Building on its continued focus on attracting and retaining highly skilled immigrants, Canada has introduced three new priority occupational categories for permanent residence under the Express Entry system.
Canada will add new categories for researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience; candidates with work experience in transport occupations, including pilots, aircraft mechanics and inspectors; and highly skilled foreign military applicants recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces for key roles such as military doctors, nurses and pilots.
This latest announcement builds on efforts to strengthen Canada’s economic resilience through targeted measures for medical doctors (new category for foreign medical doctors with Canadian work experience), graduate students and researchers, as well as Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy.
“Canada’s future depends on a workforce ready to meet the challenges of a changing economy. By refining Express Entry to focus on the skills our communities truly need, we are strengthening our labour market, supporting provincial priorities and ensuring newcomers can contribute from day one,” said Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
New and renewed categories under the Express Entry system
New categories:
- Medical doctors with Canadian work experience
- Researchers with Canadian work experience
- Senior managers with Canadian work experience
- Transport occupations
- Skilled military recruits with a job offer from the Canadian Armed Forces
Renewed categories:
- French-language proficiency
- Health care and social services occupations
- Education occupations
- Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations
- Trade occupations
The minimum work experience requirement for all renewed categories has increased from six months to one year in an eligible occupation, gained in Canada or abroad within the previous three years. This change is intended to help select candidates who are more likely to succeed in their field in Canada.
As outlined in Budget 2025, the International Talent Attraction Strategy aims to strengthen the jobs and industries that drive Canada’s economy and communities while helping restore balance and long-term sustainability to the immigration system.
Also read: Canada’s 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan: Reduce new arrivals, stabilize residents
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will continue holding invitation rounds for candidates with strong French-language proficiency and those with work experience in the following categories that were in place in 2025:
- Health care and social services occupations, such as nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists and chiropractors
- Trades occupations, such as carpenters, plumbers and machinists
The first round of invitations for foreign medical doctors with Canadian work experience is expected in the coming days.
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