(CANADA) Canada is preparing one of the most targeted overhauls of its Express Entry system in years, with a new permanent residence pathway for international doctors and a clear push toward economic immigration starting in early 2026. The changes, laid out in recent federal planning documents and policy signals, are designed to keep foreign-trained talent in the country, ease pressure on strained hospitals, and give more weight to candidates who already have jobs and work experience in Canada.
New dedicated Express Entry category for international doctors
The centrepiece of the shift is a dedicated Express Entry category for international doctors already working in Canada, expected to launch in early 2026.
- To qualify, international physicians must have at least one year of Canadian work experience in an eligible medical occupation within the last three years.
- Eligible occupations include family physicians, general practitioners, and medical and surgical specialists — roles that are in short supply across several provinces.
Invitations to apply for permanent residence through this doctor-specific category are set to begin in early 2026, making the coming year especially important for foreign-trained physicians who are already licensed and treating patients in Canada.
The federal government frames this move as a retention tool rather than just recruitment — aimed at keeping international doctors who have already built lives, practices, and patient relationships across the country.
Provincial nomination spaces and fast permits for physicians
Ottawa plans to back up the new category with additional permanent resident spaces directly reserved for physicians.
- The federal government will reserve 5,000 permanent resident admission spaces for provinces and territories to nominate licensed physicians with job offers.
- These 5,000 places are on top of existing Provincial Nominee Program allocations, giving provinces extra capacity to support doctors who may otherwise struggle to secure a competitive Express Entry score.
To reduce disruption for hospitals and clinics, nominated physicians will also benefit from expedited 14-day work permit processing. This rapid processing is intended to:
- Allow physicians to keep working while their permanent residence files proceed,
- Avoid staffing gaps, and
- Give employers and doctors short-term certainty while awaiting a long-term decision.
Overall immigration levels and economic focus (2026–2028)
The changes for international doctors sit within a broader 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
- Total permanent resident admissions will be held at 380,000 per year from 2026 through 2028.
- Within that total, the government plans to shift the balance toward economic immigration. Economic-class immigrants are expected to reach 64% of total admissions by 2027–2028.
As part of this rebalancing:
- More spaces will be directed to the Federal Skilled Worker Program and Provincial Nominee Program — the two main economic streams that feed into Express Entry.
- The government argues these programs are best placed to address national labour shortages and the diverse regional needs of provinces losing workers or struggling to attract specialists.
Expansion of occupation-targeted Express Entry draws
In 2026, IRCC plans to expand occupation-targeted Express Entry draws, building on categories already used for French speakers, STEM professionals, trades workers, and healthcare staff.
- In-demand fields such as healthcare, STEM, skilled trades, and French-speaking professionals will see more frequent category-based selection rounds.
- These rounds let IRCC invite candidates based on job type or language profile rather than overall points alone.
The doctor-only category is the most concrete example of this targeting and could serve as a model for other critical occupations if shortages persist.
Restoring points for arranged employment and tightening safeguards
Another significant change expected in early 2026 is the planned restoration of extra points for arranged employment in the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System.
- Arranged employment means a valid job offer from a Canadian employer that meets IRCC rules.
- Restoring (and potentially increasing) these points signals that real job offers will again carry more weight when issuing invitations to apply.
At the same time, Ottawa promises tighter safeguards to reduce fraud, including:
- Stricter checks on employers,
- Greater compliance monitoring, and
- Measures to make it harder for fake or short-lived offers to boost candidates unfairly.
These changes aim to reward genuine, long-term job offers and make Express Entry a more direct tool for employers facing persistent labour shortages.
One-time temporary-to-permanent (TR to PR) initiative (2026–2027)
Running alongside Express Entry changes is a separate, one-time TR to PR initiative planned for 2026–2027.
- Up to 33,000 temporary workers will have a special pathway to permanent residence.
- The target group includes temporary workers with strong ties to their communities, a record of paying taxes, and roles that support the Canadian economy long-term.
Although this initiative is not part of Express Entry, it is expected to reduce pressure on Express Entry by providing another route to permanent status for long-term temporary residents. That could, in turn, affect how IRCC weights Canadian work experience and local integration in future points calculations.
New pathway for U.S. H-1B visa holders
Canada also plans a new permanent residence pathway for U.S. H-1B visa holders in 2026, likely linked to Express Entry through a dedicated stream or category-based draw.
- The focus is expected to be on tech and other professional occupations where demand is high.
- The pathway builds on earlier programs that facilitated moves for U.S.-based tech workers and signals Ottawa’s intent to attract skilled professionals familiar with North American workplaces.
Technical updates: NOC alignment and language testing
IRCC is preparing technical updates for Express Entry in 2026, including:
- Alignment with NOC 2021 structure, which may change how some work experience is counted or which NOC codes qualify for certain programs (e.g., Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class).
- Possible changes to how language scores are treated in the ranking system, affecting candidates with high English or French test results.
Who benefits — and what remains unclear
For many potential immigrants, especially healthcare workers and tech professionals, the message is clear: Canada is tilting toward people with in-demand skills, Canadian experience, and real job offers.
International doctors already working in Canada appear to be major beneficiaries, receiving:
- A dedicated Express Entry category,
- 5,000 extra provincial nomination spaces, and
- Fast-tracked work permit processing.
However, several details remain to be published, including:
- The exact scoring for arranged employment,
- The full list of occupations in each category-based draw, and
- Final rules for H-1B visa holders.
IRCC has signalled that more detailed guidance will arrive in early 2026, giving candidates and employers time to adjust their plans.
Key takeaway: Canada is using Express Entry more precisely to select workers it believes will fill chronic shortages, remain in their communities, and support long-term economic and social goals.
Where to follow official updates
People interested in these changes can follow official updates on the government’s Express Entry page. IRCC posts program news, draw information, and technical guidance for applicants at:
– IRCC Express Entry
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the combination of a doctor-specific category, restored job-offer points, and new routes for U.S.-based professionals makes 2026 one of the most important years in recent memory for highly skilled workers considering a move to Canada 🇨🇦.
For now, candidates and employers should watch for the full rules to be released in early 2026 and begin preparing documentation for work experience, valid job offers, language tests, and relevant NOC classifications.
Canada will introduce a dedicated Express Entry stream for international doctors in early 2026, require at least one year of Canadian medical experience, and reserve 5,000 PNP spaces with expedited 14-day work permits. The 2026–2028 plan holds permanent resident admissions at 380,000 annually and shifts toward economic-class immigrants (64%). Additional measures include occupation-targeted draws, restored points for arranged employment, a TR-to-PR pathway for up to 33,000 temporary workers, and a potential H-1B pathway.
