Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has officially announced the Express Entry category-based selection priorities for 2026, outlining the occupational and skills groups that may receive targeted invitations throughout the year.
Category-based rounds are designed to complement general and program-specific draws, helping Canada meet identified economic and labour market needs.
Current Express Entry Categories for 2026
The following categories have been confirmed:
- 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
These categories reflect Canada’s ongoing focus on strengthening key sectors, supporting Francophone communities outside Quebec, and addressing labour shortages across industries.
How IRCC Uses Category-Based Rounds
Category-based rounds are intended to supplement other types of invitations under Express Entry. However, IRCC may choose not to hold a category-specific draw if enough top-ranking candidates within a category are already being invited through general or program-specific rounds.
This flexible approach allows the department to adjust invitations based on real-time labour market demands.
How Categories Are Chosen
IRCC determines categories based on:
- Labour market information and projections
- Input from partners, including provinces and territories
- Feedback from stakeholders across Canada
Each year, IRCC reports to Parliament on:
- The categories selected in the previous year
- The reasons and methodology behind their selection
- The official instructions establishing each category
- The number of invitations issued per category
In addition, category-based selection data will be included in the Express Entry Year-End Report, and categories will be monitored and assessed regularly.
Who Is Eligible for Category-Based Rounds?
To be eligible for an invitation under a category-based round, candidates must:
- Meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry, including eligibility under one of the three federal immigration programs it covers
- Meet all requirements outlined in the specific instructions for that category
When conducting a category-based round, IRCC ranks eligible candidates within the pool who meet the category criteria and invites the highest-ranking individuals to apply for permanent residence.
Why This Matters
The 2026 category-based priorities provide greater transparency for candidates and employers by clarifying which skills and occupations may receive targeted invitations.
For prospective applicants, aligning work experience, language proficiency, and Canadian experience with these priority categories could significantly improve chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) under Express Entry this year.