Thousands of ITAs Issued for Healthcare Professionals in the Express Entry Category Based Draw

Under the Healthcare and Social Services category-based Express Entry draw of Canada held on 20th February 2026, a total of 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) has been issued. This is the first draw for the Healthcare and Social Services category in 2026. Candidates who qualified for the draw had a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 467 and also had submitted their Express Entry profiles by December 9, 2025.

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) category-based selection is a part of the Canada Express Entry system. It focuses on candidates in specific categories who meet economic and labour demands in Canada. This third category-based selection draw of 2026 and the tenth overall Express Entry selection of the year indicate how Canada continues to prioritize candidates in labour shortage areas and the efforts taken to strengthen the healthcare workforce of the country. 

The previous Express Entry draws were the draws of the Canadian Experience Class, the Provincial Nominee Program, and the French-language proficiency streams.

For the skilled healthcare and social service professionals, the draw is positive news, as it widens the opportunity for permanent residency and provides fast-tracking permanent residency for professionals in demand.