In its most recent Express Entry draw on 22nd July, the Canadian government continues to invite healthcare workers from around the world for PR. This shows that the government promoted skilled immigration to support the country’s demand. This category-based Express Entry draw for healthcare and social services professionals invited a total of 4,000 candidates, marking a clear sign of Canada’s efforts to replenish its healthcare workforce amid labour shortages.
This latest round had a minimum criterion of 457 points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Candidates were also supposed to have submitted their Express Entry profiles before 1:08 p.m. (UTC) on March 13, 2025, to be considered for eligibility.
Also Read Canada Invites 4,000 Healthcare Professionals in Latest Express Entry Draw
Canada’s Focus on Healthcare and Targeted Occupations
The Express Entry draw on July 22 marks the third of its category for healthcare and social services professionals. This category of the Express Entry system was designed to focus on providing PRs to professionals with high demand in the healthcare sector, such as nursing, home care, mental health services, and therapy.
By promoting professionals in these sectors, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to address both immediate workforce gaps and long-term demographic needs.
Express Entry in 2025: A Year in Review So Far
IRCC has issued a total of 49,403 invitations to apply (ITAs) for PR through various Express Entry draws since the start of the year. Till now, the PNP draws of Express Entry were considered as the most frequent of the draws, but recently the Healthcare and Social Services category is also growing its number of draws and invitations.
Here is a breakdown of draw types in 2025:
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 13 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 7 |
| French-language proficiency | 3 |
| Healthcare and social services | 3 |
| Education | 1 |
July has already seen four rounds of invitations:
- July 22: Healthcare and Social Services — 4,000 ITAs, CRS 475
- July 21: Provincial Nominee Program — 202 ITAs, CRS 788
- July 8: Canadian Experience Class — 3,000 ITAs, CRS 518
- July 7: Provincial Nominee Program — 356 ITAs, CRS 750
These numbers from the draws depict a pattern of alternating between PNP and CEC draws, a trend IRCC has maintained since June 10.
| Date | Draw Type | Number of ITAs | Cut-off CRS score |
| July 22 | Healthcare and social services | 4,000 | 457 |
| July 21 | Provincial Nominee Program | 202 | 788 |
| July 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 518 |
| July 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 356 | 750 |
| June 26 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 521 |
| June 23 | Provincial Nominee Program | 503 | 742 |
| June 12 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 | 529 |
| June 10 | Provincial Nominee Program | 125 | 784 |
| June 4 | Healthcare and social services | 500 | 504 |
| June 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 277 | 726 |
| May 13 | Canadian Experience Class | 500 | 547 |
| May 12 | Provincial Nominee Program | 511 | 706 |
| May 2 | Healthcare and social services | 500 | 510 |
| May 1 | 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 |
| February 19 | French language proficiency | 6,500 | 428 |
| February 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 646 | 750 |
| February 5 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 521 |
| February 4 | Provincial Nominee Program | 455 | 802 |
| January 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 | 527 |
| January 8 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,350 | 542 |
| January 7 | Provincial Nominee Program | 471 | 793 |
The Significance of Category-Based Draws
Category-based draws provide many talented professionals with a critical window of opportunity, particularly those with CRS scores below 500. These tailored rounds give candidates with specific experience an equal opportunity to participate, unlike traditional all-program draws.
Candidates are required to exhibit a minimum of six months of continued, full-time work experience in the demanded occupation for them to be eligible for a category-based draw. Both domestic and foreign applicants are eligible for the program because this employment history can be earned inside or outside of Canada.
Leading Companies Hiring for Qualified Positions
Employers in Canada are increasingly coordinating their hiring practices with immigration preferences. Jobs listed under Express Entry’s targeted occupation categories are currently being filled by many of Canada’s leading employers, particularly those in the healthcare, eldercare, and community support sectors.
This translates into more employment options for healthcare workers, many of which are LMIA-exempt and supported by category-based Express Entry, which expedites the immigration process.
What’s next?
Candidates are anticipating more Express Entry draws in the following months. These draws could be a mix of all the category-based draws, as it has been happening since the beginning of the year. Express Entry’s sole aim is to populate the skilled occupations in the country with the right candidates from around the world, and it has achieved it since the beginning of the year by issuing almost 49,000 ITAs.
So, if you are aiming for the Canadian PR in one of the skilled occupations targeted by Express Entry, now is the right time to start your application process, gear up for the IELTS test, and increase your CRS score.
