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Express Entry Draw #397 : IRCC Issues 391 ITA to Physicians Doctors for PR Visa

Express Entry draw for physicians, issuing 391 invitations to Doctors with Canadian Work Experience

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    Canada Launches First-Ever 2026 Physician-Focused Express Entry Draw

    Canada’s Express Entry system has introduced a brand-new category in 2026, launching its first dedicated draw for physicians with Canadian work experience. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the historic round on February 19, issuing 391 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence.

    This marks the first selection of its kind under the newly created healthcare-focused category and signals a targeted approach to strengthening Canada’s medical workforce. Unlike broader selection rounds, this draw was limited strictly to eligible physicians who have already gained professional experience within Canada.

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    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026

    Results: Rounds of invitations

    • Physicians with Canadian Work Experience
    • Number of ITAs: 391
    • CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited: 169
    • Date and time of round: February 19, 2026 at 14:24:23 UTC
    • Tie-breaking rule: January 03, 2026 at 03:25:14 UTC
    • Total ITAs issued in 2026 so far: 30,848

    If more than one candidate has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.

    Invitations to Apply for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program may be issued through this round of invitations.

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    Total Express Entry ITAs for 2026

    With this latest draw, IRCC has now issued 30,848 ITAs through Express Entry in 2026. The distribution of invitations clearly reflects the department’s priority streams.

    The high volume of French-language invitations indicates a growing emphasis on bilingual talent as Canada works to meet its long-term Francophone immigration targets.

    Category-Based Draws Conducted in 2026

    Express Entry rounds this year have been limited to specific streams rather than broad, multi-program draws.

    The draws are now divided as follows:

    • PNP : 4 draw
    • CEC : 3 Draw
    • French-language skills : 1
    • Healthcare and social services : 1
    • Education: No Draws Yet
    • Trade Occupations : No Draws Yet

    So far, no general all-program draw has been held in 2026, underscoring IRCC’s selective and targeted invitation strategy.

    Physicians with Canadian Work Experience Express Entry Draw – February 19

    On February 19, IRCC invited 391 candidates under the newly established physician category. To receive an invitation in this round, candidates were required to:

    • Achieve a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 169
    • Have an active Express Entry profile submitted before 3:25 a.m. (UTC) on January 3, 2026
    • Meet eligibility under one of the three federal programs managed by Express Entry
    • Possess at least 12 months of qualifying Canadian work experience in an eligible physician occupation within the past three years

    As with other draws, IRCC applied its tie-breaking rule when multiple candidates shared the same CRS score, ranking profiles based on the date and time of submission. With a CRS cut-off of just 169, this round stands among the lowest-scoring thresholds ever recorded in the history of the Express Entry system. This was the ninth Express Entry draw of 2026 and only the second category-based selection conducted this year.

    Total Express Entry ITAs Issued in 2026 So Far

    Below is a snapshot of all Express Entry draws conducted so far this year:
    • Canadian Experience Class (CEC) : 20,000
    • French language proficiency: 8,500
    • Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) : 1,957
    • Healthcare and social services occupations : 391
    • Education Professionals : No Draws Yet
    • Trade occupations (Version 2) : No Draws Yet
    Draw Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS
    397 February 19 Physicians with Canadian Work Experience 391 169
    396 February 17 CEC 6,000 508
    395 February 16 PNP 279 789
    394 February 06 French-Language proficiency 8,500 400
    393 February 3 PNP 423 749
    392 January 21 CEC 6,000 509
    391 January 20 PNP 681 746
    390 January 07 CEC 8,000 511
    389 January 05 PNP 574 711

    As of February 19, a total of 30,848 ITAs have been issued through the Express Entry system in 2026. CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 169

    Express Entry Draw Reports

    Number of Express Entry Draws by Category This Year:

    The Provincial Nominee Program category of the Express Entry categories leads the trend with the highest number of 14 rounds, followed by the Canadian Experience Class with 8 rounds. Also, IRCC has conducted 3 rounds each for French-speaking candidates and healthcare professionals. A single draw was also held for individuals in the education sector.

    Draw Type Number of Draws
    Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) 14
    Canadian Experience Class (CEC) 8
    French-language proficiency 4
    Healthcare and social services 3
    Education 1

    The trend since June 10, 2025, reveals a pattern of alternating draws between PNP and CEC categories roughly every two weeks. Additionally, healthcare-focused draws have taken place monthly since May, reflecting IRCC’s commitment to addressing sector-specific shortages in Canada’s healthcare system.

    First Physician-Focused Draw Signals Healthcare Priority

    The introduction of a physician-specific category aligns with federal efforts announced in late 2025 to improve access to medical services nationwide. By creating a direct pathway for doctors with Canadian experience, IRCC is aiming to retain talent that is already contributing to hospitals, clinics, and healthcare institutions across the country.
    This approach also complements provincial healthcare recruitment initiatives and strengthens Canada’s ability to respond to labour shortages in critical sectors.
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    A Look at the Most Recent Express Entry Activity

    Just one day before the February 17 CEC draw, IRCC held a Provincial Nominee Program round on February 16, issuing 279 ITAs with a CRS cut-off score of 789.

    Earlier in the month, on February 6, the department conducted a French-language proficiency draw, inviting 8,500 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 400 — one of the largest category-based selections so far this year.

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    Current Express Entry Trends and Category Breakdown

    With the latest draw, the healthcare and social services category now joins a growing list of specialized selection categories implemented this year. The distribution of draws in 2025 highlights a more nuanced approach to selecting candidates who meet Canada’s urgent labour and demographic needs.

    Draw Type Number of Draws
    Provincial Nominee Program 7
    French-language proficiency 3
    Canadian Experience Class 3
    Education 1
    Healthcare and social services 1

    Clear Shift Toward In-Canada Candidates

    All Express Entry draws held in 2026 so far have been limited to candidates who are already established in Canada. The department has focused exclusively on:

    • Provincial Nominee Program applicants,
    • Canadian Experience Class candidates with local work experience
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    What This Means for Express Entry Candidates

    For candidates in the Express Entry pool, these developments underline the growing importance of:
    • Provincial Nominee Programs
    • Canadian work experience
    • Building strong provincial or employer ties within Canada

    Applicants without provincial nominations may continue to see limited opportunities unless they qualify under targeted categories such as the Canadian Experience Class or future category-based draws.

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    What This Means for Express Entry Candidates

    The unusually low CRS cut-off of 169 demonstrates how category-based draws can significantly shift score requirements depending on labour market needs.
    For physicians working in Canada, this new pathway offers a streamlined route to permanent residence. For other candidates, the 2026 trend suggests that targeted selections — particularly those favouring in-Canada experience — are likely to continue shaping Express Entry invitations throughout the year.

    Also check out  2026-2028 immigration levels plan | Canada Immigration Plan 2025 to 2027 | Canada Immigration Levels Plan For 2024-2026 | Canada Immigration Level Plan for 2023-2025​

    Stay tuned for future updates on Express Entry draws and immigration news.

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