Surprise Express Entry Draw On Feb 20 Sent 4,000 PR Invitations

Last Updated On 21 February 2026, 7:20 AM EST (Toronto Time)

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its fourth Express Entry draw of the week on February 20, 2026, and issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs), bringing the remarkable weekly total to 10,670 ITAs across four separate draws.

This latest Express Entry draw targeted 37 healthcare and social services occupations with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 467.

The pace of Express Entry draws this week signals Canada’s aggressive push to address critical labor shortages, particularly in the healthcare sector.

With four draws in just five days, including today’s healthcare-focused round, the February 16-20 period marks one of the busiest stretches for Express Entry in recent memory.

Express Entry Draw #398 Details

When multiple candidates share the minimum CRS score of 467, IRCC uses a tie-breaking timestamp to determine who receives an invitation.

For this Express Entry draw, the tie-breaking point was set at December 09, 2025 at 18:22:06 UTC.

This means that among candidates with exactly 467 points, only those who submitted their Express Entry profile before this timestamp received an ITA.

Candidates with 467 points who created or updated their profile after December 9, 2025 at 18:22:06 UTC were not invited in this round but remain in the pool for future draws.

All Express Entry Draws This Week: 10,670 ITAs

Canada has issued an extraordinary 10,670 Invitations to Apply across four Express Entry draws between February 16-20, 2026.

This aggressive invitation pace demonstrates IRCC’s commitment to meeting 2026 immigration targets while addressing specific labor market needs.

The diversity of draws this week is notable.

IRCC targeted four distinct categories: a PNP draw with the modest invitations, a Canadian Experience Class draw at 508, a specialized Physicians draw with a remarkably low CRS of just 169, and today’s broader healthcare draw at 467.

This varied approach allows candidates across different profiles and CRS score ranges to receive invitations.

Invitations Sent To Ineligible Profiles In Today’s Healthcare Draw?

To receive an ITA in this Express Entry draw, candidates needed to meet specific requirements beyond having a CRS score of at least 467.

Eligible candidates must have accumulated at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time) within the past three years in one of the 37 designated healthcare and social services occupations.

This experience can be gained in Canada or abroad and does not need to be continuous.

The work experience must be in a single eligible occupation, regardless of what the candidate listed as their primary occupation in their Express Entry profile.

There are reports that many candidates with only 6 months of work experience in one of these 37 eligible healthcare and social services occupations have received the ITAs.

Classical IRCC errors, as they might not have internally communicated or implemented new eligibility criteria.

However, all the categories’ eligibility say, as we quote, “meet all requirements in the instructions for that round.”

And the instructions for today’s round clearly state, “experience within the previous three years, they have acquired, at least one year of full-time work experience — or the equivalent in part-time work — in one of the targeted occupations.”

So IRCC is safe in such a scenario, but you are not if you have less than 12 months of work experience in one of the targeted occupations and received an invitation to apply.

Our advice to candidates with less than 12 months of work experience in one of the targeted occupations invited in today’s round is to decline the ITA as they do not meet the eligibility criteria for today’s draw.

37 Eligible Occupations for Healthcare Express Entry Draw

The following occupations qualified for today’s Express Entry draw. Candidates with valid work experience in any of these NOC codes were eligible if they met the CRS threshold.

TEER 1 Occupations (Professional)

OccupationNOC 2021Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine31100Specialists in surgery31101General practitioners and family physicians31102Veterinarians31103Dentists31110Optometrists31111Audiologists and speech-language pathologists31112Pharmacists31120Dietitians and nutritionists31121Psychologists31200Chiropractors31201Physiotherapists31202Occupational therapists31203Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating31209Nursing coordinators and supervisors31300Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses31301Nurse practitioners31302Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals31303Social workers41300Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies41301

TEER 2 Occupations (Technical)

OccupationNOC 2021Licensed practical nurses32101Paramedical occupations32102Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists32103Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians32104Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment32109Dental hygienists and dental therapists32111Medical laboratory technologists32120Medical radiation technologists32121Medical sonographers32122Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists32123Pharmacy technicians32124Other medical technologists and technicians32129Massage therapists32201Social and community service workers42201

TEER 3 Occupations (Support)

OccupationNOC 2021Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations33101Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates33102Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants33103

What Happens After Receiving an ITA

Candidates who received an Invitation to Apply in this Express Entry draw now have 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application through their IRCC online account.

This deadline is firm, and failing to submit within the 60-day window means the ITA expires and the candidate must re-enter the Express Entry pool.

The application requires extensive documentation including proof of work experience in an eligible healthcare or social services occupation, language test results, educational credential assessments, police certificates, medical examinations, and proof of funds.

Healthcare professionals should also begin researching provincial licensing requirements as these vary by province and profession.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What was the CRS cut-off for today’s Express Entry draw?

The minimum CRS score for the February 20, 2026 healthcare and social services Express Entry draw was 467 points.

How many ITAs were issued this week in total?

IRCC issued 10,670 Invitations to Apply across four Express Entry draws between February 16-20, 2026, including PNP, CEC, Physicians, and Healthcare categories.

Can I use work experience from outside Canada for this draw?

Yes, the healthcare and social services category accepts qualifying work experience gained either in Canada or abroad, as long as it was accumulated within the past three years and totals at least 12 months full-time equivalent.

When is the next Express Entry draw expected?

IRCC does not announce draw dates in advance, but based on the historical biweekly schedule, the next Express Entry draw is expected around March 2-5.

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.