Canada holds first Express Entry draw under new category, with lowest CRS cut-off score since 2021
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 date | Draw Type | CRS cut-off score | ITAs issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 19 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 169 | 391 |
| February 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| February 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| February 6 | French-Language proficiency | 400 | 8,500 |
| February 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| January 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| January 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| January 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| January 5 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
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
- This work experience must have been obtained in Canada, and in one of the three occupations included within the category.
- 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 Type | Number of Draws |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program | 4 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 3 |
| French-Language proficiency | 1 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 1 |
In 2026 thus far, IRCC has issued 30,848 ITAs across the following draw types:
| Draw type | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 20,000 |
| French-Language proficiency | 8,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 1,534 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 391 |
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