Updated July 2026. On February 18, 2026, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced Canada’s 2026 Express Entry category-based selection priorities during a speech at the Canadian Club Toronto. Here’s what was actually announced, and what it means for candidates in the pool.
The 2026 Priority Categories
IRCC confirmed it will run category-based invitation rounds targeting six priority groups through 2026:
- Physicians with Canadian work experience
- Researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience
- Transport-sector professionals, including pilots and aircraft mechanics
- STEM specialists
- Trades workers
- Francophone candidates (across all categories)
Two of these — physicians and researchers/senior managers with Canadian experience — are new additions built specifically around candidates who’ve already worked in Canada, rather than applicants abroad.
The Bigger Change: Canadian Work Experience Requirements Doubled
For the first time, IRCC has built a minimum Canadian work experience requirement directly into multiple categories — and raised the bar. Where earlier category-based rounds asked for as little as six months of Canadian experience, the 2026 categories require a full year for the categories where it applies.
What This Means for CRS Cutoffs
Because these rounds target a narrower pool of eligible candidates, immigration advisers expect CRS cutoffs within the targeted categories to fall compared to general draws — which, in practice, can mean a faster path to an ITA for candidates who qualify. IRCC has indicated category-based rounds will account for well over half of all Express Entry invitations issued in 2026.
What to Do If You Might Qualify
- Check whether your occupation’s NOC/TEER code falls under one of the six categories on IRCC’s official category-based selection page.
- If you’re relying on Canadian work experience for one of the physician or researcher/senior manager categories, confirm you meet the new 1-year minimum before assuming eligibility.
- Watch IRCC’s rounds of invitations page for category-specific draws matching your profile.
Source: IRCC, “Canada prioritizes top talent in 2026 immigration Express Entry categories” (February 2026).
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