Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system.
The immigration department issued 391 ITAs in a draw for candidates in the Physicians with Canadian work experience category.
To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have
A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 169; and
Created an Express Entry candidate profile before 3:25 a.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on January 3, 2026.
See your eligibility for all Express Entry categories
Summary of Express Entry draws in 2026
Draw dateDraw TypeCRS cut-off scoreITAs issued
February 19Physicians with Canadian work experience169391
February 17Canadian Experience Class5086,000
February 16Provincial Nominee Program789279
February 6French-Language proficiency4008,500
February 3Provincial Nominee Program749423
January 21Canadian Experience Class5096,000
January 20Provincial Nominee Program746 681
January 7Canadian Experience Class5118,000
January 5Provincial Nominee Program711574
Today’s draw is the first under the newly announced Physicians with Canadian work experience category. It also marks only the second category-based selection draw, and the ninth Express Entry selection of the year overall.
With a CRS cut-off of just 169, this is also the second-lowest cut-off score in Express Entry’s history, surpassed only by a 2021 pandemic-era Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw, which featured a CRS score of just 75.
IRCC’s physician category was first announced in December of 2025, alongside a suite of measures to boost Canada’s supply of doctors through both federal and provincial pathways.
To be eligible under this new category, candidates must:
Meet the basic eligibility criteria for one of the three Express Entry-managed programs;
Have gained at least 12 months of full-time work experience within the previous three years (or an equivalent amount of part-time work experience) in an eligible occupation; and
Meet all the requirements in the ministerial instructions for a particular selection round.
Express Entry draws in 2026 have seen Canada’s immigration department focus largely on immigration candidates within the country, particularly those with provincial nominations and Canadian work experience.
Draw TypeNumber of Draws
Provincial Nominee Program4
Canadian Experience Class3
French-Language proficiency1
Physicians with Canadian work experience1
In 2026 thus far, IRCC has issued 30,848 ITAs across the following draw types:
Draw typeITAs Issued
Canadian Experience Class20,000
French-Language proficiency8,500
Provincial Nominee Program1,534
Physicians with Canadian work experience391