Express Entry 2026: Canada plans new categories for executives, scientists and military personnel

Relevant as of August 12, 2025

The Ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) initiated public consultations, which will last until September 3, 2025, with the purpose of determining new priority categories in the Express Entry system, which will come into force from 2026. This is one of the largest conceptual reforms in the Express Entry system since the introduction of the mechanism of category-based selection in 2023.

According to the announcement of IRCC, an expansion of the list of categories is planned, under which targeted draws will be conducted, in particular — for persons with managerial, scientific and military experience.

Current model of selection of Express Entry in 2025

The Express Entry system is the main instrument of economic immigration to Canada, which is based on the point model Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Into Express Entry are integrated three federal programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Starting from 2023, IRCC introduced selection by categories (category-based draws), which allow giving priority to candidates from specific sectors or with language competencies. In 2025 the priority categories include:

In 2025 there is observed a tendency of preference for:

• candidates with Canadian experience (CEC);
• Francophone applicants outside Quebec.

Proposed new categories for 2026

According to the published consultation materials, IRCC proposes to add three new categories to the system of category-based selection:

These categories are still at the stage of discussion, however already now their potential influence on the Express Entry system is the subject of serious analysis.

Proposed new categories for 2026

Executives & Senior Managers

Essence of category:
This group will cover persons who have confirmed experience of management of enterprises, departments or large teams, as well as strategic decision-making. It concerns not only top managers of international corporations, but also owners of small and medium business who demonstrated ability to create workplaces and support economic growth.

Possible requirements:

• experience of work in managerial positions during at least 3–5 years;
• confirmation of the volume of subordinates (for example, from 10 persons and more);
• participation in development and realization of strategic plans, business models, budget management;
• financial indicators of activity of company (profit, expansion of business).

Examples of professions (by NOC):

• NOC 00012 – Executives in the sphere of finance, communications and others.
• NOC 00015 – Executives in the sphere of trade, retail and wholesale sales.
• NOC 00010 – General directors.

Significance for Canada:
Such immigrants are able to strengthen the middle class, create new workplaces, strengthen economic resilience and competitiveness in global trade.

Researchers & Scientists

Essence of category:
The target group is candidates who have significant academic and research output in the spheres of science, technology and innovations. In particular, these are doctors of sciences, postdoctoral researchers, lecturers with publications in international journals, developers of patents, participants of grant programs.

Possible requirements:

• presence of academic degree (PhD, sometimes Master with big experience of research);
• publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals;
• received grants, participation in international research projects;
• presence of patents or copyrights on innovative technologies;
• recommendations from universities or scientific centers.

Examples of professions (by NOC):

• NOC 21100 – Chemists.
• NOC 21211 – Computer scientists and specialists in AI.
• NOC 21110 – Biologists.
• NOC 21120 – Physicists and astronomers.

Significance for Canada:
This category corresponds to the strategy “Canada’s Science and Innovation Agenda”, which has the aim to transform the country into a global scientific-technological hub. Canada strives to strengthen its status in the sphere of biotechnology, AI and green energy.

Military Personnel

Essence of category:
The proposed category is oriented toward candidates with experience of military service, especially those who specialized in the spheres of command, cybersecurity, logistics, strategic planning. In difference from other categories, this initiative has a pronounced security and geopolitical aspect.

Possible requirements:

• confirmation of service in armed forces;
• minimum 3–5 years of experience in strategic or technical units;
• certificates of passing specialized courses (in cyber defense, international peacekeeping missions, etc.);
• participation in multinational military operations or trainings.

Examples of professions (by NOC):

• NOC 43100 – Military officers.
• NOC 43200 – Specialists in defense and security.
• NOC 22220 – Cybersecurity analysts.

Significance for Canada:
In conditions of global conflicts and growth of threats in the sphere of cybersecurity Canada strives to integrate experienced military personnel, in order to strengthen defense capability, ensure stability and support allied obligations in the framework of NATO.

Analytical context

Reasons for introduction of new categories

1. Global competition for talents
   Countries-competitors of Canada, in particular USA, Great Britain and Australia, have specialized immigration programs for attraction of top managers, innovators and scientists. Canada strives to preserve and strengthen its competitive position.
2. Economic challenges
   Productivity of labor in Canada grows slowly. The government tries to attract persons capable of initiating business models with high added value and technological potential.
3. Geopolitical considerations
   In conditions of global instability it is important to admit persons with experience of military service — especially in the spheres of cybersecurity, strategic planning and logistics.

Expected impact on the system of selection

• In 2025 the category-based draws had lower threshold CRS scores than general draws (on average by 30–60 points).
• Introduction of new categories from 2026 potentially will reduce threshold values even more — for candidates who fall under target professional groups.
• At the same time competition in general (all-program) draws will grow, because part of the quota will be redistributed to new categories.

Forecast of impact on candidates

Analytical table with forecasted consequences for different groups of applicants:

Recommendations regarding preparation

Taking into account the time frames (changes — from 2026), candidates should already now undertake a number of preparatory measures:

1. Assess own professional experience
   Whether it falls under one of the potential new categories.
2. Collect documentary proofs of qualification:

• For executives: job descriptions, reports about results of management projects, references about number of subordinates, financial reports.
• For scientists: copies of publications, references about participation in grant programs, patents, recommendation letters from universities/research centers.
• For military: confirmation of service, description of tasks, references about participation in missions, diplomas about specialized courses.

1. Update profile in Express Entry
   Even if the new category is not yet active, the actual profile can become the basis for quick reaction in 2026.
2. Submit own feedback in the consultation process of IRCC
   Until September 3, 2025 any interested person can submit written comment or proposal regarding criteria of new categories.

Conclusions

The reform of Express Entry, planned for 2026, has the aim to move from mass selection to strategic attraction of influential specialists — executives, scientists and military personnel.

These changes demonstrate the striving of Canada:

• to strengthen the economy by means of import of highly qualified human capital;
• to raise the innovative potential of the state;
• to strengthen defense and cyber security capacity.

For candidates with corresponding professional experience this opens new preferential opportunities. On the contrary, for other applicants competition in traditional streams may increase, which requires additional efforts to raise CRS scores.