Canada Invites 4000 Healthcare and Social Services Workers: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted another major Express Entry draw, issuing thousands of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to permanent residence candidates. This time, the focus was on healthcare and social services professionals, showing Canada’s continued effort to fill labour shortages in essential sectors.
In the latest round, 4,000 candidates were invited under the Healthcare and Social Services category. To qualify, applicants needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 467. They also had to create their Express Entry profile before 6:22 p.m. (UTC) on December 9, 2025. Only those meeting both conditions were considered for selection.
Canada Invites 4000 Healthcare and Social Services Workers
This draw is especially important because it is the first healthcare-focused selection of the year. Canada has been facing ongoing shortages of nurses, caregivers, technicians and other medical support staff. By targeting this group, IRCC aims to strengthen hospitals, clinics and community health services across the country.
So far in 2026, Express Entry draws have mainly prioritized candidates who are already living and working in Canada. These include people with Canadian work experience or those nominated by provinces. This strategy helps the government retain skilled workers who are already contributing to the economy.
Here’s a quick look at the Express Entry draws held this year:
- February 20 – Healthcare and Social Services: 4,000 ITAs (CRS 467)
- February 19 – Physicians with Canadian work experience: 391 ITAs (CRS 169)
- February 17 – Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 6,000 ITAs (CRS 508)
- February 16 – Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): 279 ITAs (CRS 789)
- February 6 – French-language proficiency: 8,500 ITAs (CRS 400)
- February 3 – Provincial Nominee Program: 423 ITAs (CRS 749)
- January 21 – – Canadian Experience Class: 6,000 ITAs (CRS 509)
- January 20 – Provincial Nominee Program: 681 ITAs (CRS 746)
- January 7 – – Canadian Experience Class: 8,000 ITAs (CRS 511)
- January 5 – Provincial Nominee Program: 574 ITAs (CRS 711)
This makes the healthcare draw the third category-based selection of the year and the tenth overall Express Entry draw in 2026.
If we look at the number of draws by type, the Provincial Nominee Program has had the most rounds with four draws, followed by the Canadian Experience Class with three. Other special categories include French-language speakers, physicians and now healthcare and social services workers.
In total, IRCC has already issued 34,848 ITAs this year. The breakdown is as follows:
- Canadian Experience Class: 20,000
- French-language proficiency: 8,500
- Healthcare and Social Services: 4,000
- Provincial Nominee Program: 1,534
- Physicians with Canadian work experience: 391
These numbers show that Canada is actively welcoming skilled immigrants, especially those who can quickly enter the workforce. Healthcare professionals remain one of the top priorities because their skills are urgently needed nationwide.
For many international healthcare workers, this is a strong opportunity to apply for permanent residence. Candidates who meet the CRS score and category requirements should keep their profiles updated and watch for upcoming draws. With regular invitations and targeted selections, Express Entry continues to be one of the fastest and most reliable ways to immigrate to Canada.
Overall, the latest draw highlights Canada’s commitment to supporting its healthcare system while offering skilled professionals a clear pathway to settle permanently.