Dear future neighbour,
Something big is brewing at IRCC, and it could change who gets invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence next year.
On August 4, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada launched public consultations to decide which Express Entry categories survive into 2027 and which new ones might take their place. The window for input closes September 1, 2026, giving stakeholders only a few weeks to weigh in before decisions are made.
For anyone sitting in the Express Entry pool right now, this isn’t just bureaucratic housekeeping. It’s the process that will determine your odds of getting an invitation next year.
Why this matters so much
Category-based selection has quietly become the backbone of Express Entry. Back in 2023, only about 63.5% of invitations went to candidates in specific categories. By 2025, that number had climbed to 87%. In other words, if you don’t fit into one of these categories, your chances of getting picked have shrunk significantly.
Here’s how invitations have trended across the main categories over the past three years:
| Category | Year | ITAs Issued | Avg CRS | % In Canada | % of Total EE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | 2023 | 8,180 | 473 | 50% | 9.7% |
| Healthcare | 2024 | 11,967 | 468 | 56% | 16.0% |
| Healthcare | 2025 | 19,200 | 476 | 57% | 18.6% |
| Trades | 2023 | 2,855 | 447 | 90% | 3.4% |
| Trades | 2024 | 3,884 | 461 | 85% | 5.2% |
| Trades | 2025 | 4,589 | 499 | 78% | 4.4% |
| STEM | 2023 | 24,084 | 498 | 79% | 28.7% |
| STEM | 2024 | 13,749 | 500 | 74% | 18.4% |
| STEM | 2025 | 5,942 | 479 | 50% | 5.8% |
| Transport | 2023 | 2,033 | 468 | 77% | 2.4% |
| Transport | 2024 | 1,340 | 465 | 75% | 1.8% |
| Agriculture | 2023 | 1,092 | 427 | 51% | 1.3% |
| Agriculture | 2024 | 346 | 464 | 36% | 0.5% |
| Agriculture | 2025 | 101 | 498 | 59% | 0.1% |
| Education | 2025 | 9,200 | 459 | 36% | 8.9% |
| French Proficiency | 2023 | 14,944 | 476 | 17% | 17.8% |
| French Proficiency | 2024 | 24,303 | 450 | 19% | 32.5% |
| French Proficiency | 2025 | 50,701 | 449 | 22% | 49.2% |
Source: IRCC operational data as of April 7, 2026. Figures exclude Provincial Nominee Program invitations.
A few things jump out. STEM invitations have collapsed from over 24,000 in 2023 to under 6,000 in 2025. Agriculture practically disappeared, dropping to just 101 invitations before IRCC quietly retired the category altogether. Meanwhile, French-language proficiency has exploded, now accounting for nearly half of all category-based invitations. Transport hasn’t seen a single draw in all of 2025, and IRCC is openly asking whether it’s even worth keeping.
What’s currently up for renewal
IRCC is asking the public to weigh in on whether nine existing categories should carry into 2027 (a tenth, for skilled military recruits, wasn’t included in that particular question):
| Category | Priority Area |
|---|---|
| French-language proficiency | Francophone immigration |
| Healthcare and social services occupations | Labour shortages |
| STEM occupations | Labour shortages |
| Trade occupations | Labour shortages |
| Education occupations | Labour shortages |
| Transport occupations | Labour shortages |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | Talent attraction and retention |
| Researchers with Canadian work experience | Talent attraction and retention |
| Senior managers with Canadian work experience | Talent attraction and retention |
Respondents are also being asked to rank these by importance, which will directly shape which ones IRCC keeps or drops.
Four brand-new categories on the table
This is where it gets interesting for skilled workers abroad. IRCC is floating four entirely new categories built around attracting international talent rather than just plugging labour gaps:
- Global Talent Stream candidates – largely tech and AI professionals
- Researchers tied to the Global Impact+ initiative – top international scientists in critical fields
- International Talent Strategy candidates – aligned with Canada’s broader push to keep high-value workers
- H-1B visa holders in the U.S. – a dedicated pathway for skilled workers stuck in America’s visa backlog
That last one could be huge. Canada already tested the waters in 2023 with a special open work permit for H-1B holders, and it filled its 10,000-spot cap within hours. A permanent Express Entry category would turn that one-time experiment into a standing door.
IRCC is also considering trimming the list of shortage occupations altogether, focusing on fewer, more targeted roles instead of the broad categories used today. French-language selection, on the other hand, looks set to stay strong; Canada’s admission targets for French-speaking newcomers outside Quebec are actually rising, from 9% in 2026 to 10.5% by 2028.
What should you do with this information?
Nothing changes for 2026 draws right now – this consultation is entirely forward-looking, and no current CRS cutoffs or category rules are affected. But if you’re planning your immigration timeline around 2027, this is the moment to pay attention. Whether you work in tech, healthcare, trades, or hold an H-1B visa in the U.S., the categories being decided right now could open or close your path to Canadian permanent residence.
Not Sure Where You Stand? Let’s Map It Out Together
Immigration policy shifts fast, and it’s easy to miss the details that actually affect your application. Whether you’re trying to figure out if you qualify for Express Entry, exploring a Provincial Nomination, applying for a work permit or postgraduate work permit, bringing a spouse to Canada, planning a visitor visa or super visa for family, working toward citizenship, or handling a school admission – you don’t have to figure it out alone.
Book a one-on-one consultation with Ese Umoh Immigration and let’s build a strategy that actually fits your situation: https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes