Canada holds first healthcare Express Entry draw in months

Canada’s immigration department, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), recently held a new Express Entry draw focused on healthcare occupations, issuing 3,000 invitations to apply (ITAs). Candidates in this draw needed to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 463 to be eligible. This is the third draw of the week, following selections based on the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) earlier this month.

The IRCC has been active with multiple draws this week, continuing the trend from the previous week, which saw a total of 1,933 ITAs issued to CEC candidates, PNP applicants, and those with French language proficiency. These recent draws mark the second consecutive week of Express Entry selections, showing a continued push to fill essential labor gaps and strengthen Canada's workforce.

In line with the IRCC's recent Immigration Levels Plan, the department aims to increase its immigration targets for next year. According to the plan, 124,680 Express Entry candidates are expected to be invited to apply for permanent residence (PR) in 2025. Notably, over 82,000 of these candidates will be from a new category, the In-Canada Focus category, which prioritizes CEC candidates but may also include individuals from other Express Entry streams like the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and aligned PNP streams.

Additionally, another 41,700 PR admissions will be allocated to a category known as "Federal Economic Priorities," focusing on candidates with professional experience in high-demand occupations within Canada. This focus on skilled workers underscores the country’s goal to attract talent that will help meet labor shortages across various sectors.

Express Entry is Canada’s primary application system for managing immigration through its major economic programs: the CEC, FSWP, and FSTP. Applicants are ranked according to the CRS, which considers factors like age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and occupation. Applicants can also earn additional points for having a sibling in Canada, applying with a spouse, or combining foreign and Canadian education or work experience.

The draws also favor candidates who receive provincial nominations through enhanced PNP streams, which grant an additional 600 CRS points, greatly increasing their chances of receiving an ITA. As in past draws, candidates with the highest CRS scores are more likely to be selected in future rounds, provided they meet the criteria of each specific draw.

In recent Express Entry draws, the breakdown of the selected applicants shows diverse categories, with a clear focus on healthcare occupations. For example, in the draw held on November 20, 3,000 candidates in healthcare were invited, with a CRS score of at least 463. This follows a draw on November 19 for 400 Canadian Experience Class candidates with a CRS of 539 and a Provincial Nominee Program draw on November 18, which selected 174 candidates with a much higher CRS score of 816.

Looking forward, Canada’s commitment to increasing immigration reflects the country's continued need for skilled professionals to meet the demands of its growing economy and aging population.