Canada Issues 4,000 Express Entry ITAs to Healthcare and Social Services Professionals

Canada’s immigration priorities in 2026 are becoming increasingly clear. Instead of holding broad Express Entry draws that invite candidates from every program,

the federal government is continuing to select applicants based on occupations and skills that are in high demand across the country. Healthcare remains one of the biggest beneficiaries of this approach.

The latest invitation round once again focused on healthcare and social services professionals, reinforcing the government’s long-term plan to address labour shortages while strengthening Canada’s public healthcare system. On June 25, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence under the Healthcare and Social Services category of Express Entry.

Candidates needed a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of at least 475 to receive an invitation. In cases where multiple candidates shared the same score, IRCC applied its standard tie-breaking rule, selecting those whose Express Entry profiles had been submitted before May 21, 2026, at 12:14 p.m. UTC. Although the number of invitations remained identical to the previous healthcare draw, the minimum CRS requirement increased.

Previous Healthcare Express Entry Draws

Earlier this year, on February 20, another 4,000 healthcare professionals were invited with a CRS cut-off of 467. The higher score in the latest round suggests that competition among eligible healthcare candidates has become stronger over the past few months.

The June 25 draw also represents the 34th Express Entry invitation round conducted in 2026, making it another milestone in what has already been one of the busiest years for Canada’s economic immigration system.

A Year Dominated by Targeted Immigration

Express Entry selections throughout 2026 have followed a consistent pattern. Rather than returning to general all-program draws, IRCC has continued rotating invitations between specific categories that align with Canada’s workforce requirements.

Most invitation rounds this year have focused on:

Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nominees
French-speaking applicants
Healthcare and social services professionals
Physicians with Canadian work experience
Skilled trades workers
Senior managers with Canadian work experience

This strategy allows Canada to bring in workers whose skills can be integrated into the labour market more quickly while supporting industries experiencing persistent labour shortages.

Express Entry Activity Remains Strong

The latest healthcare draw followed several other invitation rounds conducted in June. On June 24, physicians with Canadian work experience received 271 invitations with a CRS score of 223. One day earlier, 4,000 Canadian Experience Class candidates were invited with a CRS requirement of 516, while the June 22 Provincial Nominee Program draw issued 955 invitations to candidates holding provincial nominations.

Earlier months followed a similar trend. French-language proficiency draws continued throughout the spring, Canadian Experience Class candidates received regular invitations, and Provincial Nominee Program rounds remained a recurring feature of Express Entry. The consistency of these invitation rounds demonstrates that IRCC continues to rely on targeted immigration categories rather than broad selection rounds.

Nearly 90,000 Invitations Already Issued

With the latest healthcare draw included, Canada has now issued 89,067 Invitations to Apply through Express Entry during 2026. Canadian Experience Class candidates account for the largest share of invitations, receiving 41,250 ITAs so far this year. French-speaking candidates follow with 30,500 invitations, while healthcare and social services professionals have received 8,000 invitations across two category-based draws.

Other invitation categories include 5,405 invitations through the Provincial Nominee Program, 3,000 invitations for skilled trades occupations, 662 invitations for physicians with Canadian work experience, and 250 invitations for senior managers. Looking at the frequency of invitation rounds tells a similar story. Provincial Nominee Program draws have been held 12 times this year, followed by 10 Canadian Experience Class draws and six French-language proficiency draws. Healthcare and physicians have each been selected twice, while skilled trades and senior managers have each received one dedicated draw.

Why Healthcare Continues to Receive Special Attention

Canada’s healthcare workforce continues to face significant pressure from multiple challenges, including an aging population, growing demand for medical services, and the retirement of experienced professionals.

Many provinces continue to report shortages across hospitals, long-term care facilities, rehabilitation centres, mental health services, and community healthcare organizations. Recruiting internationally trained professionals has therefore become an important part of Canada’s workforce planning.

Category-based Express Entry draws allow the federal government to directly target qualified healthcare workers who can help fill these critical positions more quickly than through broader immigration selections.

What This Draw Signals for Future Express Entry Rounds

The latest invitation round further confirms that Canada’s immigration system is being shaped by labour market priorities rather than solely by CRS rankings.

Healthcare professionals continue to be among the occupations receiving dedicated opportunities for permanent residence, alongside French-speaking candidates, Provincial Nominee Program nominees, and applicants with Canadian work experience.

While future Express Entry draws will depend on Canada’s evolving workforce needs, the government’s consistent focus on healthcare throughout 2026 suggests that professionals working in medical and social service occupations are likely to remain an important part of Canada’s immigration strategy in the months ahead.

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