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February was a busy month for Canadian immigration. We got the first-ever Express Entry draw for physicians with Canadian experience, new categories, the announcement of a formal AI strategy by IRCC, plus Nova Scotia consolidated their immigration streams.

~Here’s what you need to know~

Tl;dr: IRCC added four new Express Entry categories for 2026: physicians with Canadian work experience, researchers and senior managers with Canadian experience, specialized military applicants recruited by the Canadian Armed Forces, and transport occupations. Agriculture was the only category removed from the previous (2025) list. For most of the other categories (excluding those tied to Canadian experience), the required work experience has increased from six months to one year.

Who it affects: Candidates in the Express Entry pool, particularly physicians, researchers, senior managers, and those in the transport sector, may now be eligible for category-based draws. Candidates in non-Canadian experience categories will need to meet a higher work experience threshold.

Why it matters: The changes arguably means IRCC is focused on retaining talent already in Canada and filling acute gaps, especially in research, healthcare, and defence.

What’s next: Check IRCC’s category-based selection page to see which NOCs qualify under each category. If you might be eligible, but haven’t created an Express Entry profile yet, now is the time to make one.

Tl;dr: The week of February 16th–20th saw four Express Entry draws, something that hasn’t happened since December 2023. This included the first-ever draw for physicians with Canadian experience, plus draws for the healthcare category, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Altogether, February saw 19,593 ITAs issued through Express Entry (including a huge French-language draw and another PNP round).

Who it affects: French-speakers and Express Entry candidates with a provincial nomination had a good month, as did candidates with healthcare experience. If you are a physician in the Express Entry pool with at least one year of Canadian work experience, check your inbox—the CRS cut-off of 169 means you almost certainly got an ITA. CEC candidates have reason to hope too, as scores are slowly but surely inching downward.

Why it matters: The volume and variety of draws this month are a sign that IRCC is serious about addressing healthcare labour shortages and retaining talent already working in Canada. The large French draw reflects IRCC's focus on growing Francophone communities outside Quebec.

What’s next: Expect continued CEC and category-based draws, likely including French, healthcare and social services, trades, and transport occupations.

Tl;dr: The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) consolidated its ten immigration streams into four: Nova Scotia Graduate, Skilled Worker, Entrepreneur, and Nova Scotia: Express Entry. The restructuring is meant to streamline provincial processing but the underlying eligibility requirements haven't changed.

Who it affects: Anyone planning to submit a new Expression of Interest (EOI) to the NSNP. If you already have an active EOI in the pool, nothing changes for you and no action is required. The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is not affected by these changes.

Why it matters: Ten streams with overlapping but distinct criteria was a lot to navigate. Fewer, broader streams should make it easier for prospective applicants and employers to figure out where they fit. The move is also expected to reduce processing times.

What’s next: If you've been considering the NSNP, review the four new stream descriptions before submitting your EOI.

Tl;dr: IRCC released its first-ever Artificial Intelligence Strategy, formalizing how the department uses AI in immigration processing. The strategy confirms that AI is already being used to triage applications, detect document fraud, and flag straightforward files for faster processing. It also states explicitly that AI tools do not refuse or recommend refusing any application. A human officer always makes the final call.

Who it affects: AI usage potentially affects everyone with an application in IRCC’s system, but the strategy, in itself, does not introduce any new AI tools or use cases.

Why it matters: IRCC has used AI in processing since 2013, so the technology itself is not new. Having a formally documented policy increases transparency and accountability, which may be reassuring for applicants.

Critics and immigration lawyers have previously raised concerns about AI models trained on historical data potentially reinforcing biases, with disproportionate impact on applicants from certain countries or backgrounds. Another concern was the possibility of an AI flag negatively influencing the officer’s decision. The strategy acknowledges these risks directly, commits to bias testing, and rules out opaque “black box” systems.

What’s next: The strategy is described as a living document and will evolve over time. I think it’s worth a read if you have ever wondered how AI factors into the processing of your application.