CANADA ANNOUNCES NEW PRIORITY SECTORS FOR THE EXPRESS ENTRY PROGRAM | STARTING FROM 2/2026

Starting from February 2026, the Canadian government will officially adjust its immigration strategy through the Express Entry system. Instead of focusing solely on the overall CRS score, Canada will strengthen sector-based selection to directly address labor shortages in key fields.

3 New Professional Groups Prioritized for Immigration

Alongside the traditional sectors (such as Healthcare, STEM, and Skilled Trades), 2026 will see the emergence of three strategic target groups:

• Senior Researchers & Managers: Preference is given to those who have work experience in Canada. This group includes university professors, research assistants, and managers in fields such as construction, transportation, manufacturing, and public services.
• Transport Industry (Especially Aviation): Focus on highly skilled professionals such as pilots, aerospace engineers, aircraft inspectors, and transportation mechanics.
• Military & Defense Personnel: This is a new step aimed at attracting highly skilled foreign military candidates (such as doctors, nurses, or military pilots) to be recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

At the same time, other changes are also affecting the situation and the immigration sector this year.

• Increased experience requirements: For certain extended sectors (such as Healthcare, STEM, Skilled Trades), the minimum work experience requirement has increased from 6 months to 1 year (within the past 3 years).
• Priority for doctors in Canada: A separate pathway has been established for foreign doctors who already have practical experience working in Canadian healthcare facilities.
• Maintaining priority for the French language: Language remains an important factor, with the goal of achieving a 12% rate of French-speaking immigration outside Quebec by 2029.
• Remove the Agriculture group: The Agriculture and Food (Agri-food) sector has been removed from the 2026 priority list.

Narrowing the selection scope to specialized industry groups helps candidates on this list have the opportunity to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) with a lower CRS score compared to general draws. This is a golden opportunity for talents with deep expertise and practical experience to contribute to Canada’s economy and national security.