Canada has continued its targeted immigration strategy by inviting thousands of skilled professionals from the healthcare and social services sector through the latest Express Entry selection round. The new invitation round reflects the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen essential public services by attracting experienced workers who can help address persistent labour shortages across provinces.
The latest draw is another example of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) focus on category-based Express Entry selections, giving qualified professionals in priority occupations a stronger pathway to Canadian permanent residence.
Also Read Canada Invites 4,000 Healthcare and Social Services Professionals in Latest Express Entry Draw
Express Entry Draw Summary
The latest category-based Express Entry draw focused exclusively on candidates working in healthcare and social services occupations.
Draw Summary
- Draw Date: June 25, 2026
- Category: Healthcare and Social Services
- Invitations to Apply (ITAs): 4,000
- Minimum CRS Score: 475
- Express Entry Profile Deadline: Candidates must have created their Express Entry profile before 12:14 p.m. UTC on May 21, 2026
Candidates meeting both the CRS requirement and profile submission deadline became eligible to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence.
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Healthcare Occupations Continue to Receive Priority
Healthcare remains one of Canada’s highest-priority sectors under Express Entry. Hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centres, mental health organizations, and community healthcare providers across the country continue to face staffing shortages due to an aging population and increasing demand for medical services.
By conducting occupation-specific draws, Canada is able to invite professionals with experience in critical healthcare and social services occupations rather than relying solely on overall CRS rankings.
Compared to the previous healthcare-specific draw earlier this year, the latest invitation round required a slightly higher CRS score, indicating stronger competition among eligible candidates while maintaining a large number of invitations.
CRS Score Increases in Second Healthcare Draw
This marks the second Healthcare and Social Services category-based draw conducted during 2026.
While the number of invitations remained unchanged at 4,000, the minimum CRS score increased from the previous healthcare draw, reflecting a more competitive candidate pool.
The increase demonstrates that interest among healthcare professionals continues to remain strong as Canada expands opportunities for skilled workers in essential occupations.
Complete Express Entry Draw History for 2026
| Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-off Score | ITAs Issued |
| June 25 | Healthcare and Social Services | 475 | 4,000 |
| June 24 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 223 | 271 |
| June 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 4,000 |
| June 22 | Provincial Nominee Program | 730 | 955 |
| May 28 | French-Language Proficiency | 409 | 4,500 |
| May 27 | Canadian Experience Class | 518 | 3,000 |
| May 25 | Provincial Nominee Program | 805 | 334 |
| May 11 | Provincial Nominee Program | 798 | 380 |
| April 29 | French-Language Proficiency | 400 | 4,000 |
| April 28 | Canadian Experience Class | 514 | 2,000 |
| April 27 | Provincial Nominee Program | 795 | 473 |
| April 15 | French-Language Proficiency | 419 | 4,000 |
| April 14 | Canadian Experience Class | 515 | 2,000 |
| April 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 786 | 324 |
| April 2 | Trades | 477 | 3,000 |
| March 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 2,250 |
| March 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 802 | 356 |
| March 18 | French-Language Proficiency | 393 | 4,000 |
| March 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 507 | 4,000 |
| March 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 742 | 362 |
| March 5 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 429 | 250 |
| March 4 | French-Language Proficiency | 397 | 5,500 |
| March 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 4,000 |
| March 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 710 | 264 |
| February 20 | Healthcare and Social Services | 467 | 4,000 |
| February 19 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 169 | 391 |
| February 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| February 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| February 6 | French-Language Proficiency | 400 | 8,500 |
| February 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| January 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| January 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| January 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| January 5 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
Category-Based Draws Continue to Shape Canada’s Immigration Strategy
The latest invitation round represents the 34th Express Entry draw of 2026. Throughout the year, IRCC has consistently used targeted selections to invite candidates who possess specific qualifications, Canadian work experience, or provincial nominations.
Rather than conducting only general draws, Canada has increasingly prioritized applicants who can immediately contribute to sectors experiencing labour shortages or who already have experience living and working in Canada.
This strategy has resulted in frequent invitations for candidates under the Canadian Experience Class, Provincial Nominee Program, French-language proficiency category, healthcare occupations, and other specialized streams.
Number of Express Entry Draws by Category in 2026
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 12 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 10 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 6 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 2 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 2 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 1 |
| Trades | 1 |
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More Than 89,000 Invitations Issued So Far This Year
Canada has maintained a strong pace of Express Entry invitations during 2026. So far, nearly 90,000 candidates have received Invitations to Apply for permanent residence through various Express Entry categories.
The Canadian Experience Class continues to account for the largest share of invitations, followed by French-language candidates. Healthcare professionals have also received significant attention, with two large invitation rounds already conducted this year.
Total ITAs Issued by Draw Category in 2026
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued |
| Canadian Experience Class | 41,250 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 30,500 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 8,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 5,405 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 662 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 250 |
What This Means for Future Express Entry Candidates
The latest healthcare-focused draw reinforces Canada’s commitment to attracting skilled professionals who can support its growing healthcare system. Individuals working in eligible healthcare and social services occupations may continue to benefit from category-based invitations, even if their CRS scores are lower than those typically required in general Express Entry draws.
At the same time, candidates with Canadian work experience, provincial nominations, or strong French-language proficiency remain well-positioned as IRCC continues to diversify its invitation strategy. Prospective immigrants are encouraged to maintain an up-to-date Express Entry profile and improve their CRS score wherever possible, as invitation thresholds can change from one draw to the next.
