February 21, 2026
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has conducted another Express Entry draw, issuing 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Healthcare and Social Services category.
To qualify for this category-based selection draw, candidates were required to:
| Date | Draw Type | Minimum CRS | Number of ITAs |
| February 20 | Healthcare and social services | 467 | 4,000 |
| 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 |
This marks the third category-based draw and the tenth Express Entry draw of 2026. Notably, it is the first Healthcare and Social Services draw of the year, highlighting Canada’s continued efforts to address labour shortages in critical sectors.
Through category-based selection under the Express Entry system, IRCC has consistently prioritized healthcare and social services professionals due to ongoing workforce shortages across Canada. This targeted approach ensures that essential roles in the healthcare sector are filled more efficiently.
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
| Healthcare and social services | 1 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 1 |
| French Language Proficiency | 1 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 3 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 4 |
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued |
| Healthcare and social services | 4,000 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 391 |
| French Language Proficiency | 8,500 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 20,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 1,957 |
| Total | 34,848 |
Canada continues to use category-based draws strategically to support key sectors of the economy while meeting its long-term immigration targets.
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