Canada holds first Express Entry draw under new category, with lowest CRS cut-off score since 2021

Express Entry round: CRS score 169 · Invitations 391 Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued more invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system. The immigration department issued 391 ITAs in a draw for candidates in the Physicians with Canadian work experience category. To be considered in this draw, candidates needed to have A minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 169; and Created an Express Entry candidate profile before 3:25 a.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) on January 3, 2026. See your eligibility for all Express Entry categories Summary of Express Entry draws in 2026 Date Draw Type CRS cut-off score ITAs issued August 19 French-Language proficiency 382 5,000 August 18 Canadian Experience Class 523 1,000 August 17 Provincial Nominee Program 760 442 August 7 Transport 470 300 August 6 French-Language proficiency 391 5,000 August 5 Canadian Experience Class 516 3,000 August 4 Provincial Nominee Program 768 507 July 23 Skilled Military Recruits 368 4 July 22 French-Language proficiency 399 5,000 July 21 Canadian Experience Class 516 2,000 July 20 Provincial Nominee Program 744 511 July 10 Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience 392 500 July 9 French-Language proficiency 420 5,000 July 7 Canadian Experience Class 517 2,000 July 6 Provincial Nominee Program 708 534 June 25 Healthcare and social services 475 4,000 June 24 Physicians with Canadian Work Experience 223 271 June 23 Canadian Experience Class 516 4,000 June 22 Provincial Nominee Program 730 955 May 28 French-Language proficiency 409 4,500 May 27 Canadian Experience Class 518 3,000 May 25 Provincial Nominee Program 805 334 May 11 Provincial Nominee Program 798 380 April 29 French-Language proficiency 400 4,000 April 28 Canadian Experience Class 514 2,000 April 27 Provincial Nominee Program 795 473 April 15 French-Language proficiency 419 4,000 April 14 Canadian Experience Class 515 2,000 April 13 Provincial Nominee Program 786 324 April 2 Trades 477 3,000 March 31 Canadian Experience Class 509 2,250 March 30 Provincial Nominee Program 802 356 March 18 French-Language proficiency 393 4,000 March 17 Canadian Experience Class 507 4,000 March 16 Provincial Nominee Program 742 362 March 5 Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience 429 250 March 4 French-Language proficiency 397 5,500 March 3 Canadian Experience Class 508 4,000 March 2 Provincial Nominee Program 710 264 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 Today’s draw is the first under the newly announced Physicians with Canadian work experience category. It also marks only the second category-based selection draw, and the ninth Express Entry selection of the year overall. With a CRS cut-off of just 169, this is also the second-lowest cut-off score in Express Entry’s history, surpassed only by a 2021 pandemic-era Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw, which featured a CRS score of just 75 . IRCC’s physician category was first announced in December of 2025 , alongside a suite of measures to boost Canada’s supply of doctors through both federal and provincial pathways. To be eligible under this new category, candidates must: Meet the basic eligibility criteria for one of the three Express Entry-managed programs ; Have gained at least 12 months of full-time work experience within the previous three years (or an equivalent amount of part-time work experience) in an eligible occupation ; and This work experience must have been obtained in Canada, and in one of the three occupations included within the category . Meet all the requirements in the ministerial instructions for a particular selection round. Express Entry draws in 2026 have seen Canada’s immigration department focus largely on immigration candidates within the country, particularly those with provincial nominations and Canadian work experience. Draw Type Number of Draws Provincial Nominee Program 16 Canadian Experience Class 14 French-Language proficiency 10 Physicians with Canadian work experience 2 Healthcare and social services 2 Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience 2 Trades 1 Transport 1 Skilled Military Recruits 1 In 2026 thus far, IRCC has issued 30,848 ITAs across the following draw types: Draw type ITAs Issued Canadian Experience Class 49,250 French-Language proficiency 50,500 Provincial Nominee Program 7,399 Healthcare and social services 8,000 Trades 3,000 Transport 300 Physicians with Canadian work experience 662 Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience 750 Skilled Military Recruits 4 See how competitive your Express Entry profile is