Canada has announced new Express Entry draw categories as it refocuses its immigration system on attracting and retaining highly skilled workers amid growing global competition for talent.
The update focuses on physicians, researchers, senior managers, transport professionals, and skilled military recruits, which reflects a more targeted approach to filling persistent labour and expertise gaps across critical sectors in the country.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced these changes on February 18, 2026, saying the updated category-based selection will allow Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to invite candidates whose skills are most needed across key sectors of the economy.
According to Diab, the government is introducing new Express Entry categories for researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience to reflect the reality of certain professions.
“We’re adding categories for researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience, recognizing that in certain occupations, many years of experience are required to make meaningful contributions,” she said.
She added that, “By providing a clear path to permanent residence, we’re supporting the broader federal efforts to drive innovation and growth, including a $1.7 billion initiative announced in December by Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada to attract world-leading researchers to Canada.”
The update also introduces a new Express Entry category for transport-related roles, including pilots, aircraft mechanics, and inspectors, which Diab described as being essential to Canada’s economic stability and competitiveness.
“We’ve identified these sectors as areas in critical need. Strengthening them helps us move goods across the country and to new markets, supporting trade, supply chains, and economic resilience,” she said.
Alongside these changes, the government is also opening a new pathway for skilled military recruits, targeting foreign military professionals with advanced training and specialized experience.
Under the updated framework, these new additions align with the International Talent Attraction Strategy to support key industries while maintaining long-term balance within Canada’s immigration framework.
While expanding these new pathways, the IRCC will continue to run invitation rounds for candidates with strong French-language skills. The department will also maintain category-based draws for occupations that were already in place previously, including health care and social services roles like nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, and chiropractors, as well as skilled trades such as carpenters, plumbers, and machinists.
David Adubiina
