Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has kicked-off the week with its largest category-based Express Entry invitation round of 2026, issuing 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates whose primary occupational experience falls under the Healthcare and Social Services category. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off was 467—roughly 20 points above the all-program average so far this year—reflecting sustained competitive demand for Canadian permanent residence among regulated health professionals.(cicnews.com)
The healthcare-only rounds were introduced in mid-2025 to help provinces fill persistent labour shortages in nursing, allied health and social-assistance occupations. According to Employment and Social Development Canada, vacancies in these sectors remain 45 % above their pre-pandemic level, underscoring why Ottawa continues to allocate a sizable share of Express Entry spots to health workers. Successful candidates will now have 60 days to submit full electronic applications for permanent residence, after which IRCC aims to finalise 80 % of files within six months.
![Canada invites 4,000 healthcare professionals in latest Express Entry draw]()
For healthcare practitioners preparing to move before their PR is finalized, professional visa facilitators such as VisaHQ can take the guesswork out of securing the right travel document or work permit. Their Canada-focused platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) guides users through eligibility questions, document preparation and courier logistics, allowing busy clinicians to concentrate on licensure exams and job onboarding rather than paperwork minutiae.
For employers, the draw provides a predictable pipeline of foreign-trained talent that can transition from temporary work permits to permanent status—an important retention advantage at a time when provincial regulators are streamlining foreign-credential recognition. Hospitals and long-term-care facilities in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta—where staff shortages are most acute—are expected to benefit first as invited candidates finalise their paperwork.
Prospective applicants who missed the cut-off should review their CRS scores for quick gains such as additional language points or a provincial nomination. IRCC’s 2024–2026 Immigration Levels Plan earmarks up to 114,000 Federal High-Skilled admissions this year, so observers expect more targeted draws in health, STEM and French-language categories in the coming weeks.
The healthcare-only rounds were introduced in mid-2025 to help provinces fill persistent labour shortages in nursing, allied health and social-assistance occupations. According to Employment and Social Development Canada, vacancies in these sectors remain 45 % above their pre-pandemic level, underscoring why Ottawa continues to allocate a sizable share of Express Entry spots to health workers. Successful candidates will now have 60 days to submit full electronic applications for permanent residence, after which IRCC aims to finalise 80 % of files within six months.
For healthcare practitioners preparing to move before their PR is finalized, professional visa facilitators such as VisaHQ can take the guesswork out of securing the right travel document or work permit. Their Canada-focused platform (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) guides users through eligibility questions, document preparation and courier logistics, allowing busy clinicians to concentrate on licensure exams and job onboarding rather than paperwork minutiae.
For employers, the draw provides a predictable pipeline of foreign-trained talent that can transition from temporary work permits to permanent status—an important retention advantage at a time when provincial regulators are streamlining foreign-credential recognition. Hospitals and long-term-care facilities in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta—where staff shortages are most acute—are expected to benefit first as invited candidates finalise their paperwork.
Prospective applicants who missed the cut-off should review their CRS scores for quick gains such as additional language points or a provincial nomination. IRCC’s 2024–2026 Immigration Levels Plan earmarks up to 114,000 Federal High-Skilled admissions this year, so observers expect more targeted draws in health, STEM and French-language categories in the coming weeks.
