Canada has issued another significant round of permanent residency invitations, one of the largest healthcare-focused draws of 2025.
On November 14, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new Express Entry draw, inviting 3,500 candidates under the Healthcare and Social Services Occupations (Version 2) category.
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This category-based selection targets skilled professionals whose expertise is urgently required across Canada’s healthcare, community care, and social support systems.
The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this draw was 462.
Full Details: November 14, 2025 Express Entry Draw
- Category: Healthcare and Social Services Occupations (Version 2)
- Date: November 14, 2025
- CRS cutoff: 462
- Invitations issued: 3,500
- Rank required: 3,500 or above
- Tie-breaking rule: December 2, 2024 at 22:19:41 UTC
This is one of the largest healthcare-category draws since IRCC introduced category-based selection. The 462 CRS cutoff represents a competitive but achievable threshold, especially compared to recent Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws, which hover around 533.
Canada continues to prioritize professions essential to hospitals, senior care, community mental health, diagnostic services, and frontline support amid ongoing workforce shortages.
Eligibility for the Healthcare and Social Services Category
To receive an invitation, candidates needed to meet all of the following conditions:
- At least six months of full-time, continuous work experience in the past three years
- A minimum of one year of skilled work experience overall to meet general Express Entry requirements
- Work experience must fall under one of the designated healthcare or social services occupations
- Work experience may be gained in Canada or abroad
- Experience must be in one single eligible occupation, even if the primary Express Entry occupation differs
This pathway acknowledges the diverse nature of healthcare careers—many applicants work across multiple roles, but eligibility is maintained as long as the required experience is in one qualifying occupation.
List of 37 Eligible Healthcare and Social Services Occupations
Below are all occupations included in this selection round:
| 2021 NOC Code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 32104 | Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians |
| 31112 | Audiologists and speech-language pathologists |
| 32123 | Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists |
| 31201 | Chiropractors |
| 32111 | Dental hygienists and dental therapists |
| 31110 | Dentists |
| 31121 | Dieticians and nutritionists |
| 31102 | General practitioners and family physicians |
| 32101 | Licensed practical nurses |
| 32201 | Massage therapists |
| 33101 | Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations |
| 32120 | Medical laboratory technologists |
| 32121 | Medical radiation technologists |
| 32122 | Medical sonographers |
| 33102 | Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates |
| 31302 | Nurse practitioners |
| 31300 | Nursing coordinators and supervisors |
| 31203 | Occupational therapists |
| 31111 | Optometrists |
| 32129 | Other medical technologists and technicians |
| 31209 | Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating |
| 32109 | Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment |
| 32102 | Paramedical occupations |
| 31120 | Pharmacists |
| 33103 | Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants |
| 32124 | Pharmacy technicians |
| 31303 | Physician assistants, midwives, and allied health professionals |
| 31202 | Physiotherapists |
| 31200 | Psychologists |
| 31301 | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses |
| 32103 | Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists |
| 42201 | Social and community service workers |
| 41300 | Social workers |
| 31100 | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine |
| 31101 | Specialists in surgery |
| 41301 | Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies |
| 31103 | Veterinarians |
Next Steps for Selected Candidates
Applicants who received an invitation must submit a complete permanent residence application within 60 days. Required documents typically include:
- Identity and civil status documents
- Police certificates
- Medical exams
- Proof of funds (if applicable)
- Educational assessments
- Detailed employment records
Processing times for Express Entry permanent residence applications currently average six to eight months.
Conclusion
The November 14 healthcare-focused Express Entry draw represents a significant advancement in Canada’s commitment to strengthening its healthcare and social services workforce. By inviting 3,500 candidates with a CRS score as low as 462, IRCC continues to prioritize professionals essential to the country’s most critical labour sectors.
Whether working in Canada already or planning to immigrate from abroad, this draw provides a strong and promising pathway toward permanent residency and a stable future in one of Canada’s most vital fields.
