Canada offers several pathways to permanent residence for skilled workers, families, and entrepreneurs. Nordex Immigration provides expert guidance for the following pathways: Express Entry, Medical Doctors Pathways, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) and Family Sponsorship.

EXPRESS ENTRY

⚠ NOTICE — Proposed Changes to Express Entry

The Express Entry system is currently under review. In 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched a public consultation on potential reforms to Express Entry’s federal programs and the Comprehensive Ranking System.

Proposed changes under consideration include:

Merging the three existing federal programs into a single Federal High Skilled program with streamlined eligibility requirements
Updating the CRS to better reflect the latest data on economic outcomes
Introducing new points for candidates with Canadian work experience or a job offer in a high-wage occupation
Removing or modifying points for certain additional factors including spousal French proficiency, study in Canada, and siblings in Canada

These proposed changes have not yet been implemented. The information on this page reflects the current rules in effect as of July 2026. We will update this page as new information becomes available.

For the most current information please visit: canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry.html

Express Entry is Canada’s flagship online application management system for permanent residence under three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.

Federal Skilled Worker

The FSW category is for skilled workers, who may become permanent residents based on their ability to become economically established in Canada, and who intend to reside in a province other than Quebec.

A “skilled worker” is a foreign national who has worked in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 of the National Occupational Classification TEER categories: TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2, and TEER 3.

Federal Skilled Trades

The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is for people who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade. Skilled trades for the Federal Skilled Trades Program are organized under these groups of the National Occupational Classification (NOC):

(1) Major Group 72 – technical trades and transportation officers and controllers (excluding Sub-Major Group 726, transportation officers and controllers)

(2) Major Group 73 – general trades

(3) Major Group 82 – supervisors in natural resources, agriculture and related production

(4) Major Group 83 – occupations in natural resources and related production

(5) Major Group 92 – processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors, and utilities operators and controllers

(6) Major Group 93 – central control and process operators and aircraft assembly assemblers and inspectors, excluding Sub-Major Group 932, aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors

(7) Minor Group 6320 – cooks, butchers and bakers

(8) Unit Group 62200 – chefs

Canadian Experience Class

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents. A foreign national is not eligible for the Canadian Experience Class if:

(1) he/she is a refugee claimant in Canada

(2) he/she is working without authorization

(3) work experience was gained without temporary resident status in Canada

Skilled work experience means work experienced gained in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 of National Occupational Classification (NOC).

How Express Entry Works

Candidates create an online Express Entry profile and are placed in the Express Entry pool if they meet the eligibility requirements of one of the three programs. Candidates are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) — a points-based system that scores candidates based on age, education, language ability, work experience, and other factors. IRCC holds rounds of invitations and invites top-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence. If you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you have 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residence.

Types of Invitation Rounds

IRCC holds three types of invitation rounds:

General rounds — open to all eligible candidates in the pool across all three programs
Program-specific rounds — targeting candidates eligible for one specific program
Category-based rounds — targeting candidates who meet specific occupational or language criteria established by the Minister

Important Update — Removal of Job Offer Points (March 2025)

As of March 2025, IRCC removed additional CRS points for job offers supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or LMIA-exempt work permit. Candidates who previously received an additional 50 or 200 points for arranged employment no longer benefit from this advantage.

Category-Based Selection — 2026 Updates

New categories introduced in 2026:

Foreign medical doctors with Canadian work experience — to address physician shortages across Canada
Researchers with Canadian work experience — supporting innovation, academic, and scientific sectors
Senior managers with Canadian work experience — facilitating leadership and growth in Canadian organizations
Transport occupations — including pilots, aircraft mechanics and inspectors
Highly skilled foreign military applicants recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces

Categories continuing from previous years:

Strong French-language proficiency
Healthcare and social services — including nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, and chiropractors
Skilled trades — including carpenters, plumbers, and machinists
Education occupations
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) occupations

The Express Entry Process

(1) Evaluate your eligibility for one of the three Express Entry programs

(2) Create and submit your Express Entry profile

(3) Your profile is ranked based on your CRS score

(4) Receive an Invitation to Apply through a general, program-specific, or category-based round

(5) Apply for Permanent Residence within 60 days of receiving your ITA

MEDICAL DOCTORS — DEDICATED PATHWAYS

Canada has introduced dedicated immigration pathways specifically for medical doctors to address physician shortages across the country. Medical doctors can apply through Express Entry, and regional, provincial and territorial programs (see Medical Doctors).

Express Entry – Medical Doctors

Medical doctors with Canadian work experience can apply for permanent residence through Express Entry if they are eligible for one of the three Express Entry programs and have at least one year of full-time work experience as a medical doctor in Canada in the last three years. They may be invited to apply through category-based selection rounds under the dedicated physician category, general rounds of invitation, or program-specific rounds of invitation.

Provincial Nominee Program — Reserved Spaces

Canada has reserved 5,000 federal immigration spaces through the Provincial Nominee Program for provinces and territories to nominate medical doctors with job offers or letters of support to live and work in Canada permanently. Medical doctors nominated by a province or territory will also receive a work permit processed in 14 days, so they can work while waiting for permanent residence.

Important Note

To work as a medical doctor in Canada, you must first have your foreign credentials assessed and be licensed as a medical doctor in Canada through a provincial or territorial regulatory authority.

PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAMS (PNPs)

Provincial Nominee Programs allow Canada’s provinces and territories to nominate skilled workers, international graduates, and business people for permanent residence based on regional labour market needs. Each province and territory sets its own eligibility requirements and operates its own streams.

