If you are reading this you are probably aware that IRCC announced the 2026 Express Entry categories on February 18, 2026, and you understand that category draws are not just “extra rounds”, they are an essential part of the strategy. These latest changes are big enough that I want you to slow down before you start drowning in stress or celebrating..

What changed in February 18,  2026 (the headlines that matter)

1) New categories were added

IRCC’s current category list now includes: Transport, Physicians with Canadian work experience, Senior managers with Canadian work experience, Researchers with Canadian work experience, and Skilled military recruits.

2) The experience requirement moved from 6 months to 12 months

This is the one that will catch people off guard.

IRCC now states that for occupation-based categories, you must have at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time) within the past 3 years, and it does not need to be continuous. For most of the categories, this experience can be either in Canada or abroad.

3) French is still the golden key

French-language proficiency remains a category, and IRCC continues to set the threshold as NCLC 7 in all four abilities. 

Categories that disappeared (and why that matters)

The current IRCC category list for 2026 does not include some categories people relied on in previous years.

Here’s the practical takeaway: if your plan was based on a category that’s no longer there,  you need to pivot.

Canadian experience vs foreign experience: not all categories treat this the same

This is where people waste months.

Categories that accept Canadian OR foreign experience

For categories like Healthcare, STEM, Trades, Education, and Transport, IRCC states the eligible 12 months of experience can be in Canada or abroad (as long as it’s in one eligible occupation and within the past 3 years). 

Categories that require Canadian work experience

IRCC is explicit that these new categories require the 12 months to be in Canada:

• Physicians with Canadian work experience
• Senior managers with Canadian work experience
• Researchers with Canadian work experience

So yes, two people can have the same occupation, but only one is eligible under a category depending on where the experience was gained.

NOCs that were eliminated (and what you should do with that information)

IRCC’s eligible occupation lists change. That means some occupations people counted on are no longer included.

One example widely flagged in industry commentary: Cooks (NOC 63200) have been reported as removed from the Trades category list for 2026.

What I want you to do with this: don’t rely on memory or screenshots. Always confirm your occupation on IRCC’s category page because that’s the source that matters. Link to IRCCs website : https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/rounds-invitations/category-based-selection.html 

Example NOCs in each category (not the full list)

I’m keeping this short on purpose. These are examples only. The complete and current lists should always be checked directly on IRCC’s Category-Based Selection page. (link above) 

Healthcare and social services (Canada or abroad) – examples

• 31102 General practitioners and family physicians
• 31301 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
• 31302 Nurse practitioners
• 31203 Occupational therapists

STEM (Canada or abroad) – examples

• 21220 Cybersecurity specialists
• 21300 Civil engineers
• 21301 Mechanical engineers
• 20011 Architecture and science managers 

Trades (Canada or abroad) – examples

• 72200 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
• 72300 Plumbers
• 72106 Welders and related machine operators
• 72310 Carpenters 

Education (Canada or abroad) – examples

• 41220 Secondary school teachers
• 41221 Elementary school and kindergarten teachers
• 42202 Early childhood educators and assistants
• 43100 Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants

Transport (Canada or abroad) – examples

• 72404 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
• 72600 Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors
• 22313 Aircraft instrument/electrical/avionics mechanics & inspectors
• 72410 Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics

Physicians with Canadian work experience (Canada only) – examples

• 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
• 31101 Specialists in surgery
• 31102 General practitioners and family physicians 

Senior managers with Canadian work experience (Canada only)

• 00015 Senior managers – construction, transportation, production and utilities
• 00014 Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services

Researchers with Canadian work experience (Canada only) – examples

• 41200 University professors and lecturers
• 41201 Post-secondary teaching and research assistants

Skilled military recruits 

• 40042 Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces
• 42102 Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces

 (see IRCC’s website for the specific requirements, including arranged employment details) 

How does this affect me?

This is the section I want you to read slowly, because this is where the approach becomes personal.

A) If you were counting on 6 months of experience in an occupation that was removed, you need to pivot

If your plan was “I’ll hit 6 months and qualify under a category draw,” that approach is now out the window.

If your occupation was removed from a category list (for example, Cooks – NOC 63200 then you need a new Plan A.  This means: more time in Canada doing the same job won’t make the category come back. Your next move has to change.

B) If your occupation is still listed (or newly added), and you’re past 6 months but not at 12 months, keep going

If your job is in a current category list, and you’re sitting at 7, 8, 9, 10 months—this isn’t “bad news.” It’s a timeline. 

IRCC’s baseline is now 12 months for occupational categories. In most cases, here is where you need to look at options to extend your status and authorization to work if your current authorization will expire before you complete the 12 months.

Depending on your occupation and how IRCC uses categories over the year, you may be closer than you think. Your job is to stay compliant, keep your documents clean, and keep accumulating qualifying experience.

In most cases, here is where you need to look at options to extend your status and authorization to work if your current authorization will expire before you complete the 12 months.

C) This is exactly why you need flexibility and a Plan B, C, and D

Category lists can change. Thresholds can change. Draw types can shift.

A strong immigration plan isn’t one perfect idea—it’s a few realistic paths you can pivot between without panic.

D) Two extra things that matter more than people realize

1) “My job title matches” isn’t enough.Category eligibility is tied to a NOC, and a NOC is about duties, not what your employer calls you. If your duties don’t match, your application becomes risky.

2) The draw instructions matter more than the headline.IRCC is clear: to be eligible for a category-based invitation, you must meet Express Entry program requirements and all requirements in the instructions for that round. 

So don’t plan around “what people say the draw was for.” Plan around what IRCC actually wrote.

The most important reminder: an ITA is not a guarantee

An ITA is not approval. It’s an invitation to submit an application and then IRCC decides based on:

• program eligibility
• category eligibility
• admissibility
• and whether you’ve submitted documentation to confirm that the information in your profile is accurate 

IRCC also makes mistakes

This week, we also saw people receive ITAs while being under the 12-month mark.

That doesn’t mean the requirement disappeared. It means this system is still a system and it is far from perfect. It i’s your responsibility to verify that you meet the requirements of the draw as written before you submit.

Even if you receive an ITA, if you don’t meet the draw’s category requirements, your PR application can be refused.

Closing thought

The 2026 category changes can open doors but only if you’re walking toward the right one.

The approach right now is simple (not easy): confirm your category, confirm your experience meets the 12-month rule, confirm whether your category needs Canadian experience or accepts foreign experience, and keep your documentation aligned with your real duties not just your job title. 

If you want us to review your category eligibility or you received an ITA and want an “ITA readiness audit” before you submit, book a consultation and we’ll verify your experience, your NOC alignment, and the draw requirements you were invited under.