Core Policy Adjustments: Higher Experience Thresholds with Added Flexibility
Canadian Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab formally unveiled these policy changes during a speech at the Canadian Club in Toronto.
The most notable shift in this policy update is the comprehensive increase in the work experience threshold. The minimum work experience required for candidates has been raised from the previous "six months of continuous work" to "one year." However, the new policy introduces greater flexibility regarding the timeline: the required one year of work experience, which must have been accumulated within the past three years, no longer needs to be continuous.
Three New Priority Occupational Categories and NOC Codes
To meet the specific demands of the Canadian labor market, the Express Entry system has introduced targeted invitations for three new categories, specifying the eligible 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes for each:
1. Senior Managers with Canadian Experience
This category aims to attract senior management professionals who have previously worked in Canada:
- 00015: Senior managers - construction, transportation, production and utilities
- 00014: Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other services
- 00013: Senior managers - health, education, social and community services and membership organizations
- 00012: Senior managers - financial, communications and other business services
2. Researchers with Canadian Work Experience
This category focuses on recruiting professionals with local experience in higher education and academic research:
- 41200: University professors and lecturers
- 41201: Post-secondary teaching and research assistants
3. Transport Occupations
Notably, this newly launched transport category features entirely different occupations compared to the previous Express Entry transport category, which was retired in February 2025. The new list primarily targets the aviation and heavy machinery maintenance sectors:
- 72600: Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors
- 72410: Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers
- 72404: Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
- 22313: Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors
4. Skilled Military Recruits (With Additional Requirements)
The establishment of the military personnel category requires not only the aforementioned one year of cumulative work experience within the past three years but also comes with strict additional criteria. Candidates must simultaneously meet the following three conditions:
- Be actively serving in a recognized foreign military with at least 10 years of continuous service;
- Hold a full-time job offer for at least 3 years with the Canadian Armed Forces;
- Possess a post-secondary educational credential from a program that is at least 2 years in length.
The specific occupations eligible under this category include:
- 40042: Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces
- 42102: Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces
- 43204: Operations Members of the Canadian Armed Forces
Retention and Retirement of Existing Priority Categories
Minister Diab noted that while introducing these new categories, the government will continue to prioritize and invite candidates who meet the criteria for three existing categories:
- French language proficiency;
- Health care and social services;
- Trades.
Meanwhile, the agriculture and agri-food occupations category has been officially retired.
The Current State of Express Entry and Macro-Strategic Background
Within the Express Entry system, Category-Based Selection (CBS) allows the government to issue Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence exclusively to candidates who meet specific occupational criteria, significantly increasing the selection chances for these in-demand professionals.
Based on current invitation trends, the CBS categories are crucial for foreign applicants. Since April 23, 2024, all standard draws that are non-CBS and non-Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) have been conducted exclusively under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Because the CEC strictly requires at least one year of skilled Canadian work experience, CBS remains the only pathway for foreign nationals lacking Canadian work experience or provincial nominations to be selected for permanent residency through Express Entry.
On a macro-strategic level, Minister Diab emphasized that these reforms to the Express Entry system will directly support Canada's Defence Industrial Strategy, which serves as a key pillar of Mark Carney's nation-building economic program.
