Some coverage says the “new transport category contains no occupations from the earlier transport category.” That’s not fully accurate, because IRCC’s earlier transport announcement (2023) clearly included pilots, and pilots are also in the 2026 transport list.
Older IRCC transport announcement (Sept 18, 2023): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2023/09/canada-announces-first-ever-category-based-selection-invitations-for-newcomers-with-work-experience-in-transport.html

Government links you can place inside your article (recommended)

• IRCC 2026 categories announcement: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2026/02/canada-prioritizes-top-talent-in-2026-immigration-express-entry-categories.html

• IRCC official category eligibility + NOC lists (updated Feb 18, 2026): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/rounds-invitations/category-based-selection.html

• Express Entry overview: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry.html

• IRCC page to confirm your NOC code: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/find-national-occupation-code.html

• Latest rounds (ministerial instructions list): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/policies-operational-instructions-agreements/ministerial-instructions/express-entry-rounds.html

• Physicians category background (Dec 8, 2025 release): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2025/12/targeted-immigration-measures-to-boost-canadas-supply-of-doctors.html