The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada system conducted a Surprise Express Entry Draw Of February Issued 4,000 PR Invitations to applicants. The draw used specific categories to select candidates who worked in healthcare and social services because Canada needed qualified workers to fill these essential positions. The draw used a moderate CRS cut-off which demonstrates that IRCC continues its efforts to solve labor shortages through precise Express Entry applicant selections.
Highlights of Surprise Express Entry Draw Of February
● Draw Date – 20 February 2026
● Draw Type – Healthcare and Social Services
● Number of Invitations – 4,000
● CRS Score – 467
The unannounced round which took place after the February draws shows how IRCC conducts its immigration process because the system needs to adapt to current demand.
Detailed Overview of the Draw
The draw selected candidates who work in healthcare and social services because this field experiences a severe workforce shortage throughout all of Canada. The IRCC issued 4000 invitations to demonstrate its dedication to strengthening vital public services which include hospitals and long-term care facilities and community support systems.
The CRS cut-off of 467 provides an equal competition level which enables skilled candidates from specific fields to use category-based selection even when their CRS scores fall below standard all-program draw requirements.
The current round shows how IRCC uses category-based draws to fill specific labour market needs instead of depending on general and program-based selection methods.
All Express Entry Draws in February 2026
| Date | Round Type | Invitations Issued | CRS Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 February 2026 | Healthcare and Social Services | 4,000 | 467 |
| 19 February 2026 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 391 | 169 |
| 17 February 2026 | Canadian Experience Class | 6,000 | 508 |
| 16 February 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 279 | 789 |
| 6 February 2026 | French Language Proficiency | 8,500 | 400 |
| 3 February 2026 | Provincial Nominee Program | 423 | 749 |
What This Draw Means for Candidates
The Surprise Express Entry Draw Of February Issued 4,000 PR Invitations shows that category-based selections have become a vital part of Canada’s immigration system. The IRCC program targets healthcare and social services professionals to meet essential workforce requirements while creating additional job opportunities for those who work in crucial fields. The invited candidates must submit their complete applications within 60 days while other candidates need to adjust their profiles to match the necessary skills for target sectors which will be assessed through upcoming dedicated draws until 2026.