Express Entry: Canada Targets Healthcare Workers in 3,500-Invitation PR Draw

Canada has invited 3,500 healthcare and social services workers to apply for permanent residence through its Express Entry system.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the category-based draw on September 4. Candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 475 to qualify.

They also had to create an Express Entry profile before 12:26 a.m. UTC on May 26, 2026.

Healthcare draw continues 2026 selections

The September 4 round was the third healthcare and social services draw of 2026.

IRCC previously invited 4,000 candidates in the same category on June 25, also with a CRS cut-off of 475. Another healthcare draw on February 20 issued 4,000 invitations with a lower cut-off of 467.

Together, the three healthcare and social services draws have issued 11,500 invitations this year.

The latest draw followed several other Express Entry rounds held in quick succession. On September 3, IRCC invited 229 physicians with Canadian work experience at a CRS cut-off of 198. Two days earlier, 2,000 Canadian Experience Class candidates received invitations with a minimum score of 521.

At the end of August, 562 Provincial Nominee Program candidates were invited with a CRS score of 697.

Express Entry remains active

The September 4 round brought the number of Express Entry draws held in 2026 to 53.

Provincial Nominee Program draws have been the most frequent, with 17 rounds so far this year. Canadian Experience Class candidates have been targeted in 15 draws, while candidates with French-language proficiency have received invitations through 10 rounds.

IRCC has also conducted three draws specifically for physicians with Canadian work experience, three for healthcare and social services occupations, two for senior managers with Canadian experience, and one each for trades, transport and skilled military recruits.

Candidates with ties to Canada have remained an important focus in 2026, particularly provincial nominees and people with Canadian work experience.

Thousands of invitations issued

According to the report, IRCC has issued 121,156 invitations to apply through Express Entry in 2026.

Canadian Experience Class candidates account for 51,250 invitations, while French-language proficiency draws account for 50,500.

Provincial nominees have received 7,961 invitations, while healthcare and social services candidates have received 11,500.

The report also lists 3,000 invitations for trades candidates, 300 for transport workers, 891 for physicians with Canadian work experience, 750 for senior managers with Canadian experience and four for skilled military recruits.

What candidates should know

Receiving an invitation to apply allows an eligible Express Entry candidate to submit an application for Canadian permanent residence.

A candidate’s CRS score plays an important role in determining whether they receive an invitation in many Express Entry rounds. Category-based draws can focus on candidates with particular occupations, language skills or other characteristics identified by the federal government.

For healthcare and social services candidates in the September 4 draw, the key threshold was a CRS score of 475, along with meeting the required profile creation date and the eligibility conditions for the category.

The draw offers another pathway for qualified workers seeking PR.