Canada's New PR Program: Answers to the Most Common Questions

This is Part 3 of the series. Read Part 1: The investigation and Part 2: How it will work before continuing.

---

After confirming that Canada is planning to replace Express Entry with a new federal immigration class, the questions that come up are always the same. I answered each one here, straight.

Does Express Entry still exist? Can I create a profile normally?

Yes. Express Entry keeps running. FSW, CEC and FST keep receiving profiles. Draws keep happening normally in 2026.

What is underway is a regulatory process: public consultations, draft regulations, publication in the Canada Gazette, and it will take time. The new program will not replace Express Entry overnight without prior notice. When there is a transition date, it will be communicated in advance.

Is it still worth investing in Express Entry now?

Yes. Especially because the prerequisites that build a strong Express Entry profile are basically the same ones that will matter in the new system:

• High English or French: no version of the system will stop valuing language proficiency
• Documented work experience: the format of reference letters has specific requirements, so prepare now
• Recognized ECA: educational credential assessment stays a foundation in any system
• Sector and salary: the new system will probably give this even more weight than the current one does

There is no reason to freeze the process while waiting for a program that could take 12 to 18 months to launch. The terrain will not be radically different, it will be reorganized, with some factors weighing more than they do today.

When will the new program launch?

There is no announced date.

The Canadian regulatory process has stages: public consultations, then Canada Gazette Part I (draft open for comments), then Canada Gazette Part II (final regulations), then launch with the portal open. The 2026 consultations have already happened. The next stages have no confirmed date.

Canadian immigration programs typically take 6 to 18 months between consultations and launch. It probably will not be available in 2026. Treat 2027 as a conservative estimate, but do not freeze decisions today based on that.

Will my current CRS score be affected?

Your CRS score today is calculated with the existing rules. When the new system launches, there will be transition provisions: historically IRCC does not abandon profiles created on the previous platform without formal communication and an adaptation period.

But yes: the weight of each factor in the ranking may change. If the new system gives more weight to salary and a confirmed job offer, candidates with a job offer in a high-demand sector gain relative advantage. Candidates who rely solely on base CRS without a clear connection to the Canadian market may need to adjust their strategy.

What happens to those who already submitted a PR application?

Nothing changes. Applications already submitted keep being processed based on the rules in force at the time of submission. IRCC does not apply regulatory changes retroactively to applications in processing: that is a basic principle of the Canadian immigration system.

Is EMPP still active for new applications?

No. IRCC paused the EMPP (Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot) at the end of 2025. Applications submitted by December 31, 2025 keep being processed, but there have been no new intakes since then.

For most Brazilians, EMPP was never a relevant route, it was designed for refugees with economic qualifications, not for the typical profile of someone planning to immigrate through Express Entry. But it shows up in this story because the logic of creating a new permanent economic class in the IRPR is the same architecture being applied to the replacement of Express Entry.

What should I do now so I don’t miss the timing?

Three concrete things that make sense regardless of when and how the new program launches:

1. Finish your English (or start French) IELTS 8.0 or CELPIP 9 across all skills is the practical ceiling that maximizes your score in the current system, and it will keep being a differentiator in the new one. If you do not have CLB 9+ yet, that is the first step. If you already have strong English, French is the single biggest wild card you can add.

2. Prepare your work experience documentation now The Express Entry reference letter has specific requirements: employer name, role, exact period, hours per week, salary, supervisor signature. Don’t leave it to collect when you need it. See the complete guide here.

3. Follow the Canada Gazette, not Twitter It is in the Canada Gazette Part I that the final criteria of the new program will appear first, before any news article, post or video. It is technical reading, but it is the primary source. When it comes out, I will bring the complete analysis here.

---

Want to be notified when the new program is announced with official criteria? Subscribe to the MorarFora newsletter, I send the update straight to your email when there is official news from IRCC.