Canada reveals new Express Entry immigration categories for 2026
Those looking for a quicker pathway to citizenship in Canada should check if their occupation is a part of the new Express Entry categories for 2026.
On Wednesday, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a new slate of categories for the country’s Express Entry system, which is used to manage immigration applications from skilled workers.
“Canada’s future depends on a workforce ready to meet the challenges of a changing economy,” states Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab. “By refining Express Entry to focus on the skills our communities truly need, we are strengthening our labour market, supporting provincial priorities and ensuring newcomers can contribute from day one.”
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Canada will soon be inviting candidates for the following new Express Entry categories for 2026:
- Researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience
- Candidates with work experience in transport occupations, including pilots, aircraft mechanics and inspectors
- Highly skilled foreign military applicants recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces in key roles such as military doctors, nurses, and pilots
These are in addition to the new category for foreign medical doctors with at least one year of Canadian work experience, which was announced in December. The first round of invitations for this category will be in the coming days, states the IRCC.
IRCC says these new Express Entry categories allow Canada to invite candidates with the skills and experience “needed to fill critical labour gaps” in the country’s workforce.
The government agency is still holding invitation rounds to select candidates with strong French skills and those with experience in the following categories introduced in 2025:
- Health care and social services, such as nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, and chiropractors
- Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and machinists
Canada’s Express Entry system manages applications from the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the Canadian Experience Class and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Program.
To learn more, check out the IRCC’s full release.