Canada has officially launched its first healthcare and social services-specific Express Entry draw of the year, sending a strong message about its priorities in skilled immigration for 2025. In a move that underscores the importance of public service sectors, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invited 500 candidates to apply for permanent residence, provided they met a steep CRS cut-off score of 510—the highest ever recorded in a healthcare-specific draw.
To be eligible, candidates had to submit their Express Entry profiles before 4:31 a.m. UTC on July 21, 2024.
Also Read Canada holds first healthcare professions draw of the year
Targeted Talent: Canada’s Demand for Health and Social Workers
This draw follows significant updates made in February 2025, when IRCC expanded its category-based selections to include a broader range of social services occupations. These additions were aimed at addressing critical workforce gaps in fields such as mental health, elder care, and early childhood education.
The May 2 draw is the first of its kind this year in the healthcare stream and reflects a growing shift toward highly specialized immigration selection strategies. IRCC’s actions align with the country’s goal of bolstering essential services by drawing in skilled professionals already working or ready to work in frontline roles.
Snapshot: All Express Entry Draws Conducted in 2025 So Far
IRCC has conducted 16 draws so far in 2025, inviting a total of 33,429 candidates from a variety of programs. Here’s a detailed look at the draws, including their type, number of invitations, and required CRS scores:
| Date | Draw Type | ITAs Issued | CRS Cut-off |
| May 02 | Healthcare and social services | 500 | 510 |
| May 01 | Education | 1,000 | 479 |
| April 28 | Provincial Nominee Program | 421 | 727 |
| April 14 | Provincial Nominee Program | 825 | 764 |
| March 21 | French Language Proficiency | 7,500 | 379 |
| March 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 536 | 736 |
| March 6 | French Language Proficiency | 4,500 | 410 |
| March 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 725 | 667 |
| Feb 19 | French Language Proficiency | 6,500 | 428 |
| Feb 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 646 | 750 |
| Feb 5 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 521 |
| Feb 4 | Provincial Nominee Program | 455 | 802 |
| Jan 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 527 |
| Jan 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,350 | 542 |
| Jan 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 471 | 793 |
Category Breakdown: Who’s Being Invited in 2025?
The data from 2025 reveals that most of the Express Entry draws have favored candidates from the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), followed by individuals with French-language proficiency, and those eligible under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The newly introduced education category, along with this week’s healthcare and social services category, shows the government’s commitment to a multi-pronged strategy.
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 7 |
| French Language Proficiency | 3 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 3 |
| Education Category | 1 |
| Healthcare and social services | 1 |
Timelines and Application Validity: What to Expect
Candidates applying through Express Entry are generally at an advantage when it comes to speed. Once an Invitation to Apply (ITA) is received and a complete application is submitted, processing is typically completed within six months.
Each Express Entry profile remains valid for 12 months in the candidate pool. If no ITA is received within that timeframe, applicants can resubmit a new profile as long as they continue to meet the eligibility requirements.
This expedited timeline makes Express Entry one of the fastest routes to Canadian permanent residency, especially when compared to base PNP streams, which involve longer approval chains between provinces and the federal government.
Conclusion: What This Means for Applicants Going Forward
Canada’s first healthcare-focused Express Entry draw of 2025 has sent a clear message: the country is not only continuing to rely on skilled immigrants but is becoming increasingly selective to ensure that newcomers meet current labour demands.
As CRS thresholds remain high—particularly for specialized sectors—prospective applicants are encouraged to enhance their profiles by improving language scores, gaining Canadian work experience, or securing provincial nominations.
More category-specific draws are expected in the months ahead, so candidates should stay informed and proactive to maximize their chances in this evolving immigration landscape.
