On this page you will find:
- The main Express Entry reforms in IRCC’s 2026–27 Departmental Plan
- What IRCC says about the return of job offer points
- How category-based selection is expected to change in 2026
- Other major immigration measures in the 2026–2028 plan
- What the changes could mean for candidates and employers
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has set out a significant new direction for Express Entry in its 2026–27 Departmental Plan, including plans to bring back points for job offers.
The document makes clear that Express Entry will remain a central tool in Canada’s economic immigration system as the federal government tries to balance lower overall immigration targets with a stronger focus on labour shortages, Canadian work experience and Francophone immigration outside Quebec.
For candidates, the message is straightforward. IRCC wants Express Entry to do more than simply rank applicants on broad human capital factors. It now plans to use the system more deliberately to target workers who meet specific economic goals.
Express Entry Reform Takes Centre Stage
The most important section of the plan says IRCC will continue “leveraging category-based selection in Express Entry to prioritize skilled workers who can help address skills shortages and other economic priorities.”
That confirms category-based selection will remain a major part of Express Entry in 2026 and beyond.
IRCC goes further by saying it will update category-based selection categories for 2026 “to address labour shortages and retain top talent with Canadian work experience.”
This is a notable signal. It suggests the department wants Express Entry to favour candidates who are already proving their value in Canada’s labour market, rather than relying only on general education, language and age factors.
The plan also shows that IRCC sees Express Entry as part of a broader economic strategy. The government says Canada needs immigration to fill critical labour gaps in priority sectors, while also supporting rural and remote communities and complementing the domestic workforce.
Return of Job Offer Points
The clearest new policy signal in the document is IRCC’s statement that it is “developing a broader suite of reforms to Express Entry, including the addition of points for job offers and Canadian work experience in high wage occupations and consideration of how to reward those who are certified to work in regulated occupations.”
That line is important for several reasons.
First, it confirms IRCC is actively considering the return of job offer points in Express Entry. For candidates with arranged employment, that could once again become a more important advantage in the Comprehensive Ranking System.
Second, IRCC is linking proposed points changes to high-wage Canadian work experience. That suggests the government wants to reward candidates who are already working in stronger-paying roles that align with economic priorities.
Third, the document points to possible advantages for candidates certified to work in regulated occupations. This could matter for professionals in sectors where provincial or territorial licensing is essential, such as some healthcare and technical occupations.
At this stage, the departmental plan does not give a detailed scoring grid, implementation date or exact number of points. However, the policy direction is now clearly stated.
Category-Based Selection Will Continue to Expand
IRCC’s plan leaves little doubt that category-based selection will remain one of the department’s main tools.
The department says it will use category-based selection to prioritize skilled workers who can help address skills shortages and other economic priorities. It also says category updates for 2026 will be aimed at labour shortages and retaining talent with Canadian work experience.
This means candidates should expect Express Entry to remain closely tied to targeted occupational and economic needs rather than returning to a purely general selection model.
The plan also links Express Entry to Francophone immigration goals. IRCC says it will use category-based selection in Express Entry to help achieve a French-speaking permanent resident admissions target of 9 per cent in 2026, as part of a longer-term path to 12 per cent by 2029 outside Quebec.
That means French-language ability is likely to remain one of the strongest strategic advantages in the system.
A More Targeted Economic Immigration System
The wider immigration plan helps explain why these Express Entry reforms are happening now.
IRCC says the 2026–2028 Levels Plan will stabilize permanent resident admissions at 380,000 in 2026, with a notional target of 380,000 again in 2027 and 2028. At the same time, the share of economic immigrants is set to rise, reaching 64 per cent in 2027 and 2028.
In other words, Canada plans to admit fewer people overall than in previous years, but it wants a larger proportion of those admissions to come through economic streams.
That creates more pressure on Express Entry and other economic programs to deliver candidates who are ready to work, meet urgent shortages and integrate quickly into the labour market.
The plan also says IRCC will continue selecting economic immigrants, working with provinces and territories, and bolstering efforts to attract and retain top global talent in sectors such as healthcare, emerging technologies and skilled trades.
More Focus on Canadian Experience and Regulated Work
One of the most striking parts of the plan is the stronger emphasis on candidates with Canadian experience.
IRCC specifically says updated category-based selection will help retain top talent with Canadian work experience. It also says it is exploring reforms that would add points for Canadian work experience in high-wage occupations.
This suggests a more selective approach to in-Canada experience. Rather than treating all qualifying work experience the same way, IRCC may increasingly distinguish between experience linked to stronger wages, stronger retention prospects and stronger labour market demand.
