The Canadian federal government has announced new priorities for permanent residence under its Express Entry immigration system for 2026, signalling a shift in the types of work experience that will receive priority for invitations to apply.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab revealed that three occupational categories will be prioritised this year: researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience, transport occupations, and skilled military personnel.
Under the revised criteria, the minimum work experience requirement for all priority categories has been increased to one year, up from six months. The experience does not need to be continuous but must have been gained within the past three years.
Express Entry’s category-based selection (CBS) gives foreign nationals in eligible occupations a higher chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Since April 2024, CBS has been the only pathway for candidates without Canadian work experience or a provincial nomination, with non-CBS draws now conducted only under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Diab said these changes are designed to support Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy, a key component of the nation-building economic agenda led by Mark Carney. The minister also pointed out that asylum claims should not be treated as a backdoor to immigration, and reminded visitors arriving for the FIFA World Cup 2026 that standard entry requirements will still apply.
The new priority occupational categories and 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)
Additional requirements for the military category include at least 10 years of continuous service in a recognised foreign military, a full-time Canadian Armed Forces job offer for at least three years, and a post-secondary credential of two years or more.
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)
This week will also see the first Express Entry draw for physicians with Canadian work experience, a category introduced in December 2025.
The government will continue to prioritise candidates with French language proficiency, as well as those in healthcare, social services and skilled trades, though the agriculture and agri-food category has now been retired.
Express Entry remains Canada’s principal system for selecting permanent residents. Candidates are assessed through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which scores factors such as work experience, education, language proficiency and age. The system also considers a foreign spouse’s Canadian work experience, education and language skills in CRS calculations.
Since the introduction of category-based selection in May 2023, the system has undergone several updates, with categories added, retired and revised. Historical data show that more than 144,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) have been issued through CBS since its inception.
