Canada · OverviewFrançais
Express Entry categories
Category-based Express Entry draws for 2026: French, healthcare, trades, physicians, researchers, senior managers, transport and military recruits.
In this section
- Education categoryOpenThe education category lets IRCC invite Express Entry candidates with recent experience as teachers, early childhood educators, teacher assistants, or instructors of persons with disabilities. It is still on the 2026 list on canada.ca. You need at least 12 months of full-time (or equal part-time) experience in one of five listed occupations in the last 3 years, in Canada or abroad, and you must qualify for an Express Entry program.
- French categoryOpenThe French-language proficiency category lets IRCC invite Express Entry candidates who score at least NCLC 7 in all four abilities on an approved French test, whatever their occupation. It is one of the categories kept for 2026. Strong French can also add up to 50 extra points to your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
- Healthcare categoryOpenThe healthcare and social services category lets IRCC invite Express Entry candidates with recent experience in listed health and social service jobs, such as nurses, physicians, pharmacists, nurse aides, and social workers. For 2026 you need at least 12 months of full-time (or equal part-time) experience in one listed occupation in the last 3 years, gained in Canada or abroad. You must also qualify for an Express Entry program.
- Military recruits categoryOpenThe skilled military recruits category is a new Express Entry category for 2026. It is for experienced members of recognized foreign militaries who have been offered a full-time job of at least 3 years with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) through the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group. You need at least 10 years of continuous foreign military service, a 2-year post-secondary credential, and eligibility for an Express Entry program.
- Physicians categoryOpenThe physicians with Canadian work experience category is a new Express Entry category for 2026. It lets IRCC invite doctors who have at least 12 months of work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years, as a specialist or family physician. The first draw in early 2026 had a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoff of 169, far below typical general draws.
- Researchers categoryOpenThe researchers with Canadian work experience category is a new Express Entry category for 2026. It lets IRCC invite candidates with at least 12 months of work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years, as university professors and lecturers or post-secondary teaching and research assistants. Experience outside Canada does not count, and you must also qualify for an Express Entry program.
- Senior managers categoryOpenThe senior managers with Canadian work experience category is a new Express Entry category for 2026. It lets IRCC invite candidates with at least 12 months of work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years, in one of four senior management occupations (NOC 00012 to 00015). Experience outside Canada does not count, and you must also qualify for an Express Entry program.
- STEM categoryOpenThe STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) category lets IRCC invite Express Entry candidates with recent experience in listed technical occupations, such as civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers, engineering technologists, and cybersecurity specialists. It is still on the 2026 list on canada.ca. You need 12 months of full-time (or equal part-time) experience in one listed occupation in the last 3 years, in Canada or abroad.
- Trades categoryOpenThe trades category lets IRCC invite Express Entry candidates with recent experience in listed trade occupations, such as electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, and heavy-duty equipment mechanics. For 2026 you need at least 12 months of full-time (or equal part-time) experience in one listed trade in the last 3 years, in Canada or abroad. You must also be eligible for an Express Entry program, not only the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
- Transport categoryOpenThe transport category lets IRCC invite Express Entry candidates with recent experience in listed transport occupations. As of September 2026, canada.ca lists four: air pilots and flying instructors, aircraft mechanics and inspectors, avionics technicians, and automotive, truck and bus mechanics. You need 12 months of full-time (or equal part-time) experience in one of them in the last 3 years, in Canada or abroad.
General information, not legal advice. NorthAmericans.com is independent and not affiliated with any government.