IRCC holds Express Entry draw for healthcare occupations; third draw this week

Edana Robitaille
Published: October 24, 2023

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has held its third  Express Entry draw of the week.

The department issued 3,600 invitations to apply (ITAs) in a category-based selection draw for healthcare occupations. Candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 431 to be considered. 

Today’s draw follows two others this week. The first was a Provincial Nominee Program-only draw on October 24. IRCC invited 1,548 candidates with a minimum CRS of 776 to apply.  

The minimum CRS score for PNP candidates is higher than average because Express Entry candidates who are also nominated by a province automatically receive an additional 600 CRS points. 

The second draw was on October 25 and invited 300 candidates in a category-based selection draw for those who demonstrate French-speaking proficiency. They needed a minimum CRS score of 486 to be considered. 

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Summary of Express Entry draws since June 2023

DateDraw TypeNumber of ITAsMinimum CRS
Dec 19Trade occupations1,000425
Dec 18All-program1,325542
Dec 8STEM occupations5,900481
Dec 7French language proficiency1,000470
Dec 6All-program4,750561
Oct 26Healthcare occupations3,600431
Oct 25French language proficiency300486
Oct 24PNP-only1,548776
Oct 10All-program3,725500
Sept 28Agriculture and agri-food occupations600354
Sept 27French language proficiency500472
Sept 26All-program3,000504
Sept 20Transport occupations1,000435
Sept 19All-program3,200531
Aug 15All-program4,300496
Aug 3Trade occupations1,500388
Aug 2French language proficiency800435
Aug 1All-program2,000517
July 12French language proficiency3,800375
July 11All-program 800505
July 7French language proficiency2,300439
July 6Healthcare occupations1500463
July 5STEM occupations500486
July 4All-program 700511
June 28Healthcare occupations500476
June 27All-program4,300486
June 8All-program4,800486

Express Entry candidates no longer require an upfront medical examination

As of October 1, this year, Express Entry candidates are no longer required to get an upfront immigrant medical examination (IME) before submitting their permanent resident application to IRCC.

An exam is still a requirement, but candidates may submit a blank document in the upload field of the Express Entry profile builder. IRCC will send further instructions regarding your medical exam later.

Those who already completed an IME as part of a different IRCC application, or are already living in Canada, do not need to complete a second IME.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is an application management system that oversees the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Candidates in these programs are evaluated using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The system ranks candidates based on their human capital attributes such as age, language ability, work experience, occupation, and education.

Each attribute is assigned a score and when combined, all scores are totalled up to a possible maximum of 1200. Candidates rarely score this high and most minimum CRS cut-off scores range between 350-550 (sometimes higher, depending on the type of draw). The candidates with the highest scores are the most likely to receive an ITA to apply to IRCC for permanent resident status.

What is category-based selection?

Earlier this year, IRCC introduced draw categories in which the CRS score is not the biggest deciding factor in issuing ITAs. A new law passed in June 2022 gives the immigration minister the authority to invite candidates who meet an economic need in Canada or help to promote the French language outside of question.

Accordingly, last May IRCC announced six new draw categories for Express Entry candidates who had either strong French abilities or work experience in:

  • Healthcare;
  • STEM professions;
  • Trades;
  • Transport;
  • Agriculture and agri-food

So far, Canada has invited candidates through category-based selection draws 10 times since June, totaling over 10,000 ITAs. All candidates were already in the Express Entry pool.

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