Canada’s Express Entry system will remain the backbone of economic immigration in 2026, but it will continue to operate in a more controlled, targeted, and policy-driven way.
On This Page You Will Find
- How Express Entry will operate in 2026
- Why smaller draws will lead to more frequent rounds
- The role of category-based selection
- The new physician category and what it signals
- How CRS scores and provincial nominations fit in
- A detailed FAQ section
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is no longer using Express Entry primarily as a high-volume intake tool. Instead, it has become a mechanism for fine-tuning admissions across occupations, regions, and sectors, with draws calibrated to meet precise labour market objectives.
The introduction of a new Express Entry category for physicians with Canadian work experience reinforces this shift and provides one of the clearest signals yet of how selection will function in 2026.
Express Entry In 2026 – Stability In Targets, Precision In Selection
Canada’s 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan points to broad stability in permanent resident admissions under Express Entry. What is changing is not how many people Canada admits, but who gets selected and how invitations are issued.
Rather than relying on occasional large draws, IRCC is increasingly using smaller, more frequent invitation rounds to control inventory, manage processing times, and avoid sudden surges in admissions.
This approach allows Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to adjust selection throughout the year, responding quickly if a category begins to fill faster than expected.
For applicants, this means Express Entry will remain active in 2026, but increasingly narrow in focus.
Smaller Draws Will Mean More Draws, Not Fewer
One of the defining features of Express Entry in 2026 is likely to be draw frequency rather than draw size.
Smaller invitation rounds allow IRCC to run draws more often, rotate between categories, and keep the system moving without building backlogs. Instead of waiting weeks for large all-program rounds, candidates should expect a steady cadence of targeted draws spread across the year.
This model reduces volatility in CRS cut-offs and limits the sharp swings that characterised earlier phases of Express Entry. It also makes timing less important than eligibility, as candidates either meet a category’s criteria or they do not.
Category-Based Selection Is Now The Core Of Express Entry
By 2026, category-based selection is no longer an experiment. It is the primary way Express Entry operates.
IRCC has made clear that occupation, sector, and language ability now carry more weight than ranking alone. General all-program draws still exist, but they no longer drive outcomes for most applicants.
The categories targeted in 2026 continue to reflect persistent shortages, including healthcare, trades, education, agriculture, and selected STEM roles. These categories allow IRCC to align immigration outcomes directly with labour market needs rather than relying on indirect signals through CRS scores.
For 2026, targeted categories focus on:
- Healthcare and social services
- Trades and construction
- STEM occupations
- Education
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Physicians with Canadian work experience
New For 2026 – Physicians With Canadian Work Experience
The most notable development for Express Entry in 2026 is the creation of a physician-specific category limited to candidates with recent Canadian work experience.
This marks a shift from recruitment to retention.
Rather than competing for doctors internationally, IRCC is prioritising physicians already working in Canada who have demonstrated their ability to integrate into provincial healthcare systems.
To qualify, candidates must have accumulated, within the past three years:
- At least 12 months of full-time, continuous Canadian work experience, or the equivalent in part-time work
- Experience in a single eligible physician occupation
- Compliance with all draw-specific instructions issued by IRCC
Eligible occupations include general practitioners and family physicians, specialists in surgery, and specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine.
This category does not replace healthcare occupations in broader draws. Instead, it operates as a parallel lane, allowing IRCC to issue invitations with far greater precision.
Its inclusion strongly suggests that Express Entry in 2026 will continue to fragment into increasingly specific selection pathways where shortages are acute.
CRS Scores Will Matter Less On Their Own
CRS scores are not disappearing, but their role is changing.
In a system dominated by category-based draws, a competitive CRS score is no longer sufficient on its own. Candidates outside targeted categories may wait longer in the pool, even with strong rankings, while lower-scoring candidates inside priority groups receive invitations.
With smaller and more frequent draws, CRS cut-offs are likely to adjust incrementally rather than dramatically. Applicants should expect fewer headline-grabbing drops and spikes, and less opportunity to game the system by waiting for a specific round.
Provincial Influence Inside Express Entry Will Continue To Grow
Provinces are playing an increasingly important role in shaping Express Entry outcomes.
Through aligned provincial nomination streams, provinces can effectively override federal neutrality by targeting candidates who meet local labour needs. In 2026, a provincial nomination will remain one of the strongest advantages an Express Entry candidate can hold.
This reinforces the reality that Express Entry no longer operates in isolation. Federal selection is increasingly intertwined with provincial priorities, particularly in healthcare, construction, and regional labour markets.
What Applicants Should Take From This
Express Entry in 2026 will reward fit over flexibility.
Candidates aligned with targeted occupations, language priorities, or provincial needs will see clearer and faster pathways. Those relying solely on CRS improvements without category eligibility may find the system less responsive.
The system will feel active, but not generous. Invitations will continue to flow, but through narrow, well-defined channels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will Express Entry slow down in 2026?
No. Express Entry is expected to remain active throughout 2026. Smaller draw sizes allow IRCC to issue invitations more frequently while managing processing capacity and avoiding sudden inventory growth.
Are category-based draws replacing general Express Entry draws?
Category-based draws have become the dominant selection method, but general draws will continue on a more limited basis. Most invitations in 2026 are expected to come through targeted categories.
What is the new physician Express Entry category?
It is a new category for physicians with recent Canadian work experience. It allows IRCC to retain doctors already working in Canada by issuing targeted invitations through Express Entry.
Will CRS scores still matter?
Yes, but less on their own. CRS scores now work alongside occupation, category eligibility, language ability, and provincial nominations in determining who receives invitations.
How should Express Entry candidates prepare for 2026?
Candidates should assess category eligibility, monitor provincial nomination options, and avoid relying solely on CRS score increases. Alignment with targeted priorities will matter more than timing.
