Express Entry

General information only, not legal advice. This page gives general information about a Canadian immigration topic as understood in 2026. It is not legal advice, it does not guarantee any outcome, and it is not a substitute for advice on your own case from a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer. Immigration rules, figures, and fees change, so always confirm the current requirements on the official Government of Canada immigration and citizenship pages before you apply or rely on anything here.

Express Entry is the federal system Canada uses to select skilled workers for permanent residence. It is separate from study permits, and it is often relevant to students thinking about their longer term plans after graduation.

How it generally works

Profile. Candidates create a profile describing their education, work experience, language ability, and other factors.
Ranking. Profiles are ranked against each other using a points-based system.
Invitation. The highest ranked candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence.
Application. Invited candidates submit a full application, which immigration authorities then decide.

Programs covered

Express Entry manages applications under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and part of the Provincial Nominee Program. It is a route to permanent residence, not a study or work permit.

Category-based selection in 2026

As well as general rounds, Canada invites candidates in targeted categories. For 2026, the categories announced on February 18, 2026 are:

Continuing categories. French-language proficiency; health care and social services occupations; medical doctors with Canadian work experience (introduced in December 2025); education occupations; science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) occupations; and trade occupations.
New categories. Researchers with Canadian work experience; senior managers with Canadian work experience; transport occupations; and skilled military recruits with a job offer from the Canadian Armed Forces.

The agriculture and agri-food occupations category was retired for 2026.

For occupational categories, candidates now need at least 12 months of work experience within the past 3 years, up from 6 months. The experience no longer needs to be continuous.

Since March 25, 2025, a valid job offer no longer adds points under the Comprehensive Ranking System. A job offer can still matter in other ways, for example for eligibility under certain programs or for a work permit.

What this page does not state

This page does not state Comprehensive Ranking System cut-off scores, draw sizes, or processing times, because they change with each round. Confirm current details on the Government of Canada Express Entry pages before you rely on them.

Eligibility depends on your education, work history, and language results. If you are planning your studies with a longer term move to Canada in mind, it is worth understanding this system early. Talk to us about your plans.