Express Entry expands to ten category-based selection groups

IRCC retained French, health and social services, education, STEM and trade categories for 2026, while raising the occupation-experience requirement in renewed categories from six months to one year in the previous three years. New groups cover transport occupations, skilled military recruits, and physicians, researchers and senior managers with specified Canadian work experience. Category eligibility supplements rather than replaces eligibility for an Express Entry programme and ranking by CRS.