New pathways target doctors, researchers, transport specialists and CAF-recruited skilled personnel

February 18, 2026 — Ottawa — Canada is reshaping its Express Entry selection to attract and retain highly skilled newcomers while “returning immigration to sustainable levels,” as global competition for workers ramps up.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced the 2026 category-based selections today, aimed at filling persistent labour shortages in priority sectors. The plan sits under the federal International Talent Attraction Strategy and will guide invitation rounds through the year.

What’s new for 2026

IRCC is adding a new category for foreign medical doctors with Canadian work experience, with the first invitation round expected “in the coming days.”

Canada will also introduce new categories for:

• Researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience

• Transport occupations, including pilots, aircraft mechanics and inspectors

• Highly skilled foreign military applicants recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces for key roles such as military doctors, nurses and pilots

Categories continuing from 2025

IRCC says it will continue invitation rounds that prioritize:

• French-language proficiency

• Work experience in health care and social services (including roles such as nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists and chiropractors)

• Skilled trades (including carpenters, plumbers and machinists)

Why this matters in Northwestern Ontario

For communities like Thunder Bay and across the North, where hiring challenges can be amplified by distance and demographics, the 2026 categories are likely to be watched closely by employers in:

• Health care (recruitment and retention pressures in hospitals, clinics, and long-term care)

• Aviation and transportation (critical for regional connectivity and supply chains, including remote and fly-in access)

• Skilled trades (needed across construction, industrial maintenance and resource-linked projects)

The emphasis on candidates with Canadian work experience could also benefit employers already relying on temporary workers and graduates who want to transition to permanent residency.

What the minister said

“Canada’s future depends on a workforce ready to meet the challenges of a changing economy,” Minister Diab said, adding that refining Express Entry is intended to strengthen labour markets, support provincial priorities, and help newcomers contribute “from day one.”

Quick facts

• The federal government says immigration accounts for nearly all of Canada’s labour force growth, helping address shortages in key sectors.

• Express Entry manages applications for permanent residence through the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, Canadian Experience Class, and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Program.

• IRCC says Canadian Experience Class draws continued through early 2026, alongside rounds for the French-proficiency category.

What to watch next

• The first 2026 draw specifically for foreign medical doctors with Canadian work experience

• How often IRCC runs category-based rounds for transport, research/senior management, and CAF-recruited roles

• Whether provinces and employers in Northern Ontario see improved recruitment outcomes as selections roll out