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Ottawa Extends Express Immigration Entry to Researchers, Military Applicants
Canada expands Express Entry to include foreign military recruits, researchers, and senior managers to strengthen workforce and align with new defence strategy.
- On Feb. 18, 2026, IRCC announced new permanent-residency streams for researchers, military applicants, senior managers, and transport occupations, with the first medical doctor selection soon, according to Minister Lena Metlege Diab.
- Aligned with Ottawa's defence push, the government noted the military-applicant stream supports the Canadian Armed Forces and aims to bolster sovereign capabilities, following the $500-billion defence-industrial strategy unveiled by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
- Specifically, the military stream covers high-skilled military recruits hired by the Canadian Armed Forces for roles like doctors, nurses, and pilots; federal government data from March 2025 showed 65,700 regular members, 23,450 reservists, and a shortfall of 12,350.
- The policy advances Ottawa's 2026 immigration levels plan by prioritizing permanent economic immigrants, aiming to shrink the temporary resident population from about 7 per cent to 5 per cent by 2027, while IRCC recruitment categories for French-language proficiency, STEM, health care and skilled trades remain.
- Critics note that category-based selection remains contentious, prioritizing current labour needs over stability, while Mikal Skuterud, labour economist at the University of Waterloo, warns late-2024 immigration tightening adds uncertainty.
37 Articles
37 Articles
Liberal Government Grows Express Entry Immigration for Military Recruits, Researchers
Immigration Minister Lena Diab says Canada is expanding its Express Entry immigration program to allow more skilled foreign workers to qualify for fast-tracked permanent residency. Diab made the announcement Feb. 18 at Canadian Club Toronto, saying the new Express Entry categories will “drive innovation and growth” by prioritizing applicants who are skilled military recruits, research professionals, upper-level managers, as well as aircraft pilo…
Canada rewrites immigration rules to recruit skilled workers and military talent
Canada revised its immigration rules, adding new Express Entry priority categories for researchers, health-care workers, aviation professionals and select military recruits, while aiming to manage overall permanent resident numbers.
Three permanent residency components are added to the Express Entry system and cover a variety of professions, including researchers and military personnel.
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