On 19 February 2026 IRCC conducted a niche Express Entry round inviting 391 physicians who already have Canadian work experience, with an unprecedented CRS cut-off of just 169—the lowest of any draw since category-based selection began.(cicnews.com)
The one-day-after-Family-Day draw underlines Ottawa’s determination to fast-track foreign-trained doctors into permanent residence, a pre-condition for many provincial health regulators that require PR or citizenship for full licensure. Provinces including Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan have agreed to expedite credential recognition for those who accept placements in underserved rural areas, meaning successful applicants could move quickly into practice.
![IRCC targets doctors with Canadian experience in specialised Express Entry draw]()
Whether you’re a physician eyeing this new pathway or any other professional planning a move, VisaHQ can help streamline the paperwork by providing step-by-step guidance, up-to-date document checklists, and real-time application tracking through its Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/). This support lets applicants concentrate on meeting IRCC’s eligibility rules while avoiding common filing delays.
For hospitals struggling to recruit family physicians and specialists, the low CRS threshold significantly enlarges the candidate pool. IRCC’s move also complements recent tweaks allowing physicians paid as independent contractors to count that income as Canadian work experience—previously a disqualifying factor.
Experts anticipate follow-up category draws for nurses and paramedics, mirroring separate regional recruitment campaigns and aligning federal immigration with provincial health strategies.
The one-day-after-Family-Day draw underlines Ottawa’s determination to fast-track foreign-trained doctors into permanent residence, a pre-condition for many provincial health regulators that require PR or citizenship for full licensure. Provinces including Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan have agreed to expedite credential recognition for those who accept placements in underserved rural areas, meaning successful applicants could move quickly into practice.
Whether you’re a physician eyeing this new pathway or any other professional planning a move, VisaHQ can help streamline the paperwork by providing step-by-step guidance, up-to-date document checklists, and real-time application tracking through its Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/). This support lets applicants concentrate on meeting IRCC’s eligibility rules while avoiding common filing delays.
For hospitals struggling to recruit family physicians and specialists, the low CRS threshold significantly enlarges the candidate pool. IRCC’s move also complements recent tweaks allowing physicians paid as independent contractors to count that income as Canadian work experience—previously a disqualifying factor.
Experts anticipate follow-up category draws for nurses and paramedics, mirroring separate regional recruitment campaigns and aligning federal immigration with provincial health strategies.
