Category-based selection Occupation 2026
In Category-based selection 2026, IRCC invite candidates in the Express Entry pool who are eligible for a specific category established by the Minister to meet an identified economic goal.
Canada invite candidates to apply for permanent residence based on criteria such as:
- ability to communicate in a specific official language
- work experience in a specific occupation
- education
Categories for 2026
The new categories are
- medical doctors with Canadian work experience
- researchers with Canadian work experience
- senior managers with Canadian work experience
- transport occupations
- skilled military recruits who have a job offer from the Canadian Armed Forces
The renewed categories are
- French-language proficiency
- health care and social services occupations
- education occupations
- science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations
- trade occupations
The minimum work experience required for all renewed categories has been increased from six months to one year of experience in an eligible occupation, gained in Canada or abroad over the previous three years. This will help select candidates who are more likely to succeed in their field in Canada.
List of Current categories – 2026
- French-language proficiency
- Healthcare and social services occupations
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations
- Trade occupations
- Education occupations
- Transport occupations
- Physicians with Canadian work experience
- Senior managers with Canadian work experience
- Researchers with Canadian work experience
- Skilled military recruits
Who’s eligible for each category
To be eligible for an invitation through a category-based round, you must:
- meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry, including being eligible for 1 of the 3 immigration programs it covers, and
- meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round
When Canada hold a category-based round of invitations, they’ll:
- rank candidates in the pool who meet the category requirements, and
- invite top-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence
Canada will prioritize three new occupational categories for permanent residence through Express Entry
Senior managers with Canadian experience occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code |
|---|---|
| Senior managers – construction, transportation, production and utilities | 00015 |
| Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services | 00014 |
| Senior managers – health, education, social and community services and membership organizations | 00013 |
| Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services | 00012 |
Researchers with Canadian work experience occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code |
|---|---|
| Post-secondary teaching and research assistants | 41201 |
| University professors and lecturers | 41200 |
Skilled military recruits occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code |
|---|---|
| Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces | 43204 |
| Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces | 42102 |
| Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces | 40042 |
Transport occupations
| Occupation | 2021 NOC code |
|---|---|
| Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors | 72600 |
| Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers | 72410 |
| Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 72404 |
| Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors | 22313 |
1. French-language proficiency
Who’s eligible for the French-language proficiency category
To be eligible, you must:
- have French-language test results that show a minimum score of 7 in all 4 language abilities on the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens
- meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round
Full details will be included in the instructions for each round.
2. (37 NOC’s)
Who’s eligible for the healthcare and social services occupations category
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) — this experience does not need to be continuous
- in a single occupation listed in the table below (no matter your primary occupation)
- in Canada or abroad
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 32104 | 2 |
| Audiologists and speech language pathologists | 31112 | 1 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 | 2 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 | 1 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 | 2 |
| Dentists | 31110 | 1 |
| Dieticians and nutritionists | 31121 | 1 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 | 1 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 | 2 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 | 2 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 | 3 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 | 2 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 | 2 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 | 2 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 | 3 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 | 1 |
| Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors | 31300 | 1 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 | 1 |
| Optometrists | 31111 | 1 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 | 2 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 | 1 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 | 2 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 | 2 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 | 1 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 | 3 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 | 2 |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 | 1 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 | 1 |
| Psychologists | 31200 | 1 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 | 1 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 | 2 |
| Social and community service workers | 42201 | 2 |
| Social workers | 41300 | 1 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 | 1 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 | 1 |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 | 1 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 | 1 |
3. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations (11 NOC’s)
Who’s eligible for the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations category
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) — this experience does not need to be continuous
- in a single occupation listed in the table below (no matter your primary occupation)
- in Canada or abroad
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
| Architecture and science managers | 20011 | 0 |
| Civil engineering technologists and technicians | 22300 | 2 |
| Civil Engineers | 21300 | 1 |
| Cybersecurity specialists | 21220 | 1 |
| Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians | 22310 | 2 |
| Electrical and electronics engineers | 21310 | 1 |
| Geological Engineers | 21331 | 1 |
| Industrial and manufacturing engineers | 21321 | 1 |
| Insurance agents and brokers | 63100 | 3 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians | 22301 | 2 |
| Mechanical Engineers | 21301 | 1 |
Full eligibility details will be available in the instructions for each round.
