Express Entry Category-Based Draws 2026: Categories and CRS Cutoffs

Category-based selection lets Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invite Express Entry candidates who fit a specific economic priority, instead of inviting only the highest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scorers. IRCC introduced these targeted rounds in mid-2023, and they have become a main route to permanent residence for skilled workers with in-demand experience.

For 2026 IRCC lists ten categories: French-language proficiency, healthcare and social services, skilled trades, education, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), transport, physicians with Canadian work experience, researchers with Canadian work experience, senior managers with Canadian work experience, and skilled military recruits for the Canadian Armed Forces. Agriculture and agri-food is not on the 2026 list, and transport is back. For an occupation category you need at least twelve months of full-time work, or the same amount of part-time work, in one listed occupation within the past three years, no matter what your primary occupation is. The months do not need to be continuous, and the minimum went up from six months for the renewed categories. Most categories accept experience in Canada or abroad, but physicians, senior managers, and researchers need it in Canada. You must still meet the requirements of the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, or the Federal Skilled Trades Program. French-language rounds work differently: they reward a test score of at least Niveau de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) 7 in all four abilities rather than a specific occupation.

Being on the list is not the same as getting a round. Through October 1, 2026, French-language rounds remain the largest category by volume (ten rounds, 50,500 invitations, cut-offs from 382 to 420). Healthcare and social services has had three rounds at 467 to 475. Senior managers have had three rounds, the latest at CRS 389 on September 16, and physicians three, the latest at 198 on September 3. Trades have had two rounds (477 on April 2 and 476 on October 1), transport one (470 on August 7), and skilled military recruits one (368 on July 23). STEM has had no 2026 round (the last STEM-only round was April 11, 2024), and education and researchers have had none this year. Every 2026 category round has closed below the Canadian Experience Class range of 507 to 523. IRCC sets the categories each year from labour-market data and updates the eligible National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes, so confirm your occupation on the official IRCC category-based selection page before you plan around any draw.