Canada’s 2026 Express Entry Revamp: New Visa Paths for Jobs

By Visa Jobs CanadaAugust 14, 2025Express Entry UpdatesCanadian immigration, Express Entry, skilled workers, visa sponsorship, work permits

Exciting Changes Coming to Canada’s Immigration System!

Canada is gearing up for some significant changes to its Express Entry immigration system in 2026. These reforms are designed with a clear goal: to attract top global talent and address the country’s labour shortages. If you’re an international job seeker looking for opportunities in Canada, especially from India, these updates could create some promising pathways to permanent residency (PR).

One of the most notable proposals is the introduction of a ‘Leadership and Innovation’ category. This new stream aims to prioritise senior managers, scientists, and researchers with the skills needed to bolster Canada’s economic competitiveness. For qualified Indian professionals with leadership experience or strong research backgrounds, this could serve as a direct route to obtaining PR.

The draft plan from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also includes the recruitment of skilled military personnel from allied nations. If you have a defence background, particularly with advanced technical or strategic skills, this could open doors for you into Canada’s workforce.

Currently, the Express Entry system is the main pathway for skilled workers wishing to settle in Canada. It uses a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which considers factors such as age, education, and language proficiency. Candidates are ranked based on their scores and those with the highest points receive invitations to apply for PR.

Canada’s recent shift toward category-based draws has already paved the way for targeted occupations, allowing workers to benefit even if their CRS scores are slightly below the general cut-off. This flexibility is especially beneficial for those with specific skills or experiences.

The 2026 plan emphasizes addressing shortages in crucial sectors like healthcare, skilled trades, construction, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) professions, agriculture, and education. Indian professionals, from nurses and IT specialists to farm supervisors and educators, are well-positioned to step into these roles.

Moreover, even those seeking unskilled or semi-skilled positions may find new opportunities in trades, agriculture, and support roles tied to healthcare and housing. The demand in these sectors remains strong, providing numerous entry points for international job seekers.

Additionally, the draft continues to support an increase in Francophone immigration outside Quebec. If you speak French, you may gain a significant advantage in these category-based draws, particularly given the rising importance of the Francophone stream.

The government is currently seeking public feedback on these proposals, which will continue until September 2025. The final details will be announced alongside the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan. Canada plans to welcome approximately 395,000 new permanent residents in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027. At the same time, the aim is to restrict temporary residents to just 5% of the population by the end of 2026, a drop from the 1.2 million residents recorded in 2023.

This reset indicates a move towards a more specialised, skills-driven immigration system. For aspiring Indian candidates, 2026 presents an exciting year full of opportunities.

If you are actively exploring job opportunities in Canada, our website, VisaJobsCanada.com, focuses specifically on Canadian jobs that offer visa sponsorship to international applicants. Each listing on our site clearly states whether visa support is available, making it easier for you to navigate your options.