Canada has entered October with important developments across Express Entry, the upcoming Immigration Levels Plan and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).
Express Entry — Category-Based Draws Continue
IRCC continues to use category-based selection under Express Entry, with priority given to candidates in specific occupations and skill areas.
New priority categories include:
- Medical doctors with Canadian work experience
- Researchers with Canadian work experience
- Senior managers with Canadian work experience
- Transport occupations
- Skilled military recruits with a Canadian Armed Forces job offer
Renewed categories include French-language proficiency, healthcare, education, STEM and trades.
For the renewed occupation-based categories, the minimum qualifying work experience has increased to one year, compared with six months previously.
Latest Express Entry Draw — 1 October 2026
The first reported Express Entry draw of October focused on Trades Occupations:
- Invitations issued: 3,500
- CRS cut-off: 476
For candidates planning Canadian permanent residence, this highlights the importance of checking occupation, eligible work experience, CRS score and category requirements, rather than looking only at general Express Entry eligibility.
Canada’s 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan
IRCC is preparing the 2027–2029 Immigration Levels Plan, which is expected to be tabled in fall 2026.
As of 1 October 2026, the new plan had not yet been officially published. Applicants should therefore be cautious about relying on unofficial or leaked figures concerning future permanent residence targets, Express Entry allocations or family sponsorship levels.
The currently published 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan sets a target of 380,000 permanent resident admissions for each of 2026, 2027 and 2028.
These figures should not automatically be treated as the confirmed targets for the next three-year plan until the new plan is officially released.
Provincial Nominee Programs — What to Watch in October
Provincial immigration programs remain an important pathway for candidates who may not qualify through federal Express Entry selection alone.
Ontario:
Ontario’s Workforce Priority Stream opened its Expression of Interest (EOI) portal on 4 August 2026. The stream covers eligible job offers across NOC TEER categories and includes a pathway for eligible self-employed physicians.
PEI, Quebec and Yukon:
Applicants should monitor the respective provincial immigration portals for current EOI requirements, nomination information and intake announcements.
Provincial invitation rounds may change without extensive advance notice, so applicants should verify the latest information before making plans based on an expected draw.
Who Should Pay Attention?
This update is particularly relevant to:
- Express Entry candidates
- Skilled trades professionals
- Healthcare and STEM professionals
- Education-sector professionals
- Candidates with French-language proficiency
- Applicants considering a PNP pathway
- Indian applicants planning Canadian permanent residence
What Applicants Should Review Now
Before choosing an immigration pathway, applicants should assess their:
NOC/TEER occupation | Work experience | CRS score | Language results | Education | Province eligibility | Category-based selection eligibility
A candidate’s pathway can change depending on how these factors fit the latest federal and provincial requirements.
Canada PR Profile Evaluation
If you are planning Canadian permanent residence, a detailed profile assessment can help identify which Express Entry or provincial pathway may be relevant to your circumstances.
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