The mention of rewarding people certified to work in regulated occupations also signals a practical shift. Canada has often struggled with the gap between selecting skilled immigrants and getting them quickly into licensed occupations. IRCC now appears to be looking for ways to favour candidates who are already closer to full labour market participation.
Digital Changes Could Affect Express Entry Too
The departmental plan also includes important technology reforms that could shape how Express Entry operates.
IRCC says its Digital Platform Modernization initiative will help the department process applications more efficiently, starting with how it manages Expression of Interest submissions from people who want to immigrate to Canada.
That matters because Express Entry itself is an Expression of Interest system. Improvements to digital tools, data use and case processing could eventually affect how profiles are managed, how quickly invitations are issued and how efficiently applications are handled after candidates receive an invitation to apply.
IRCC also says it wants to improve its processing times tool so applicants can better understand how long their applications should take.
Other Key Immigration Measures in the Plan
Although Express Entry is the main story, the departmental plan includes several other notable measures.
IRCC says it will accelerate the transition of up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residence in 2026 and 2027. The initiative will target workers who have established roots in their communities, are paying taxes and are helping to build the economy.
The department also says it will monitor application inventories, manage intake across permanent residence programs and align admissions with the Immigration Levels Plan. This reflects the government’s broader effort to keep immigration at what it calls sustainable levels.
The plan also outlines major spending reductions and workforce cuts across the department over the next three years, linked to the Comprehensive Expenditure Review. That could affect how quickly some changes are implemented, even as IRCC says it wants to improve efficiency through technology and AI-supported tools.
In settlement policy, IRCC says it will implement limits to settlement service eligibility for economic immigrants. That is a notable change, especially for newcomers who might previously have expected broader access to federally funded settlement services over a longer period.
What This Means for Express Entry Candidates
The overall message from the 2026–27 Departmental Plan is that Express Entry is becoming more targeted, more selective and more closely tied to immediate economic outcomes.
Candidates with the strongest profiles may increasingly include those who:
- have a qualifying job offer
- have Canadian work experience, especially in higher-wage roles
- work in sectors facing labour shortages
- have certification for regulated occupations
- have strong French-language ability, particularly for immigration outside Quebec
For employers, the plan suggests Ottawa wants immigration selection to better reflect real hiring needs. For candidates, it means strategy may matter more than ever.
General eligibility will still matter, but the strongest advantage may come from matching the specific priorities IRCC is now spelling out in its own planning documents.
Conclusion
IRCC’s 2026–27 Departmental Plan offers one of the clearest recent statements yet on where Express Entry is headed.
The return of job offer points is now explicitly part of the department’s planned reform agenda. So too are changes aimed at high-wage Canadian work experience, regulated occupations and updated category-based selection.
At the same time, the broader immigration plan shows a government trying to do more with a tighter admissions framework, lower spending and a sharper focus on labour market outcomes.
For Express Entry candidates, the direction is clear. Canada is not moving away from economic immigration. It is becoming more precise about who it wants to invite.
FAQ
Is Canada officially bringing back Express Entry points for job offers?
IRCC’s 2026–27 Departmental Plan says the department is developing reforms to Express Entry, including the addition of points for job offers. However, the document does not provide a final scoring breakdown or implementation date. This means the policy direction is clear, but the exact details still need to be announced.
What does IRCC say about category-based selection in 2026?
IRCC says it will continue using category-based selection in Express Entry to prioritize skilled workers who can address labour shortages and other economic priorities. It also plans to update the categories for 2026 to retain top talent with Canadian work experience. This suggests category-based draws will remain central to Express Entry.
Will Canadian work experience become more important in Express Entry?
Yes, the plan strongly suggests that. IRCC says it wants to retain top talent with Canadian work experience and is considering adding points for Canadian work experience in high-wage occupations. That points to a system that may increasingly favour candidates already working successfully in Canada, especially in stronger-paying and in-demand roles.
What does the plan say about French-speaking candidates?
The plan says IRCC wants to reach a 9 per cent target for French-speaking permanent residents outside Quebec in 2026 and use Express Entry category-based selection to help meet that goal. This means French-speaking and bilingual candidates are likely to remain in a strong position within the system over the next few years.
What other immigration measures are included in the 2026–27 plan?
Beyond Express Entry, IRCC says it will stabilize permanent resident admissions at 380,000 in 2026, increase the share of economic immigrants, transition up to 33,000 temporary workers to permanent residence, manage inventories more tightly and limit some settlement service eligibility for economic immigrants. The wider plan focuses on sustainability, labour market needs and cost control.
