There has been a huge favor extended to medical professionals through the IRCC’s latest express entry draw of September 4, 2026: Canada invites 3,500 candidates at CRS 475 for healthcare professionals. The draw is done in line with the Healthcare and Social Services occupations and saw issuance of 3,500 PR invitations to candidates for permanent residency in Canada. The minimum CRS cut-off point stood at 475 points – 46 points lower than Canadian Experience Class cut-off.
Highlights of Express Entry Draw September 4, 2026
- Draw Date – September 4, 2026
- Draw Category – Healthcare and Social Services Occupations category
- Total Invitations Issued – 3,500
- Minimum CRS Score Required – 475
46-Point Difference between Healthcare and Regular CEC Draw Cut Off Points
The CRS cut-off point being fixed at 475 makes evident the benefits of category-specific rounds. In comparison, the CEC selection round on September 1 required 521 points. Healthcare professionals qualifying for Canada were issued their Invitations to Apply (ITAs) 46 points less than other CEC applicants.
The program covers 37 specific categories of healthcare occupations including nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, social workers, etc. According to the new rules, a candidate should have at least 12 months of uninterrupted full-time work experience (or part-time experience equaling full-time one) gained during the last 3 years in eligible NOC groups.
Progression of Healthcare Express Entry Rounds in 2026
The table below reflects the number of invitations issued as well as the minimum cut off points for the 3 Healthcare draws that were made so far in 2026 by IRCC.
| Draw Date | September 4, 2026 | June 25, 2026 | February 20, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category / Sub-Stream | Healthcare and Social Services | Healthcare and Social Services | Healthcare and Social Services |
| ITAs Issued | 3,500 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Minimum CRS Score | 475 | 475 | 467 |
Despite the fact that the number of invitations decreased by 500, the cut-off point remained the same as in previous rounds and was 475 points. In these three selection rounds IRCC issued 11,500 ITAs to healthcare workers.
What Should Invited Healthcare Professionals Should Do Now
For candidates who got an ITA in the Express Entry Draw on September 4, 2026: Canada Invites 3,500 Candidates at CRS 475: 60 calendar days are left to submit their online permanent residency application forms.
Main steps to be done by invited candidates –
- Confirmation of Work Experience – Submit employer reference letters that describe work experience corresponding to at least 12 months in one of the 37 eligible NOC codes of the healthcare profession.
- Proofing Steps – Receive Educational Credential Assessments (ECAs), language proficiency test reports, and medical exam results.
- Police Clearance – Ask for police clearance certificates from all the countries you have been living in for six consecutive months or longer after reaching 18 years of age.