Canada: Proposed 2026 Express Entry reform — points shift toward earnings and Canadian job offers

Who it affects

All future Express Entry candidates if implemented.

Sources

Primary: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ↗

Corroborating: IRCC — Express Entry ↗

Verified 2026-04-19 · methodology · report a correction

Related changes in Canada

More recent updates

In force 1 Mar 2025

In force Visa & immigration

2025 Express Entry pivots toward in-Canada applicants via CEC

59% of category-based 2025 Express Entry invitations went to Canadian Experience Class (in-Canada) candidates. Reflects the federal government's priority to convert temporary residents with strong Canadian ties to permanent residence over new overseas arrivals, in the context of housing-supply pressure.

Who it affects: Temporary residents with Canadian work experience; new overseas applicants face reduced invitation volume.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ↗ · IRCC — Express Entry ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Mar 2025

In force Visa & immigration

2025 priority categories: French, healthcare, trades, education (new)

IRCC's 2025 category announcement added an Education category (5 eligible occupations), sunset the Transportation category, and reworked all other categories with additions and removals. French language, healthcare and social services, trades, and education are the four active 2025 priority categories.

Who it affects: Prospective Express Entry applicants in the 2025 priority occupations.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ↗ · IRCC — Express Entry ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2025

In force Visa & immigration

PNP provincial allocations reduced for 2025

Under the reduced 2025 Immigration Levels Plan, provincial PNP allocations were cut approximately 50% from 2024 levels. Individual provinces (Ontario, BC, Alberta in particular) immediately tightened their own PNP invitation criteria in response. Timelines for nomination invitations materially extended.

Who it affects: Prospective Provincial Nominee Program applicants across all provinces.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 1 Jan 2025

In force Residency

Permanent-residence admission targets reduced for 2025–2027

The 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan reduced PR targets from 500,000/year (prior plan) to 395,000 (2025), 380,000 (2026), 365,000 (2027) — a material reduction driven by the federal government's response to housing-supply and infrastructure pressure following record post-pandemic admission volumes.

Who it affects: Future permanent residents; sectors dependent on immigration-driven labour growth.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ↗ · Government of Canada ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 23 Dec 2024

In force Residency

"Flagpoling" — border-exit-and-re-entry work-permit activation — restricted

IRCC and CBSA restricted the long-standing informal practice of "flagpoling" (exiting at a US border and immediately re-entering to activate a new work permit) from December 2024. Most work-permit activations now must be processed at a Canadian port of entry via formal admission rather than same-day exit-re-entry. Materially changes the logistics of in-Canada status transitions.

Who it affects: Temporary residents in Canada seeking to activate new work permits without travelling abroad.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada ↗ · Government of Canada ↗ · verified 2026-04-19

In force 29 Nov 2024

In force Visa & immigration

Québec PRTQ invitation criteria reformed

Québec's Ministry of Immigration, Francisation and Integration reformed the Arrima invitation process from late 2024 — greater emphasis on francisation (French-language ability), targeted shortage-occupation streams, and streamlined processing for in-Québec CSQ applicants. Implementation continued through 2025.

Who it affects: Prospective Québec permanent-residence applicants.

Gouvernement du Québec — Immigration ↗ · verified 2026-04-19