{"id":895586,"date":"2026-03-30T07:27:25","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T12:27:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/30\/canada-will-prioritize-three-new-occupational-categories-for-permanent-residence-through-express-entry\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T07:27:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T12:27:25","slug":"canada-will-prioritize-three-new-occupational-categories-for-permanent-residence-through-express-entry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/03\/30\/canada-will-prioritize-three-new-occupational-categories-for-permanent-residence-through-express-entry\/","title":{"rendered":"Canada will prioritize three new occupational categories for permanent residence through Express Entry"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Canadian federal government will be prioritizing three new occupational categories for permanent residence through the Express Entry system: researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience, transport occupations, and military personnel.<\/p>\n

See your eligibility for all Express Entry categories and streams
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

The minimum work experience requirement for all occupational categories has been increased to one year, up from the previous requirement of six months of continuous work experience.<\/p>\n

The one year of required work experience within the past three years does not<\/strong> have to have been continuous.<\/p>\n

Immigration minister Lena Metlege Diab announced the changes in a speech at the Canadian Club in Toronto on 18 February, 2026.<\/p>\n

Senior managers with Canadian experience occupations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Occupation<\/th>\n2021 NOC code<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Senior managers – construction, transportation, production and utilities<\/td>\n00015<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services<\/td>\n00014<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Senior managers – health, education, social and community services and membership organizations<\/td>\n00013<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services<\/td>\n00012<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Researchers with Canadian work experience occupations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Occupation<\/th>\n2021 NOC code<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Post-secondary teaching and research assistants<\/td>\n41201<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
University professors and lecturers<\/td>\n41200<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Skilled military recruits occupations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Occupation<\/th>\n2021 NOC code<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces<\/td>\n43204<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces<\/td>\n42102<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces<\/td>\n40042<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Transport occupations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Occupation<\/th>\n2021 NOC code<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors<\/td>\n72600<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers<\/td>\n72410<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors<\/td>\n72404<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors<\/td>\n22313<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Diab also announced that the first draw for the physicians with Canadian work experience category, which was added to the Express Entry categories on Dec 8, 2025<\/a>, will take place this week.<\/p>\n

See your eligibility for all Express Entry categories and streams
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

The government will continue to prioritize inviting candidates under the categories of French language proficiency, health care and social services, and trades, according to Diab.<\/p>\n

Only the agriculture and agri-food occupations category has been retired.<\/p>\n

The new transport category contains no occupations from the earlier Express Entry transport category, which was retired in February of 2025<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Under the Express Entry system<\/a>, foreign nationals with work experience in category-eligible occupations have a higher chance of being selected for permanent residence through category-based selection<\/a> (CBS), in which the government issues invitations to apply<\/a> (ITAs) for permanent residence only to those Express Entry candidates meeting the criteria for the chosen occupational category.<\/p>\n

The one year of work experience needed to qualify for an occupational category must have been gained within the past three years.<\/p>\n

Since April of 2024, category-based selection has been the only way for foreign nationals without Canadian work experience or provincial nominations to be selected as permanent residents through Express Entry, since all non-CBS, non-PNP draws since April 23, 2024 have been conducted under the Canadian Experience Class<\/a> (CEC), which requires at least a year of skilled Canadian work experience.<\/p>\n

Diab mentioned that the new changes under Express Entry will serve to support Canada’s Defence Industrial Strategy, a key pillar of Mark Carney’s nation-building economic program.<\/p>\n

This is a breaking news story. CIC News will update this article as details emerge.<\/p>\n

See your eligibility for all Express Entry categories and streams
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

Additional requirements for skilled military recruits<\/h2>\n

The military recruits category has additional requirements beyond the one year of eligible work experience.<\/p>\n

To qualify for the skilled military recruits category, an Express Entry candidate must also<\/p>\n