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IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply in a healthcare and social services Express Entry draw on June 25, 2026.
The minimum CRS score was 475. Candidates with exactly 475 points needed to have submitted their Express Entry profiles before 12:14 p.m. UTC on May 21, 2026.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada held its fourth consecutive Express Entry draw of the week on June 25, 2026.
This round targeted candidates eligible under the healthcare and social services category. IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 475.
The draw followed three other rounds held on consecutive days for Provincial Nominee Program candidates, Canadian Experience Class candidates, and physicians with Canadian work experience.
June 25, 2026 Healthcare Draw Results
| Draw Detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Draw date | June 25, 2026 |
| Draw type | Healthcare and Social Services |
| Invitations issued | 4,000 |
| Minimum CRS score | 475 |
| Tie-breaking deadline | Before 12:14 p.m. UTC on May 21, 2026 |
| 2026 draw number | 34th |
This was the second healthcare and social services category draw of 2026.
It was also the fourth Express Entry draw held in four consecutive days, following:
- A Provincial Nominee Program draw on June 22, which issued 955 ITAs at CRS 730.
- A Canadian Experience Class draw on June 23, which issued 4,000 ITAs at CRS 516.
- A physicians-with-Canadian-work-experience draw on June 24, which issued 271 ITAs at CRS 223.
What Does a CRS Score of 475 Mean?
The June 25 cutoff was eight points higher than the first healthcare and social services draw of 2026.
| Draw Date | CRS Cutoff | ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|
| June 25, 2026 | 475 | 4,000 |
| February 20, 2026 | 467 | 4,000 |
The number of invitations remained the same in both rounds, while the cutoff increased from 467 to 475.
The increase may reflect changes in the number and ranking of eligible healthcare and social services candidates in the Express Entry pool. However, IRCC has not published a specific explanation for the eight-point difference.
The healthcare category cutoff was also lower than the June 23 CEC cutoff of 516. These figures should not be treated as direct comparisons because the two draws involved different eligible candidate groups.
A healthcare category draw ranks candidates who meet the category requirements, while a CEC draw ranks candidates eligible under the Canadian Experience Class.
Who Qualifies for the Healthcare and Social Services Category?
Having a healthcare-related job title is not enough by itself.
To qualify for the healthcare and social services category, a candidate must:
- Have an active Express Entry profile.
- Be eligible under an Express Entry-managed immigration program.
- Have at least 12 months of full-time work experience, or an equivalent amount of part-time experience, within the previous three years.
- Have that experience in one eligible healthcare or social services occupation.
- Meet the requirements of the occupation’s National Occupational Classification code.
The qualifying work experience may have been gained in Canada or abroad and does not need to be continuous.
Selected Eligible Healthcare and Social Services Occupations
Eligible occupations include a range of healthcare and social services roles, such as:
- General practitioners and family physicians.
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine.
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses.
- Licensed practical nurses.
- Dentists and dental hygienists.
- Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
- Physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
- Medical laboratory technologists.
- Medical radiation technologists.
- Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates.
- Social workers.
- Social and community service workers.
- Psychologists, therapists, and counsellors in eligible classifications.
Job title alone does not determine eligibility
IRCC assesses the candidate’s NOC code and actual job duties. A title such as “healthcare worker,” “community support worker,” or “medical administrator” does not automatically confirm eligibility for the category.
The occupation list above is not exhaustive. Candidates should confirm the current eligible NOC list and ensure that their employment duties match the selected classification.
Four Express Entry Draws in Four Days
IRCC issued a combined 9,226 Invitations to Apply between June 22 and June 25, 2026.
| Date | Draw Type | CRS Cutoff | ITAs |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 22 | Provincial Nominee Program | 730 | 955 |
| June 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 4,000 |
| June 24 | Physicians With Canadian Work Experience | 223 | 271 |
| June 25 | Healthcare and Social Services | 475 | 4,000 |
| Total | 9,226 |
The four rounds show that IRCC continued to invite candidates from several distinct groups during the same week.
The pattern is consistent with the broader 2026 focus on Canadian work experience, provincial nominations, French-language ability, healthcare occupations, and other targeted categories.
2026 Express Entry Results to Date
As of June 25, 2026, IRCC had issued 89,067 ITAs across 34 Express Entry draws.
| Draw Type | Draws | Total ITAs |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 10 | 41,250 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 6 | 30,500 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 2 | 8,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 12 | 5,405 |
| Trades | 1 | 3,000 |
| Physicians With Canadian Work Experience | 2 | 662 |
| Senior Managers With Canadian Work Experience | 1 | 250 |
Healthcare and social services draws had issued 8,000 ITAs across two rounds, making the category the third-largest source of invitations listed in the 2026 totals above.
