Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued additional Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through the Express Entry system.
In its latest round, IRCC invited 391 candidates under the newly introduced Physicians with Canadian work experience category.
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To qualify for this draw, candidates were required to:
- Have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 169; and
- Have created their Express Entry profile before 3:25 a.m. (UTC) on January 3, 2026.
Express Entry Draws in 2026 (So Far)
| Draw Date | Draw Type | CRS Cut-Off | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 19 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 169 | 391 |
| February 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| February 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| February 6 | French-language proficiency | 400 | 8,500 |
| February 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| January 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| January 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| January 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| January 5 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
Key Highlights
- This is the first draw under the new Physicians with Canadian work experience category.
- It marks only the second category-based selection draw of the year and the ninth Express Entry draw overall in 2026.
- With a CRS cut-off of 169, this round recorded the second-lowest CRS score in Express Entry history. The only lower score occurred during a 2021 pandemic-era Canadian Experience Class draw, which had a cut-off of 75.
IRCC first announced the physician category in December 2025 as part of broader efforts to strengthen Canada’s healthcare workforce through both federal and provincial immigration pathways.
Eligibility Requirements for the Physician Category
To qualify under this category, candidates must:
- Meet the basic eligibility criteria for one of the three Express Entry-managed programs;
- Have at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time experience) within the past three years in an eligible occupation;
- Have obtained this work experience in Canada in one of the three designated occupations under the category; and
- Satisfy all additional requirements outlined in the ministerial instructions for the specific selection round.
Draw Trends in 2026
So far in 2026, IRCC has primarily focused on candidates already in Canada—particularly those with provincial nominations or Canadian work experience.
Number of Draws by Category
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program | 4 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 3 |
| French-language proficiency | 1 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 1 |
Total ITAs Issued in 2026
To date, IRCC has issued 30,848 ITAs across the following categories:
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 20,000 |
| French-language proficiency | 8,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 1,534 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 391 |
This year’s selection patterns indicate a continued emphasis on in-Canada candidates and targeted category-based draws aligned with labour market priorities.
