Key takeaways
- IRCC confirmed 10 category-based selection groups for 2026 on February 18, 2026.
- Five were renewed (French, healthcare and social services, STEM, trades, education) and five are new (physicians, researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience, transport, skilled military recruits).
- Agriculture and agri-food was dropped.
- A category is not an invitation. You must qualify for an Express Entry program and meet the instructions of the particular round.
The 10 categories for 2026
- Category: French-language proficiency; Status: Renewed; Canadian experience required?: No
- Category: Healthcare and social services; Status: Renewed; Canadian experience required?: No
- Category: Trade occupations; Status: Renewed; Canadian experience required?: No
- Category: STEM occupations; Status: Renewed; Canadian experience required?: No
- Category: Education occupations; Status: Renewed; Canadian experience required?: No
- Category: Physicians with Canadian work experience; Status: New; Canadian experience required?: Yes
- Category: Researchers with Canadian work experience; Status: New; Canadian experience required?: Yes
- Category: Senior managers with Canadian work experience; Status: New; Canadian experience required?: Yes
- Category: Transport occupations; Status: New; Canadian experience required?: No
- Category: Skilled military recruits; Status: New; Canadian experience required?: No
Several occupation categories require 12 months of eligible experience, but the location, timing and other conditions differ. French-language selection and the newer categories have their own requirements. Check your category's current instructions.
Checking invitation rounds
Use IRCC's rounds of invitations page for the date, category, invitation count and CRS cut-off of each round. Past cut-offs are not a promise of future invitations.
What this means for you
- If you are outside Canada, compare your occupation, language results and program eligibility against the current category instructions before choosing a strategy.
- If you are in Canada, review your Canadian work history, program eligibility and the announced November 3 changes together, rather than relying on a category label alone.
- A qualifying Express Entry-linked provincial nomination can add CRS points, but the provincial stream has its own eligibility and intake requirements.
FAQ
How many Express Entry categories are there in 2026? Ten: French plus nine occupation-based categories.
Do all categories hold separate draws? Not necessarily. IRCC chooses the round types and publishes the instructions for each round.
What score do I need? It changes by round. Check the official round that applies to you rather than relying on an old lowest-score headline.
Find out which category your work history actually fits, before you build your profile. Book an Express Entry strategy session.
General information, not legal advice. Not affiliated with IRCC or any government. No outcome can be guaranteed.
Sources
General information to help prepare your questions. This article does not assess your individual circumstances.