Express Entry Categories for 2026: What's New and Recent Draws

IRCC's category pages list the exact eligible occupation codes. You must also meet the rules of one of the three Express Entry programs.

Between July 9 and September 16, 2026 (draws #425 to #444), IRCC held:

There were no STEM, education, trades or researcher draws in that period. A category existing does not mean draws are frequent. French draws had the largest volume in this period (20,000 invitations across four draws). Use the draw tracker for the full history.

• Canadian experience matters more. Three of the new categories require Canadian work experience, and CEC draws continue every few weeks.
• French is the strongest lever for many people. Recent French draws invited 5,000 candidates each with cutoffs in the 380s and 390s.
• The 12-month rule means six months of experience in a renewed category is no longer enough.
• Agriculture workers lost their category. They can still be invited in CEC or general draws, or through the PNP.
• Physician and senior manager cutoffs are low, but the eligible pool is small and tightly defined.

1. Check your occupation code (NOC) against each category's list.
2. Count your full-time experience in that occupation; you need 12 months for renewed categories.
3. Update your Express Entry profile so IRCC can match you to a category.
4. Improve your score with a French test, a better English result, or a provincial nomination. See the CRS calculator and CRS explained.
5. If you are invited, follow the steps in from ITA to COPR.