Canada proposes three new professional categories for explicit access in 2026

The Canadian federal government is considering making new express categories for senior managers, scientists and researchers, and military staff, making it easier for foreign subjects in these professions to obtain the Canadian permanent home.

Immigration, refugees and citizenship Canada (IRCC) stated these three categories in their duties in search of public consultation, published on the website of the Government of Canada.

The potential new categories are taken into account for launch in 2026 in explicit access, the application management system of the federal government that is used to determine which foreign nationals are given the opportunity to request a permanent stay.

The government has not announced when further details will be shared about its decision on the proposed new categories. The public consultation is open until 3 September 2025.

Potential new categories

Leadership

IRCC has proposed the launch of a new category aimed at attracting senior managers to Canada.

In the placement of consultation, the government defines Senior managers “very competent employees who supervise the activities of a company or organization and who lead a team of employees.”

According to IRCC, the introduction of this category can bring new perspectives, speed up digital transformation, improve productivity and contribute to organizational goals.

The department suggests that attracting candidates in high positions “could stimulate the country’s competitiveness and promote economic growth and prosperity.”

Research and innovation

IRCC is also considering giving priority to the selection of certain researchers and scientists.

The department believes that scientific research and innovation can improve productivity and performance and ‘stimulate economic growth’.

The consultation document has not indicated which types of researchers and/or scientists would be given priority.

National security and defense

IRCC is also considering supporting Canadian forces by giving priority to the selection of highly competent military recruits from allied countries.

What is Canada considering for category -based selection in 2026?

According to IRCC’s consultation, the Category-based selection In 2026 some of the same categories can see as in 2025.

Francophone Immigration

Francophone -immigration will probably remain a priority outside Quebec.

Canadas 2025–2027 Immigration levels Plan Set goals for French -speaking permanent residents outside of Quebec at 8.5% in 2025, 9.5% in 2026 and 10% in 2027.

In accordance with these objectives, IRCC is considering keeping the Francophone’s immigration as a priority category for selection in 2026.

Sectors that are confronted with long -term labor shortages

In response to constant competent talent shortages, IRCC proposes to maintain its focus on the following sectors:

• Healthcare;
• Trained transactions (including construction professions that help to meet housing needs);
• Education;
• ROD; And
• Agriculture and Agri-Food

These sectors are already part of the selection of the Category category 2025 in expression.

IRCC will continue to collect feedback from stakeholders. It also listens to sectors with acute gaps in the field of workers about whether express access should concentrate on talent that should already be directed in Canada versus overseas.

Impact on international students

Express input categories are used to inform the field Work permit after graduation (PGWP) Are eligible for graduates of non-exempt post-secondary programs.

This is done through study requirements that for the first time in 2024 was introduced to draw up international students with the Canadian needs of the labor market.

At the moment there are 119 Study fields that are eligible for a PGWPWhile 178 earlier this year were removed from eligible.

Changes in expressing access categories can also lead to adjustments in the Canadian holiday for studies in 2026. II IRCC has stated that at the beginning of 2026 they will make the next announcement about PGWP-Vargent study fields.

Graduates from bachelor, master and doctoral programs are exempt from the field of study requirements.

What is category -based selection?

On the category-based selection-tracts were introduced in 2023 to fill gaps on the labor market by concentrating on express access candidates with specific frequently sought after skills or language skills. The Express entry categories are revised annually to ensure that the program responds to evolving the needs of the labor market.

In 2025, IRCC announced the following as its Express -entry categories:

• French language skills.
• Healthcare and social services.
• Agriculture and Agri-Food professions.
• ROD.
• Acts professions.
• Education (new added this year).

Of these, the priority categories are French -speaking skill, health care and social services, professions and educational professions.

This system enables IRCC to issue invitations to (ITAS) apply to candidates who meet specific category criteria, in addition to general draws and program -specific rounds for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) And Provincial Nominated Program (PNP).

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Score for category-based selection rounds are often lower than those of general or CEC tracts.

The most recent CEC draw, for example, had a CRS closure of 534, while the most recent professions in health care and social services had a closure of 475, giving eligible care providers an advantage when receiving an ITA for permanent stay.