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Express Entry Update – February 18, 2026: Canada Announces New Categories and Expanded Talent Priorities

  • Feb 18
  • 5 min read

Canada has once again reshaped its Express Entry system—this time with a strong emphasis on attracting top global talent, senior leadership, research excellence, and military expertise.


What IRCC Announced Today – February 18, 2026


IRCC confirmed it will introduce three new priority Express Entry categories for 2026:


  • Researchers with Canadian work experience

  • Senior Managers and Executives with Canadian work experience

  • Highly Skilled Military Personnel

  • Transport (re-introduced with new occupations)



Additionally, IRCC added a dedicated Physicians with Canadian Work Experience category on December 8, 2025.


These categories reflect Canada’s goal of attracting leaders who can drive innovation, boost competitiveness, and support national defence capability.


IRCC has increased the work experience requirement for eligibility in occupation based category draws to at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or the equivalent in part-time experience) in a single eligible occupation in the previous 3 years.


IRCC also confirmed that the first draw under the Physicians with Canadian Work Experience category—introduced in late 2025—will occur this week.


Finally, IRCC updated all category‑based selection occupation lists, which now include new and expanded eligible NOC codes across multiple categories.


2025 vs. 2026 Express Entry Categories

Category

2025

2026

French‑language proficiency

✔️

✔️

Healthcare

✔️

✔️

STEM

✔️

✔️

Trades

✔️

✔️ (cooks removed and butchers added)

Agriculture & agri‑food

✔️

❌ (butchers added to trade category)

Education

✔️ (new 2025)

✔️

Physicians w/ Canadian experience

✔️ (new Dec 2025)

✔️ (active draws begin)

Transport

❌ (removed)

✔️ (re-added with new occupations)

Researchers

❌

✔️ (new 2026)

Senior Managers & Executives

❌

✔️ (new 2026)

Highly Skilled Military Personnel

❌

✔️ (new 2026)

The occupation specific categories for 2026 are:


A. French-language Proficiency


B. Healthcare Occupations Category

  1. Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians - NOC 32104

  2. Audiologists and speech language pathologists - NOC 31112

  3. Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists – NOC 32123

  4. Chiropractors - NOC 31201

  5. Dental hygienists and dental therapists - 32111

  6. Dentists - NOC 31110

  7. Dieticians and nutritionists - NOC 31121

  8. General practitioners and family physicians - NOC 31102

  9. Licensed practical nurses - NOC 32101

  10. Massage therapists - NOC 32201

  11. Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations - NOC 33101

  12. Medical laboratory technologists - NOC 32120

  13. Medical radiation technologists - NOC 32121

  14. Medical sonographers - NOC 32122

  15. Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates - NOC 33102

  16. Nurse practitioners - NOC 31302

  17. Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors - NOC 31300

  18. Occupational therapists - NOC 31203

  19. Optometrists - NOC 31111

  20. Other medical technologists and technicians - NOC 32129

  21. Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating - NOC 31209

  22. Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment - NOC 32109

  23. Paramedical occupations - NOC 32102

  24. Pharmacists - NOC 31120

  25. Pharmacy technicians - NOC 32124

  26. Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals - NOC 31303

  27. Physiotherapists - NOC 31202

  28. Psychologists - NOC 31200

  29. Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses - NOC 31301

  30. Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists - NOC 32103

  31. Social and community service workers - NOC 42201

  32. Social workers - NOC 41300 - NEW

  33. Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine - NOC 31100

  34. Specialists in surgery - NOC 31101

  35. Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies - NOC 41301

  36. Veterinarians - NOC 31103


C. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Occupations Category

  1. Architecture and science managers - NOC 20011

  2. Civil engineering technologists and technicians - NOC 22300

  3. Civil Engineers - NOC 21300

  4. Cybersecurity specialists - NOC 21220

  5. Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians - NOC 22310

  6. Electrical and electronics engineers - NOC 21310

  7. Geological Engineers - NOC 21331

  8. Industrial and manufacturing engineers - NOC 21321

  9. Insurance agents and brokers - NOC 63100

  10. Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians - NOC 22301

  11. Mechanical Engineer - NOC 21301


D. Trade Occupations Category

  1. Bricklayers – NOC 72320

  2. Butchers – retail and wholesale – NOC 63201

  3. Cabinetmakers – NOC 72311

  4. Carpenters - NOC 72310

  5. Concrete Finishers - NOC 73100

  6. Construction estimators - NOC 22303

  7. Construction Managers - 70010

  8. Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics - NOC 72400

  9. Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services - NOC 82021

  10. Electrical mechanics - NOC 72422

  11. Electricians (except industrial and power system) - NOC 72200

  12. Floor covering installers - NOC 73113

  13. Gas fitters - NOC 72302

  14. Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics - NOC 72402

  15. Heavy-duty equipment mechanics - NOC 72401

  16. Home building and renovation managers - NOC 70011

  17. Industrial electricians - NOC 72201

  18. Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors - NOC 72100

  19. Other technical trades and related occupations - NOC 72999

  20. Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) - NOC 73112

  21. Plumbers - NOC 72300

  22. Roofers and shinglers - NOC 73110

  23. Sheet metal workers - NOC 72102

  24. Water well drillers - NOC 72501

  25. Welders and related machine operators - NOC 72106


E. Education Occupation Category

  1. Early childhood educators and assistants - NOC 42202

  2. Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants - NOC 43100

  3. Elementary school and kindergarten teachers - NOC 41221

  4. Instructors of persons with disabilities - NOC 42203

  5. Secondary school teachers - NOC 41220


F. Transport

1.      Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors – NOC 72600 - NEW

2.      Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers – NOC 72410 - NEW

3.      Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors – NOC 72404 - NEW

4.      Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors – NOC

22313 – NEW


G. Physicians with Canadian Work Experience

*Must have at least 12 months of eligible experience in Canada and they must be licensed to practice in Canada


1.      General practitioners and family physicians – NOC 31102 – NEW

2.      Specialists in surgery – NOC 31101 – NEW

3.      Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine – NOC 31100 - NEW


H. Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience

*Must have at least 12 months of eligible experience in Canada


1.      Senior managers - construction, transportation, production and utilities – NOC 00015 – NEW

2.      Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other services – NOC 00014 – NEW

3.      Senior managers - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations – NOC 00013 – NEW

4.      Senior managers - financial, communications and other business services – NOC 00012 – NEW


H. Researchers with Canadian work experience

*Must have at least 12 months of eligible experience in Canada


1.      Post-secondary teaching and research assistants – NOC 41201 – NEW

2.      University professors and lecturers – NOC 41200 - NEW


I. Skilled Military Recruits

*See IRCC website for additional requirements for this category

1.      Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces – NOC 43204 – NEW

2.      Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces – NOC 42102 – NEW

3.      Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces – NOC 40042 - NEW



IRCC Backgrounder: Attracting the world’s best talent to fill Canada’s labour gaps and build our economy https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2026/02/attracting-the-worlds-best-talent-to-fill-canadas-labour-gaps-and-build-our-economy.html




 

 
 
 

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