The federal government of Canada has announced a major update regarding the Express Entry immigration selection system. Three new occupational priority categories have been introduced for permanent residence through the system aimed at attracting skilled professionals to the key sectors of the economy.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has stated that they will prioritize candidates in the new categories in 2026. The new occupational priority categories are
Researchers and Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience—this category targets high-level academic and managerial talent who are already making contributions to Canada’s economy.
Transport Occupations—this category includes pilots, aircraft mechanics and inspectors, flight engineers, etc., occupations with labour shortages in aviation and logistics.
Skilled Military Recruitment Occupations: highly skilled foreign military applicants recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces, such as military doctors, nurses, and pilots.
Along with the introduction of these categories, IRCC has also raised the minimum work experience requirement across all occupational categories from six months to one year of continuous work experience (experience must be gained within the past three years).
The first draw for the physicians with Canadian work experience category (introduced in the Express Entry system on Dec 8, 2025) is likely to take place this week. The existing priority categories—French-language proficiency, healthcare and social services, and trades, are to continue alongside the new categories.
The recent changes have come into being to further refine the Canada immigration by meeting the labour shortages and supporting the growth of the economy and national priorities such as research and defence.
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