Canada has conducted another targeted Express Entry selection, this time focusing specifically on physicians who already have professional experience in the country.
On September 3, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 229 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence through its physician-focused Express Entry category.
The latest selection highlights Canada’s continued effort to use targeted immigration pathways to attract and retain professionals whose skills are already contributing to the Canadian workforce.
Also Read 229 Candidates Invited in Physicians Express Entry Draw #440
Key Details of the September 3 Express Entry Draw
Candidates who received consideration in this round had to meet specific Express Entry requirements.
The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score was 198. Applicants also needed to have submitted their Express Entry profiles before 7:40 p.m. UTC on August 6, 2026.
Draw at a Glance
| Requirement | Details |
| Draw date | September 3, 2026 |
| Category | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience |
| ITAs issued | 229 |
| Minimum CRS score | 198 |
| Profile cut-off | August 6, 2026, at 7:40 p.m. UTC |
The targeted nature of this draw means that meeting the CRS threshold alone would not have been enough. Candidates also needed to satisfy the eligibility conditions associated with the physician category and Canadian work experience.
Latest Draw Brings Another Opportunity for Medical Professionals
The September physician selection is the third Express Entry draw of this type recorded in 2026.
It also differs noticeably from Canada’s earlier physician-focused selections. Only 229 candidates were invited this time, making it the smallest physician draw of the year so far.
At the same time, the CRS requirement was relatively high compared with most of the previous physician selections.
This demonstrates how invitation numbers and CRS thresholds can vary significantly from one targeted draw to another depending on the candidates available in the Express Entry pool and IRCC’s selection priorities.
Express Entry Draw Activity Continues Across Multiple Categories
The latest physician draw follows a busy period of Express Entry activity.
Just two days earlier, IRCC invited 2,000 candidates through the Canadian Experience Class, with a CRS cut-off of 521. Before that, a Provincial Nominee Program selection issued 562 invitations with a CRS requirement of 697.
Targeted selections have also continued for French-speaking candidates, transportation professionals, healthcare workers, tradespeople, senior managers and skilled military recruits.
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Summary of Express Entry draws
| Date | Draw Type | CRS cut-off score | ITAs issued |
| September 3 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 198 | 229 |
| September 1 | Canadian Experience Class | 521 | 2,000 |
| August 31 | Provincial Nominee Program | 697 | 562 |
| August 19 | French-Language proficiency | 382 | 5,000 |
| August 18 | Canadian Experience Class | 523 | 1,000 |
| August 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 760 | 442 |
| August 7 | Transport | 470 | 300 |
| August 6 | French-Language proficiency | 391 | 5,000 |
| August 5 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 3,000 |
| August 4 | Provincial Nominee Program | 768 | 507 |
| July 23 | Skilled Military Recruits | 368 | 4 |
| July 22 | French-Language proficiency | 399 | 5,000 |
| July 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 2,000 |
| July 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 744 | 511 |
| July 10 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 392 | 500 |
| July 9 | French-Language proficiency | 420 | 5,000 |
| July 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 517 | 2,000 |
| July 6 | Provincial Nominee Program | 708 | 534 |
| 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 |
52 Express Entry Draws Recorded in 2026
With the September 3 physician selection included, Canada’s Express Entry system has now reached 52 invitation rounds in 2026.
The distribution of these selections shows that IRCC has relied heavily on programs aimed at people with Canadian connections. Provincial nominees and Canadian Experience Class candidates account for a substantial share of the year’s selections.
Physicians with Canadian work experience have also been included as a dedicated category, alongside several other occupation and language-based groups.
| Draw TypeNumber of Draws | |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 17 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 15 |
| French-Language proficiency | 10 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 3 |
| Healthcare and social services | 2 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 2 |
| Trades | 1 |
| Transport | 1 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 1 |
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More Than 122,000 Invitations Issued in 2026
The year’s Express Entry selections have collectively produced 122,656 ITAs across the different draw categories.
Canadian Experience Class candidates account for 51,250 invitations, while French-language selections have produced another 50,500 ITAs.
Healthcare and social services professionals have also received significant attention, with 8,000 invitations issued under that category.
The physician category has so far generated 891 invitations during 2026, including the 229 ITAs announced in the latest draw.
| Draw typeITAs Issued | |
| Canadian Experience Class | 51,250 |
| French-Language proficiency | 50,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 7,961 |
| Healthcare and social services | 8,000 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Transport | 300 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 891 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 750 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 4 |
What This Means for Physicians Seeking Canadian PR
The latest selection provides another indication that Canadian work experience can be highly relevant within targeted immigration pathways.
Physicians who are already working in Canada may benefit from monitoring category-based Express Entry selections rather than focusing exclusively on general invitation rounds.
However, candidates must still meet the applicable eligibility requirements and maintain an accurate Express Entry profile. A profile being in the pool does not guarantee an ITA, as IRCC determines the number and type of candidates invited in each round.
For medical professionals considering permanent residence, keeping professional credentials, work history, language results and other Express Entry information up to date can be important when targeted selections are conducted.
Conclusion
The September 3 selection reinforces a broader pattern in Canada’s 2026 immigration strategy.
Rather than relying solely on large general draws, IRCC has continued to conduct rounds designed around specific candidate groups, including people with Canadian experience, French-language abilities, provincial nominations and skills in selected occupations.
For physicians already contributing to Canada’s healthcare system, the dedicated category creates an additional route to pursue permanent residence through Express Entry.
The latest draw therefore adds another 229 medical professionals to the growing number of candidates receiving opportunities to move forward with their Canadian permanent residence applications.
