These are the biggest changes coming to Express Entry in 2026

Express Entry, Canada’s main application management system for skilled immigration, is set to undergo some big updates in the coming year.

In 2026, the federal government will continue to target skilled workers from specific occupational categories to help it meet gaps in the labour market.

This article will cover some of the notable changes expected in 2026.

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Start of Express Entry draws for physicians with Canadian work experience

On December 8, Immigration Minister Lena Diab announced the launch of a new Express Entry category specifically for physicians with Canadian work experience.

This new category differs from the existing healthcare and social services category by

Requiring candidates to have at least one year of work experience to qualify (as opposed to at least six months); and
Requiring that one year of experience to be Canadian (as opposed to Canadian or international experience).

As with all other categories, candidates must continue to meet all the requirements in the instructions for that round and be eligible for at least one of Express Entry’s three programs.

Those who believe they may be eligible under this new category can create or update their Express Entry profiles now. More details can be found here.

Draws under this new category will begin in early 2026.

Category-based selection draws were introduced in 2023 to allow Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to target candidates who have in-demand skills. These categories are reviewed and adjusted each year so that selection stays aligned with Canada’s evolving labour market needs and policy priorities.

For details about eligibility for category-based selection draws, check our dedicated webpage on the topic.

Potential introduction of new categories for category-based selection

The federal government has proposed the introduction of three additional occupational categories for Express Entry in 2026:

Leadership (senior managers) – aimed at highly skilled senior managers who oversee operations and lead teams.
Research and innovation (scientists and researchers) – to prioritize researchers and scientists whose work can drive innovation, productivity, and long-term economic performance.
National security and defence (military personnel) – to support the Canadian Armed Forces through the prioritization of highly skilled military recruits from partner nations

The proposals remain subject to change, and details on implementation — including exact occupations and timelines — will only be confirmed once the federal government completes its review and publishes updated instructions.

Updates to current categories, including priority categories

Apart from the newly-introduced physicians category, Canada has five occupational categories in 2025:

STEM;
Trades;
Healthcare and social services;
Education; and
Agriculture and agri-food.

Amongst these, in February, IRCC listed healthcare and social services, trades, and education as priority categories—in addition to French-language proficiency.

It remains to be seen whether the occupational categories being prioritized will continue to be in 2026, or whether IRCC will give other categories priority status.

It’s worth noting that STEM and Agriculture and Agri-food categories have not had any draws in 2025 (as of time of writing).

Increased Provincial Nominee Program allocation

To meet admissions targets, IRCC usually assigns provinces and territories an annual nomination allocation.

Provinces use this allocation to determine how many foreign nationals they can nominate for permanent residency through their PNP streams—some of which are Express Entry-aligned.

The federal government’s increase in PNP PR admissions in 2026 will result in an increased nomination allocation for PNPs, though by how much is currently unclear.

This increased allocation may translate to more PNP draws through the Express Entry system in 2026, which was the most frequently drawn program under Express Entry this year.

This is good news for candidates who are seeking PR through PNP streams

Provinces are expected to be informed of their increased nomination allocation in early 2026

Assess your eligibility for Express Entry-aligned PNP streams

Continued focus on francophone immigration

The latest Immigration Levels Plan reinforces Canada’s commitment to francophone immigration (outside of Quebec).

As per the Plan, the target for Francophone admissions outside Quebec for 2026 is 9%—an increase from the 2025 target of 8.5% (in last year’s Immigration Levels Plan).

This is part of Canada’s overall commitment to increase Francophone immigration outside Quebec. The Levels Plan has committed to a target of 10.5% admissions by 2028, supporting a broader goal of achieving 12% by 2029.

To qualify for a French-language proficiency draw, you have to:

Meet the eligibility criteria for one of Canada’s three Express Entry Programs;
Be in the candidate pool;
Have French language test results of Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC level 7) across all four language abilities; and
Meet all the requirements in the instructions for that round.

You can learn more about how to improve your French-language proficiency here.

Update to Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC)

Canada is preparing a major overhaul of its National Occupational Classification (NOC) system in 2026. The NOC is central to determining eligibility for numerous immigration pathways, including Express Entry.

Any changes to job titles, occupational categories, or main duties may directly affect who qualifies for specific programs.

The federal government conducts a comprehensive review of the NOC every five years to ensure it reflects current labour market conditions. The upcoming 2026 revision has been designated as a major update, meaning significant structural and content changes are expected. An official announcement is anticipated in December 2025, with implementation scheduled for 2026.

A total of 165 unit groups are expected to be impacted by real and virtual changes.

Some of the changes include:

Revised titles and/or definitions; and/or
Updates to definitions, lead statements, main duties, employment requirements, and exclusions.

New language test for PR applications

Foreign nationals may also have a new test option available to prove English language proficiency for certain PR application types, including Express Entry-managed programs.

In August 2025, it was announced that the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) would be added to the list of English-language tests currently accepted:

Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP);
International English Language Testing System (IELTS); and
Pearson Test of English (PTE Core).

While IRCC has yet to announce when it will begin accepting this test, it is working with the Education Testing Service (ETS)—which administers the TOEFL—on the steps leading to its acceptance, and we may see this implemented at some point in 2026.

About Express Entry

Express Entry is Canada’s main system for managing applications for PR under three skilled worker programs:

Federal Skilled Worker Program;
Federal Skilled Trades Program; and
Canadian Experience Class.

Introduced in 2015, it uses a points-based Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to evaluate candidates on factors such as age, education, work experience, and language ability. Those with the highest scores are invited to apply for PR through regular draws.

Express Entry is designed to help Canada meet its labour market needs by attracting skilled talent from around the world.

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