Canada Announces 2026 Express Entry Priorities for Immigrant Workers
The Canadian federal government has unveiled updated priorities for permanent residence under its Express Entry immigration system for 2026, marking a significant shift in the types of work experience that will receive preferential treatment for invitations to apply. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab disclosed that three key occupational categories will be prioritized this year: researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience, transport occupations, and skilled military personnel.
Revised Criteria and Increased Requirements
Under the new guidelines, the minimum work experience requirement for all priority categories has been raised to one year, up from the previous six months. This experience does not need to be continuous but must have been acquired within the past three years. Express Entry's category-based selection (CBS) system enhances the chances for foreign nationals in eligible occupations to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Since April 2024, CBS has served as the sole pathway for candidates lacking Canadian work experience or a provincial nomination, with non-CBS draws now conducted exclusively under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Strategic Objectives and Policy Context
Minister Diab emphasized that these adjustments are designed to bolster Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy, a cornerstone of the nation-building economic agenda spearheaded by Mark Carney. She also clarified that asylum claims should not be viewed as an alternative route to immigration and reminded visitors arriving for the FIFA World Cup 2026 that standard entry requirements will remain in effect.
Detailed List of Priority Occupational Categories
The new priority occupational categories, along with example eligible jobs, include:
- Senior Managers with Canadian Experience
- Researchers with Canadian Work Experience
- Post-secondary teaching and research assistants (NOC 41201)
- University professors and lecturers (NOC 41200)
- Skilled Military Recruits
- Operations members of the Canadian Armed Forces (NOC 43204)
- Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces (NOC 42102)
- Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces (NOC 40042)
- Transport Occupations
- Air pilots, flight engineers, and flying instructors (NOC 72600)
- Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers (NOC 72410)
- Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors (NOC 72404)
- Aircraft instrument, electrical, and avionics mechanics, technicians, and inspectors (NOC 22313)
Additional requirements for the military category mandate at least 10 years of continuous service in a recognized foreign military, a full-time Canadian Armed Forces job offer for a minimum of three years, and a post-secondary credential of two years or more.
Recent Developments and Ongoing Priorities
This week will also witness the first Express Entry draw for physicians with Canadian work experience, a category introduced in December 2025. The government will continue to prioritize candidates with French language proficiency, as well as those in healthcare, social services, and skilled trades, although the agriculture and agri-food category has now been retired.
Overview of the Express Entry System
Express Entry remains Canada's primary system for selecting permanent residents. Candidates are evaluated through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which scores factors such as work experience, education, language proficiency, and age. The system also incorporates a foreign spouse's Canadian work experience, education, and language skills into CRS calculations. Since the introduction of category-based selection in May 2023, the system has undergone multiple updates, with categories added, retired, and revised. Historical data indicate that over 144,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) have been issued through CBS since its inception.
