Question Period Note: Express Entry

Status of the Express Entry application system, which is used to manage a number of economic immigration programs.

• As global competition for skilled workers intensifies, Canada’s immigration system is focused on attracting and retaining highly skilled immigrants in the sectors that will drive economic growth.

• Programs under Express Entry allow Canada to select newcomers based on factors that are needed to build the economy now and into the future, such as education, work experience, and language proficiency.

If pressed

• To support this focus, and as stated in the Department’s 2026-2028 Forward Regulatory Plan, the Government is planning to propose amendments to the Regulations to introduce a new federal high skilled immigration class with streamlined eligibility requirements, and repeal the existing Federal Skilled Worker Class, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Class.
• This will make it easier to understand how to apply for immigration to Canada, ensuring that we continue to attract top talent.
• The Federal Skilled Worker Class, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Class remain fully operational. If an individual has submitted an application to one of those programs, it will be processed per usual procedures.

If pressed on CRS and consultations
• In addition, we are considering changes to the Comprehensive Ranking System’s Ministerial Instructions to select candidates most likely to drive economic growth.
• We are currently conducting partner and stakeholder as well as public consultations on the changes. An online survey is available on the Department’s public consultations and engagement webpage .

• Launched in January 2015, Express Entry is an online application management system for three federal high skilled immigration programs (the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program) and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Program.
• Express Entry allows IRCC to manage application intake through an expression of interest and invitation to apply model.
• Foreign nationals interested in applying through Express Entry must first create a profile (expression of interest). Candidates who meet the minimum requirements for at least one of the federal programs managed in the system are then entered into a pool, and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which is based on a combination of human capital and other factors.
• Top ranked candidates that meet the criteria for a particular round are invited to apply for permanent residence through regular invitation rounds.
• Invitation rounds in Express Entry can be general (i.e. based solely on CRS score), program specific (i.e. based on candidates’ eligibility for a specific program), or based on category eligibility (i.e. for category-based selection).
• Candidates have 60 days to submit their application after receiving an invitation to apply. IRCC’s service standard is to finalize 80% of complete Express Entry applications within six months, which is currently being met.

If pressed on emphasis on the French-language proficiency category
• To continue supporting needs for Francophone and bilingual workers, the French-proficiency category has been renewed in 2026. All French-proficient candidates selected through Express Entry must be eligible for one of Canada’s federal high-skilled immigration programs (the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian experience class), ensuring that these workers are well positioned to economically establish in Canada.

If pressed on non-CBS selection in Express Entry
• In line with commitments to supporting transition of temporary workers to permanent residence, the Department will continue selecting top ranking candidates with Canadian work experience through Canadian Experience Class (CEC) rounds in 2026.

Category-based selection
• Categories are chosen for Express Entry based on labour market data and consultations with partners and stakeholders.
• Occupational categories are largely informed by Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC) Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) projections of occupations anticipated to be in long-term shortage in Canada between 2024 and 2033. Others, like senior managers with Canadian work experience, skilled military recruits and researchers with Canadian work experience, are intended to select candidates in specialized, innovative, or emerging sectors and occupations.

• In 2026, IRCC will conduct category-based invitation rounds in the following occupations:
o Medical doctor, researcher, and senior manager occupations (requiring Canadian work experience).
o Healthcare and social services occupations, such as family physicians, nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists and chiropractors;
o Trades occupations, such as carpenters, plumbers and contractors;
o Transport occupations, including pilots, aircraft mechanics and inspectors, and automotive service technicians; and,
o High-skilled foreign military applicants recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces in key occupations such as military doctors, nurses, and pilots.

• While the STEM and education categories are renewed for 2026, the Department anticipates meeting those targets through general and program-specific rounds.

Job offers
• As of March 25, 2025, Express Entry no longer awards points for job offers. This temporary measure is due to concerns about fraud risk related to job offers and Labour Market Impact Assessments.
• We recognize that this change makes it more difficult for some candidates to receive an invitation to apply, including senior managers and executives, and have heard feedback from stakeholders to that effect.
• The new physician, researcher and senior manager categories improve access for some high skilled candidates that have been affected by this temporary measure.
• We are exploring additional ways to address the challenges.