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Express Entry Draw #398 : IRCC Issues 4,000 ITA to Healthcare Professionals for PR

4,000 Invited First 2026 Express Entry Healthcare Draw Results

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    Healthcare & Social Services Express Entry Draw – February 20

    Canada’s Express Entry system has conducted its first Healthcare and social services category-based selection of the year, signalling renewed attention to critical labour shortages in the medical sector. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the targeted round on February 20, issuing 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to eligible candidates.

    The latest round reflects the federal government’s continued commitment to strengthening Canada’s healthcare workforce through strategic immigration selection in 2026. Unlike broader program draws, this round focused exclusively on candidates eligible under the Healthcare and social services category.

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    Summary of Express Entry Draws in 2026

    Results: Rounds of invitations

    • Healthcare and Social Services Occupations
    • Number of ITAs: 4,000
    • CRS score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited: 467
    • Date and time of round: February 20, 2026 at 12:02:57 UTC
    • Tie-breaking rule: December 09, 2025 at 18:22:06 UTC
    • Total ITAs issued in 2026 so far: 34,848

    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 34,848 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
    • Physicians with Canadian Work Experience : 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.

    February 20 Draw Highlights Canada’s Healthcare Priorities

    The February 20 healthcare-only round aligns with Canada’s broader immigration objectives for 2026, which include strengthening essential public services. By selecting healthcare and social services professionals in a targeted round, IRCC is aiming to fill workforce gaps in hospitals, clinics, long-term care homes, and community support services.

    This strategy complements previous draws aimed at physicians with Canadian work experience and French-speaking candidates, reflecting a responsive immigration model tailored to economic and social needs.

    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 : 4,000
    • Physicians with Canadian Work Experience : 391
    • Education Professionals : No Draws Yet
    • Trade occupations (Version 2) : No Draws Yet
    Draw Date Draw Type Number of ITAs Minimum CRS
    398 February 20 Healthcare and Social Services Occupations 4,000 467
    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 20, a total of 34,848 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.

    Recent Express Entry Activity

    Just one day before the IRCC conducted a Physicians with Canadian work experience draw on February 19, issuing 391 ITAs with a remarkably low CRS cut-off score of 169, 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 Healthcare Candidates

    The CRS cut-off of 467 may offer renewed hope to healthcare professionals who were previously near the selection threshold. With healthcare now included among 2026’s targeted categories, eligible candidates may see further opportunities in upcoming rounds. Applicants seeking to strengthen their chances should ensure their Express Entry profiles remain active and updated, consider improving language test scores, and explore provincial nomination pathways where applicable.

    As Express Entry selections continue in 2026, healthcare and social services professionals remain firmly on Canada’s immigration priority list.

    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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