Receiving a provincial nomination does not grant permanent residence. Once nominated, you must apply to IRCC for permanent residence. IRCC makes the final admissibility decision, while provinces and territories are now solely responsible for assessing whether you intend to reside in the nominating province and whether you can become economically established in Canada.

Important — Quebec and Nunavut

Quebec does not have a Provincial Nominee Program. Quebec selects its own immigrants through separate provincial programs. Nunavut also does not have a Provincial Nominee Program.

2026 PNP Levels

The 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan includes increased admissions under the Provincial Nominee Program, ensuring that Canada is able to attract the talent needed for nation-building projects while responding to the distinct labour market needs of provinces and territories.

Two Ways to Apply Under PNP

Through Express Entry (Enhanced Stream):

If you qualify for both a provincial stream and a federal Express Entry program, you can apply through the Express Entry process. A valid provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points to your Express Entry profile, which makes receiving a federal Invitation to Apply virtually guaranteed.

Directly to the Province (Base Stream):

If you qualify for a provincial stream but not a federal Express Entry program, you can apply directly to the province without being in the Express Entry pool. Processing times for the base stream are longer than through Express Entry.

ATLANTIC IMMIGRATION PROGRAM

The Atlantic Immigration Program is a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and international graduates from a Canadian institution who want to work and live in one of Canada’s four Atlantic provinces — New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador. The program helps employers hire qualified candidates for jobs they have not been able to fill locally.

Key Requirements

To apply for permanent residence under this program, you must:

Obtain a valid job offer from a designated employer in Atlantic Canada
Have qualifying work experience (recent graduates from a recognized Atlantic Canadian post-secondary institution may be exempt)
Have the right level of education for the job offered
Prove your language abilities by taking an approved language test
Show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family
Obtain a settlement plan from a service provider organization

How It Works

(1) A designated AIP employer offers you a job

(2) You connect with settlement services to obtain a settlement plan

(3) You send your settlement plan to your designated employer, who submits an application for endorsement

(4) You receive a provincial endorsement certificate

(5) You may receive a work permit support letter if a work permit is required

(6) You submit your permanent residence application, endorsement certificate, and other documents to IRCC

Important Note: You must have a valid provincial endorsement when you apply for permanent residence and when permanent residence is issued to you. IRCC has the authority to make the final decision on your application.

RURAL AND FRANCOPHONE COMMUNITY IMMIGRATION PILOTS

These pilots offer permanent residence to skilled candidates who want to work and live in one of the selected Canadian communities.

Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot offers permanent residence to skilled workers who want to work and settle in rural and more remote communities. Fourteen communities have been selected who showed they can support and benefit from skilled migrants. They will approve certain employers to hire for jobs they cannot fill with local workers.

Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP)

The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot offers permanent residence to skilled workers who want to work and settle in rural remote Francophone-minority communities. Six communities have been selected who showed they can support and benefit from skilled migrants. They will approve certain employers to hire for jobs they cannot fill with local workers.

How Both Pilots Work

To be considered under either pilot, you must:

Obtain a job offer from a designated employer in one of the participating communities
Receive a recommendation from the community’s designated economic development organization
Meet the eligibility requirements for the specific pilot

FAMILY SPONSORSHIP

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor eligible family members for permanent residence (see Family Sponsorship). The following family members can be sponsored:

(1) Spouses, common-law partners, and conjugal partners

A “common law partner” (also known as a “common law spouse”) is a person who is cohabiting with the person in a conjugal relationship for at least 1 year; the year of cohabiting must be a continuous 12-month period.

A “conjugal partner” is a person outside Canada who has had a binding relationship with the sponsor for at least one year but who did not live together continuously for one year, usually because of legal or social obstacles, such as a separation due to war, natural disasters, and other extreme circumstances.

(2) Dependent children

A “dependent child” is the child who is:

(i) is less than 22 years of age and is not a spouse or common-law partner, or

(ii) is 22 years of age or older and has depended substantially on the financial support of the parent since before attaining the age of 22 years and is unable to be financially self-supporting due to a physical or mental condition.

(3) Children intended for adoption

(4) Parents and grandparents and their dependent children

(5) Brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces, and grandchildren who are orphaned, under 18, and not a spouse or common-law partner

(6) Any relative, if the sponsor has no other eligible family members to sponsor and has no relatives in Canada

To qualify as a sponsor, a person must:

(1) Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

(2) Be at least 18 years old

(3) Reside in Canada (with limited exceptions for Canadian citizens living abroad who will return when the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident — permanent residents living abroad may not sponsor)

(4) Not be receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability

(5) Demonstrate that you can provide for the basic needs of yourself and your sponsored family member

A person cannot sponsor if he/she:

(1) Is in default on an immigration loan or performance bond

(2) Did not pay court-ordered alimony or child support

(3) Has declared bankruptcy that has not been discharged

(4) Was convicted of a sexual offence, violent crime, or offence against a relative causing bodily harm

(5) Is sponsoring a spouse or partner and were themselves sponsored as a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner and became a permanent resident less than five years ago

(6) Is under a removal order

(7) Is incarcerated

(8) Has a pending spousal sponsorship application that has not yet been decided

Family members who cannot be sponsored include:

A spouse or partner who is under 18 years of age
A spouse or partner if the marriage was performed without both spouses being physically present
A family member who was a non-accompanying dependent and was not examined when the sponsor previously applied to Canada as a permanent resident

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws change frequently. Please consult a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer for advice specific to your situation. Last updated: July 1, 2026.

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