Express Entry 2026: category draws continue to favour French, health, and trades profiles
Summary
IRCC's 2026 draw pattern so far continues the shift toward category-based selection: French-language proficiency, health care and social services, and trade occupations are drawing regularly, often with cutoffs meaningfully below general rounds, while general draws remain less frequent and more competitive. Candidates relying on an all-program invitation face a higher effective bar than candidates who fit a priority category.
Who is affected
Express Entry candidates in the pool without a provincial nomination — especially those with mid-range CRS scores who qualify, or could qualify, for a French-language, health, or trades category. Candidates whose occupations sit outside all announced categories should plan around general-draw cutoffs or PNP routes instead.
RCIC practical note
The most common miss I see in file reviews is a candidate who actually qualifies for a category draw but whose profile does not show it — usually a NOC code chosen years ago that understates their real duties, or French ability that was never tested. Before you spend money on anything else, confirm your occupation against the current category lists and, if you have functional French, book a TEF or TCF sitting. Categories are announced by IRCC and can change each year, so verify the current list on the official page rather than relying on last year's strategy.
— Anil Katta, RCIC
Recommended next steps
- 1Check the current year's category list on IRCC's category-based selection page and match your NOC/TEER code against it.
- 2Review your Express Entry profile for occupation coding that no longer reflects your primary duties, and correct it honestly.
- 3If you have French ability, take TEF Canada or TCF Canada — NCLC 7 across abilities opens the French category and adds CRS points.
- 4Prepare proof (reference letters, certificates) for every claimed period of experience before an invitation arrives, not after.
This update relates to our Permanent Residence services.
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