Express Entry Relief for Senior Managers, Researchers, and Others
On February 18, 2026, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed what had initially been announced in the Federal Budget last November, that it will conduct new targeted draws in multiple categories in 2026. IRCC has now stated that it will conduct targeted draws for senior managers; researchers; transport occupations including pilots, aircraft mechanics, and inspectors; and highly skilled foreign military applicants recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces such as military doctors, nurses, and pilots.
Many will recall that in March 2025, IRCC removed the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for applicants with job offers. While this affected the vast majority of Express Entry candidates who were already in Canada and working, it rendered many individuals in their 40s or older who received few or no points under the age category entirely uncompetitive. These candidates had previously been relying on their job offer points to be competitive, but these points were now removed. Yesterday’s announcement that IRCC will conduct targeted draws for senior managers may finally provide some relief to older individuals with experience working in Canada in senior managerial roles National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes: 00012, 00013, 00014, and 00015. In theory, these individuals in triple zero NOC occupations that have profiles in the Express Entry pool will now be targeted, and instead of competing with the general body of all candidates in the Express Entry pool, will compete against a smaller pool and presumably a lower CRS cutoff.
Since the government is still committed to a reduced number of permanent residents from historically high levels in 2022-2024, we expect that those in senior managerial roles will have their job duties carefully scrutinized to ensure that they match the lead statement and a substantial number of main duties of the senior managerial NOC codes for which they claim eligibility and points. In a recent decision, Merijohn v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2025 FC 1003, the Federal Court ruled that an officer’s decision was reasonable to deny an applicant’s permanent residence application as the applicant had not shown sufficient evidence of supervising middle managers as required by the lead statement of the senior managerial NOC code they selected. We believe that this decision may have significant ramifications for senior mangers in small businesses with fewer employees that do not have large organizational structures which incorporate middle managers. This also highlights the limitations of the NOC system in which those under senior managerial NOC codes, even if heavily invested in running a small business at a high level may find that IRCC disagree with their classification in these senior manager NOCs. Given this, it is prudent for Express Entry candidates who have selected senior managerial NOC codes to ensure that they can demonstrate with facts and documents how they meet the lead statement and main duties under the applicable NOC.
Navigating constantly changing Canadian immigration programs, processes, criteria, and understanding one’s best options for permanent or temporary residence is challenging. If you, an employee, or your employer have any questions about Express Entry or any aspect of Canadian immigration, you can reach out to us for assistance. Our Canadian immigration legal professionals can be reached by phone (416-368-1111) or via email: caruso@cilf.ca; bonisteel@cilf.ca; ali@cilf.ca; mukherjee@cilf.ca; garciafialdini@cilf.ca; traister@cilf.ca.