This indicates that healthcare and social services occupations continued to form an important part of Express Entry selection in 2026.
What to Do Next Based on Your Situation
If You Received an ITA
You generally have 60 days from the date of the invitation to submit a complete permanent residence application.
Begin by reviewing:
- Employment reference letters and supporting payroll records.
- Your selected NOC code and the duties described in each reference letter.
- Language test validity.
- Educational credential assessment validity, where applicable.
- Police certificates.
- Passport validity.
- Medical examination instructions.
- Personal, travel, address, and employment histories.
- Whether proof of settlement funds is required under the program through which you were invited.
Do not assume that receiving an ITA confirms every detail in the profile. IRCC will still assess whether the information and documents support the points and category eligibility claimed.
Our Express Entry strategy services explain how profile information and supporting documents should be reviewed before submission.
If Your CRS Score Was Above 475 but You Did Not Receive an ITA
The tie-breaking rule does not exclude candidates whose CRS scores were above 475.
If your score was above the cutoff and you did not receive an invitation, review whether:
- Your Express Entry profile was active at the time of the draw.
- You met the healthcare and social services category requirements.
- Your work experience was entered under an eligible NOC.
- You had at least 12 months of qualifying work experience within the previous three years.
- You remained eligible under an Express Entry-managed program.
- Your language results and other profile documents remained valid.
If Your CRS Score Was Exactly 475
Candidates with exactly 475 points also needed to have submitted their profiles before 12:14 p.m. UTC on May 21, 2026.
If your profile was submitted after that time, the tie-breaking rule may explain why you did not receive an invitation.
Your profile may be considered in a future category-based draw if it remains active and you continue to meet all program and category requirements. Future draws and cutoffs are not guaranteed.
If Your CRS Score Is Below 475
The two healthcare and social services draws identified in this article had cutoffs of 467 and 475. Future cutoffs may be higher or lower.
Possible ways to improve a CRS score include:
- Improving English or French language results.
- Obtaining additional eligible work experience.
- Completing an educational credential assessment for eligible foreign education.
- Adding eligible spouse or partner factors.
- Developing French-language ability.
- Pursuing a provincial nomination where appropriate.
Language improvements may produce a meaningful CRS increase, particularly when the candidate crosses an important Canadian Language Benchmark threshold.
If You Are a Healthcare Worker Outside Canada
A candidate does not need to be physically present in Canada to qualify for a healthcare and social services category draw.
However, the candidate must still:
- Meet the requirements of an Express Entry-managed program.
- Have qualifying work experience in an eligible occupation.
- Meet the category’s 12-month work-experience requirement.
- Have valid language test results.
- Provide an educational credential assessment where required.
The two healthcare draws listed in this article had cutoffs of 467 and 475, but those results do not guarantee a future invitation at any particular score.
If You Are Unsure Whether Your Occupation Qualifies
NOC classification should be based on the lead statement and main duties of the occupation, not only the job title.
Roles such as community health worker, developmental service worker, patient care assistant, counsellor, or healthcare administrator may fall under different NOC codes depending on the actual duties performed.
An incorrect NOC can affect category eligibility, CRS points, and the permanent residence application after an ITA is issued.
How Cambria Law Firm Can Help
- Review your Express Entry program eligibility.
- Confirm whether your occupation appears in the healthcare and social services category.
- Assess your NOC code against your actual employment duties.
- Review your 12 months of qualifying work experience.
- Check your CRS calculation and possible improvement options.
- Review supporting documents before or after an ITA is issued.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the CRS cutoff for the June 25, 2026 healthcare draw?
The minimum CRS score was 475. Candidates with exactly 475 points also needed to have submitted their profiles before 12:14 p.m. UTC on May 21, 2026.
How many invitations were issued?
IRCC issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply in the June 25 healthcare and social services category draw.
Do I need to be in Canada to qualify?
No. Candidates may qualify with eligible work experience gained in Canada or abroad, provided they meet the requirements of an Express Entry-managed program and the healthcare and social services category.
How much qualifying work experience is required?
A candidate generally needs at least 12 months of full-time work experience, or an equivalent amount of part-time experience, in one eligible occupation within the three years before the category-based round.
Does my job title determine whether I qualify?
No. IRCC considers the candidate’s NOC code and whether the actual job duties match the occupation. A similar job title does not automatically establish category eligibility.
Why was the cutoff higher than the February healthcare draw?
The cutoff increased from 467 to 475 while the number of invitations remained at 4,000. This may reflect changes in the ranking and composition of eligible candidates in the pool, but IRCC has not published a specific explanation.
What should I do if my CRS score is below 475?
Review possible score improvements, including language results, eligible work experience, education factors, French-language ability, spouse factors, and provincial nomination options. Future healthcare cutoffs may rise or fall.
