RBC Says Canada Should Get Rid of Most Express Entry Categories

In its A Smarter Immigration Strategy report, RBC argues that the growing use of category-based selection is weakening the original purpose of Express Entry: selecting skilled immigrants who are most likely to succeed economically in Canada.

RBC recommends that the federal government focus Express Entry on the highest-ranking candidates in the pool, like it did prior to the introduction of category-based draws. It also suggests that addressing labour shortages and gaps in specific occupations should be left to provinces and territories through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

The recommendations are not government policy, and IRCC has not announced plans to eliminate category-based selection.

However, RBC’s report comes at a time when IRCC is considering its Express Entry priorities for 2027. The department recently completed public consultations and says it is considering narrowing some categories used to address labour shortages.

Here’s what RBC is recommending and why it wants Canada to rethink category-based Express Entry.

Key Takeaways

• RBC recommends removing most federal Express Entry categories and returning to a system that puts greater emphasis on candidates’ CRS scores.
• It points out that category-based selection can allow lower-scoring candidates to receive ITAs ahead of higher-ranking candidates.
• RBC says provinces should take greater responsibility for using immigration to address specific regional labour shortages.
• IRCC has not proposed eliminating categories, but is considering narrowing the categories for 2027.

Why RBC Wants Canada to Change Express Entry

Express Entry was introduced in 2015 to select skilled immigration candidates based on factors linked to their potential economic success in Canada.

Candidates receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on factors such as their age, education, language ability and work experience. IRCC then uses Express Entry draws to invite candidates to apply for permanent residence.

RBC argues that this approach has produced strong economic results.

Data cited by RBC shows that principal applicants admitted through Express Entry had median employment income of $75,400 three years after admission. That compared with $56,300 for PNP principal applicants and $38,700 for other economic immigrants.

Statistics Canada data also shows that Canadian Experience Class (CEC) principal applicants have particularly strong long-term earnings. Among those admitted in 2013, median employment earnings reached $92,100 after 10 years, compared with $67,400 among economic immigrants overall.

RBC argues Canada should put greater weight on these economic outcomes and refocus federal selection on candidates with the highest CRS scores.

Category-Based Draws Are Weakening the CRS System: RBC

Canada introduced category-based Express Entry draws in 2023 after legislative changes gave the immigration minister greater power to select candidates based on specific economic priorities.

For category-based selection, IRCC first identifies candidates in the Express Entry pool who meet the requirements of a particular category and then ranks them against other eligible candidates in that group.

This means someone with a lower CRS score can receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through a category-based draw while a higher-scoring candidate who does not qualify for that category remains in the pool.

RBC argues that this undermines the basic principle of Express Entry. Recent CEC draws have required CRS scores more than 100 points higher, on average, than other Express Entry categories. Between January and August 2026, cut-offs for CEC draws had ranged from 507 to 523, while category-based draws had seen cut-offs from 169 and 477.

Category-based selection has also become an increasingly important part of Express Entry. According to IRCC, 73,586 candidates eligible for a category received ITAs in 2025, representing 87 percent of all invitations issued that year. Candidates can be eligible for more than one category, and these figures include candidates invited through other types of draws.

By the end of August 2026, more ITAs had been issued under French category draws alone than under CEC draws. Category-based draws altogether have accounted for nearly 60 percent of all ITAs issued so far in 2026.

This means occupation and French-language skills now play a much larger role in determining who gets permanent residence through Express Entry.

RBC Wants Express Entry to Focus on the Highest-Ranking Candidates

RBC recommends going “back to basics” with Express Entry. It says federal draws should prioritize the highest-ranking candidates rather than using Express Entry categories to pursue shorter-term economic priorities.

The report also suggests the government could consider reintroducing a minimum CRS threshold based on core selection factors and focus on candidates with the strongest expected economic outcomes.

However, since immigration is a key solution for addressing labour shortages, provinces and territories should take greater responsibility for targeting specific occupations.

Provinces Should Target Labour Shortages Instead

Labour shortages are usually regional, not national. Provincial Nominee Programs allow participating provinces and territories to nominate immigrants according to their economic and labour market needs.

The report also highlights that the PNP has been successful in distributing economic immigration more widely across Canada. When the PNP was introduced in 1998, only 11 percent of economic immigrants settled outside Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. By 2024, that share had increased to 37 percent.

However, RBC argues that the provincial system has become too complicated. There are around 80 provincial immigration pathways, with many provinces operating similar streams for skilled workers, international graduates, and entrepreneurs.

In an ideal situation, provinces would coordinate to create fewer, more stable categories whose eligibility can be adjusted based on labour market needs.

IRCC Is Already Considering Narrowing Express Entry Categories

For 2026, IRCC has ten categories overall. Five categories are aimed at long-term labour shortages: healthcare and social services, trades, education, STEM and transport. Other categories target French-language proficiency, physicians, researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience, and skilled military recruits.

Express Entry categories are reviewed each year and can change as Canada’s economic priorities change.

IRCC recently completed public consultations on its Express Entry priorities for 2027. As part of the consultation, the department revealed it is already considering “narrowing the number or eligibility of categories aimed at addressing labour shortages to support a more strategic focus.”

What This Means for Express Entry Categories

The RBC report suggests that Canada should consider reversing the 2022 legislative changes that made the current category-based selection system possible. It recommends doing away with category-based selection altogether.

There is no indication that the government plans to do this. IRCC’s recent consultation focused on which priorities and categories should be used in 2027, strongly suggesting that category-based selection will continue.

That said, there may be fewer or more restrictive categories next year.

Overall, RBC’s report proposes a significant shift in Canada’s economic immigration strategy: fewer federal categories, greater emphasis on CRS rankings and economic outcomes, and a larger role for provinces in selecting immigrants to address specific labour shortages. However, these suggestions have no direct impact on government policy.

It remains to be seen what categories IRCC will prioritize for 2027. Until then, if you qualify for an existing category or for the CEC program, you should create your Express Entry profile and boost your CRS score to become more competitive in the pool.