On February 18, 2026, the Honourable Lena Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced the 2026
Every year, the Government of Canada establishes the occupations and sectors to prioritize for permanent residence applications through the popular Express Entry System.
In category-based rounds of invitations for the program, candidates from the Express Entry pool who are eligible for a specific category established by the Minister to meet an identified economic goal are invited.
For 2026, these are the priority sectors and occupations.
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and social services occupations
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
- Trade occupations
- Education occupations
- Transport occupations
- Physicians with Canadian work experience
- Senior managers with Canadian work experience
- Researchers with Canadian work experience
- Skilled military recruits
The eligibility criteria for each category include work experience, language proficiency, and, in some cases, job offers in Canada. See more information for each sector below:
1. French-language proficiency Category
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
- have at least one year of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) in any TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 job within the past 10 years.
- This work experience could be from inside or outside Canada
- meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round
2. Healthcare and Social Services Category
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 or abroad
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
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) Category
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 or abroad
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
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 Category
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 or abroad
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
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 Category
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 or abroad
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
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 Category
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 or abroad
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
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 Category
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 only
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
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 surgery | 31101 | 1 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 | 1 |
8. Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience Category
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 only
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
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 Category
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 only
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
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
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
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 |
We now know for sure that the 2026 Express Entry Draws will follow the same pattern as they did in 2025. Candidates will be invited to apply for permanent residence in Canada based on any of, having work experience in specific occupations (the categories), having a provincial nomination, or qualifying for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) with work experience of at least One-year in Canada, or having up to a CLB 7 language ability in French.
For those exploring permanent residence in Canada in 2026, the above will serve as a guide to know what to focus on and how to position yourself strategically. We wish you all the best in the application process.
If you’re looking for detailed information on the Express Entry and how to use this to apply for permanent residence in Canada, check the comprehensive step-by-step Express Entry guide here
If you have questions on Career & Personal Development, Personal Finance, or Building a Personal Brand and want to reach out to us, check what we have here.
DISCLAIMER: The posts and information on this website are not legal advice. For any authorized Canadian Immigration information, services, or support, please check the Government of Canada website at www.canada.ca/immigration
© Olu of Canada