4. Trade occupations (25 NOC’s)
Who’s eligible for the trade occupations category
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) — this experience does not need to be continuous
- in a single occupation listed in the table below (no matter your primary occupation)
- in Canada or abroad
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
| Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services | 82021 | 2 |
| Floor covering installers | 73113 | 3 |
| Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) | 73112 | 3 |
| Roofers and shinglers | 73110 | 3 |
| Concrete finishers | 73100 | 3 |
| Other technical trades and related occupations | 72999 | 2 |
| Water well drillers | 72501 | 2 |
| Electrical mechanics | 72422 | 2 |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 | 2 |
| Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 72401 | 2 |
| Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 | 2 |
| Bricklayers | 72320 | 2 |
| Cabinetmakers | 72311 | 2 |
| Carpenters | 72310 | 2 |
| Gas fitters | 72302 | 2 |
| Plumbers | 72300 | 2 |
| Industrial electricians | 72201 | 2 |
| Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 | 2 |
| Welders and related machine operators | 72106 | 2 |
| Sheet metal workers | 72102 | 2 |
| Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors | 72100 | 2 |
| Home building and renovation managers | 70011 | 0 |
| Construction managers | 70010 | 0 |
| Cooks | 63200 | 3 |
| Construction estimators | 22303 | 2 |
Full eligibility details will be available in the instructions for each round.
5. Education Occupations (5 NOC’s)
Who’s eligible for the education occupations category
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) — this experience does not need to be continuous
- in a single occupation listed in the table below (no matter your primary occupation)
- in Canada or abroad
- meet all of the requirements in the instructions for that round
| Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants | 43100 | 3 |
| Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 | 2 |
| Early childhood educators and assistants | 42202 | 2 |
| Elementary school and kindergarten teachers | 41221 | 1 |
| Secondary school teachers | 41220 | 1 |
Full eligibility details will be available in the instructions for each round.
6. Transport occupations (4 NOC’s)
Who’s eligible for the transport occupations category
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) — this experience does not need to be continuous
- in a single occupation listed in the table below (no matter your primary occupation)
- in Canada or abroad
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
| Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors | 72600 | 2 |
| Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers | 72410 | 2 |
| Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 72404 | 2 |
| Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors | 22313 | 2 |
Full eligibility details will be available in the instructions for each round.
7. Physicians with Canadian work experience (3 NOC’s)
Who’s eligible for the physicians with Canadian work experience category
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) —this experience does not need to be continuous
- in a single occupation listed in the table below (no matter your primary occupation)
- in Canada
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
8. Senior managers with Canadian work experience (4 NOC’s)
Who’s eligible for the senior managers with Canadian work experience category
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) — this experience does not need to be continuous
- in a single occupation listed in the table below (no matter your primary occupation)
- in Canada
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
| Senior managers – construction, transportation, production and utilities | 00015 | 0 |
| Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services | 00014 | 0 |
| Senior managers – health, education, social and community services and membership organizations | 00013 | 0 |
| Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services | 00012 | 0 |
9. Researchers with Canadian work experience (2 NOC’s)
Who’s eligible for the researchers with Canadian work experience category
To be eligible, you must:
- have accumulated, within the past 3 years, at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time experience) — this experience does not need to be continuous
- in a single occupation listed in the table below (no matter your primary occupation)
- in Canada
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
| Post-secondary teaching and research assistants | 41201 | 1 |
| University professors and lecturers | 41200 | 1 |
Full details will be included in the instructions for each round.
10. Skilled military recruits
Who’s eligible for the skilled military recruits category
To be eligible, you must:
- be a Foreign Skilled Military Applicant (FSMA)
- eligible foreign national who is serving in a recognized foreign military
- with a minimum of ten years of continuous service
- has work experience and training aligned with the main duties of one or more of these National Occupational Classification occupations:
- 40042 (Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces)
- 42102 (Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces)
- 43204 (Operations members of the Canadian Armed Forces)
- have an offer of arranged employment with the Canadian Armed Forces that is
- made by the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group for continuous full-time work in Canada lasting at least 3 years
- listed in National Occupational Classification
- 40042 (Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces)
- 42102 (Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces)
- 43204 (Operations members of the Canadian Armed Forces)
- have at least a 2-year post-secondary credential
- If you completed your education outside Canada, you’ll need to get your education credential assessed to show that it’s equal
- meet all requirements in the instructions for that round
| Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces | 43204 | 3 |
| Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces | 42102 | 2 |
| Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces | 40042 | 0 |
Full details will be included in the instructions for each round.
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