Canada has held its first-ever Express Entry draw dedicated exclusively to physicians, marking a major milestone in the country’s efforts to address healthcare worker shortages. Through this new category-based selection, 391 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued to eligible doctors already working in Canada, providing them with a faster pathway to permanent residence.
The draw is part of the federal government’s broader strategy to strengthen Canada’s healthcare system by retaining internationally trained physicians who are already contributing to patient care across the country.
📊 Key Details of the Physicians Express Entry Draw
| Draw Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Draw Date | February 19, 2026 |
| Draw Type | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience |
| Invitations Issued | 391 ITAs |
| Minimum CRS Score | 169 |
This was the first invitation round under the newly created physician-specific Express Entry category announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
🩺 Who Was Eligible?
To qualify for the physicians category, candidates generally needed to:
- Have at least one year of eligible Canadian work experience within the previous three years.
- Work in an eligible physician occupation.
- Meet the requirements of an Express Entry-managed immigration program.
- Maintain an active Express Entry profile.
Eligible occupations include:
- General practitioners and family physicians
- Specialists in surgery
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
📉 Why Was the CRS Score So Low?
The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for this draw was 169, one of the lowest cut-off scores seen in Express Entry history.
Unlike general or Canadian Experience Class draws, this category targeted a very specific group of healthcare professionals. As a result, competition was limited to eligible physicians rather than the broader Express Entry pool.
The lower CRS requirement gives internationally trained doctors already working in Canada a much better opportunity to become permanent residents.
🏥 Why Canada Created a Physicians Category
Canada continues to face shortages of doctors in many provinces, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
To help address these shortages, the federal government announced several immigration measures in late 2025, including:
- A dedicated Express Entry category for physicians.
- 5,000 additional provincial nomination spaces reserved for licensed doctors with job offers.
- Expedited 14-day work permit processing for provincially nominated physicians.
These initiatives are designed to retain healthcare professionals already working in Canada while improving access to medical services nationwide.
🌍 Benefits for International Physicians
The new pathway offers several advantages:
- Faster access to Canadian permanent residence.
- Lower CRS threshold compared with many other Express Entry draws.
- Greater certainty for physicians already contributing to Canada’s healthcare system.
- Improved long-term career and settlement opportunities.
📈 What This Means for Canada’s Immigration Strategy
The physicians draw reflects Canada’s increasing use of category-based Express Entry selection to address labour shortages.
In recent years, IRCC has expanded targeted draws for occupations such as:
- Healthcare professionals
- Skilled trades workers
- French-speaking candidates
- Education professionals
- Agriculture and food occupations
Rather than relying only on general Express Entry draws, Canada is increasingly inviting candidates whose skills match national economic priorities.
🎯 What This Means for Immigration Candidates
✔ Physicians Have a Dedicated PR Pathway
Doctors working in Canada now have a tailored route to permanent residence through Express Entry.
✔ Healthcare Remains a National Priority
Canada continues to invest in immigration programs that address critical healthcare workforce shortages.
✔ Category-Based Draws Are Expanding
Profession-specific invitations are expected to remain an important part of Canada’s immigration system in 2026 and beyond.
📌 Final Thoughts
Canada’s first Express Entry draw for physicians is a significant step toward strengthening the country’s healthcare workforce while providing internationally trained doctors with a clearer path to permanent residence. By issuing 391 invitations and setting a CRS cut-off of 169, IRCC has demonstrated its commitment to retaining skilled medical professionals already serving Canadian communities.
For physicians currently working in Canada, this new immigration pathway offers an excellent opportunity to secure permanent resident status and build a long-term future in the country.
