Today, the Honourable Lena Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced the 2026 Express Entry categories, which include new categories.
In addition to a new category for foreign medical doctors with Canadian work experience that was introduced in late 2025, Canada will introduce the following new categories in 2026
- ✅researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience
- ✅candidates with work experience in transport occupations, including pilots, aircraft mechanics, and inspectors
- ✅highly skilled foreign military applicants recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces in key roles such as military doctors, nurses and pilots
Since 2023, Canada has been conducting occupation-specific draws to attract skilled workers who are interested in becoming permanent residents in Canada under the Express Entry System.
Other key changes to note in 2026 are:
✅We now have a total of 10 Categories
✅The Agriculture category has been removed
✅The required work experience in the occupation categories is now at least 12-months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) within the last 3 years
In Summary, the list of categories for the Express Entry Category-based selection in 2026 are:
1. French-language proficiency
To be eligible, you must:
- have French-language test results that show a minimum score of 7 in all 4 language abilities on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens
- meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round
2. Healthcare and social services occupations
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) in a single occupation listed below. The experience can also be from inside or outside Canada.
The healthcare and social services category has 37 occupations.
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | 2021 TEER category |
|---|---|---|
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 32104 | 2 |
| Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 31112 | 1 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 | 2 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 | 1 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 | 2 |
| Dentists | 31110 | 1 |
| Dietitians and nutritionists | 31121 | 1 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 | 1 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 | 2 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 | 2 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 | 3 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 | 2 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 | 2 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 | 2 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 | 3 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 | 1 |
| Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 31300 | 1 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 | 1 |
| Optometrists | 31111 | 1 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 | 2 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 | 1 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 | 2 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 | 2 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 | 1 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 | 3 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 | 2 |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 | 1 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 | 1 |
| Psychologists | 31200 | 1 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 | 1 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 | 2 |
| Social and community service workers | 42201 | 2 |
| Social workers | 41300 | 1 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 | 1 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 | 1 |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 | 1 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 | 1 |
3. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) in a single occupation listed below. The experience can also be from inside or outside Canada.
The Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) category has 11 occupations.
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | 2021 TEER category |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture and science managers | 20011 | 0 |
| Civil engineering technologists and technicians | 22300 | 2 |
| Civil Engineers | 21300 | 1 |
| Cybersecurity specialists | 21220 | 1 |
| Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians | 22310 | 2 |
| Electrical and electronics engineers | 21310 | 1 |
| Geological Engineers | 21331 | 1 |
| Industrial and manufacturing engineers | 21321 | 1 |
| Insurance agents and brokers | 63100 | 3 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 22301 | 2 |
| Mechanical Engineers | 21301 | 1 |
4. Trade occupations
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) in a single occupation listed below. The experience can also be from inside or outside Canada.
The Trade category has 25 occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | 2021 TEER category |
|---|---|---|
| Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services | 82021 | 2 |
| Floor covering installers | 73113 | 3 |
| Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) | 73112 | 3 |
| Roofers and shinglers | 73110 | 3 |
| Concrete finishers | 73100 | 3 |
| Other technical trades and related occupations | 72999 | 2 |
| Water well drillers | 72501 | 2 |
| Electrical mechanics | 72422 | 2 |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 | 2 |
| Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 72401 | 2 |
| Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 | 2 |
| Bricklayers | 72320 | 2 |
| Cabinetmakers | 72311 | 2 |
| Carpenters | 72310 | 2 |
| Gas fitters | 72302 | 2 |
| Plumbers | 72300 | 2 |
| Industrial electricians | 72201 | 2 |
| Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 | 2 |
| Welders and related machine operators | 72106 | 2 |
| Sheet metal workers | 72102 | 2 |
| Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors | 72100 | 2 |
| Home building and renovation managers | 70011 | 0 |
| Construction managers | 70010 | 0 |
| Butchers – retail and wholesale | 63201 | 3 |
| Construction estimators | 22303 | 2 |
5. Education occupations
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) in a single occupation listed below. The experience can also be from inside or outside Canada.
The Education category has 5 occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | 2021 TEER category |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants | 43100 | 3 |
| Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 | 2 |
| Early childhood educators and assistants | 42202 | 2 |
| Elementary school and kindergarten teachers | 41221 | 1 |
| Secondary school teachers | 41220 | 1 |
6. Transport Occupations
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time, continuous work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) in a single occupation listed below. The experience can also be from inside or outside Canada.
The Transport category has 4 occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | 2021 TEER category |
|---|---|---|
| Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors | 72600 | 2 |
| Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers | 72410 | 2 |
| Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 72404 | 2 |
| Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors | 22313 | 2 |
7. Physicians with Canadian work experience
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) —this experience does not need to be continuous
- in a single occupation listed in the table below (no matter your primary occupation)
- in Canada
The Physicians with Canadian work experience category has 3 occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | 2021 TEER category |
|---|---|---|
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 | 1 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 | 1 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 | 1 |
8. Senior Managers with Canadian work experience
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) — this experience does not need to be continuous
- in a single occupation listed in the table below (no matter your primary occupation)
- in Canada
The Senior Managers with Canadian work experience category has 4 occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | 2021 TEER category |
|---|---|---|
| Senior managers – construction, transportation, production and utilities | 00015 | 0 |
| Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services | 00014 | 0 |
| Senior managers – health, education, social and community services and membership organizations | 00013 | 0 |
| Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services | 00012 | 0 |
9. Researchers with Canadian work experience
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) — this experience does not need to be continuous
- in a single occupation listed in the table below (no matter your primary occupation)
- in Canada
The Researchers with Canadian work experience category has 2 occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | 2021 TEER category |
|---|---|---|
| Post-secondary teaching and research assistants | 41201 | 1 |
| University professors and lecturers | 41200 | 1 |
10. Skilled Military Recruits
To be eligible, you must:
- be a Foreign Skilled Military Applicant (FSMA)
- eligible foreign national who is serving in a recognized foreign military
- with a minimum of ten years of continuous service
- has work experience and training aligned with the main duties of one or more of these National Occupational Classification occupations:
- 40042 (Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces)
- 42102 (Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces)
- 43204 (Operations members of the Canadian Armed Forces)
- have an offer of arranged employment with the Canadian Armed Forces that is
- made by the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group for continuous full-time work in Canada lasting at least 3 years
- listed in National Occupational Classification
- 40042 (Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces)
- 42102 (Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces)
- 43204 (Operations members of the Canadian Armed Forces)
- have at least a 2-year post-secondary credential
- If you completed your education outside Canada, you’ll need to get your education credential assessed to show that it’s equal
The Skilled Military Recruits category has 3 occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code | 2021 TEER category |
|---|---|---|
| Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces | 43204 | 3 |
| Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces | 42102 | 2 |
| Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces | 40042 | 0 |
For more information on the express entry permanent residence process in Canada, check the free application guide we have here.
I wish you the best in Canada!
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DISCLAIMER: The posts and information on this website are not legal advice. We are not Canadian Immigration Consultants and do NOT provide Canadian Immigration Services. For any authorized Canadian Immigration information, services, or support, please check the Government of Canada website at www.canada.ca/immigration
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