Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has invited another 229 physicians to apply for permanent residence through the latest Express Entry round.
The Canada Express Entry physicians draw was held on September 3, 2026, and targeted physicians with Canadian work experience. Candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 198 to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
The latest round also required candidates to have created their Express Entry profile before 7:40 p.m. UTC on August 6, 2026. The information supplied for this report shows that this was the third physician-specific Express Entry round of 2026.
Key Highlights : Canada Express Entry Physicians Draw
- Draw date: September 3, 2026
- Draw type: Physicians with Canadian work experience
- ITAs issued: 229
- Lowest CRS score: 198
- Tie-breaking profile deadline: August 6, 2026, at 7:40 p.m. UTC
- Express Entry draws in 2026: 52
- Physician-specific draws in 2026: 3
- ITAs issued to physicians in 2026: 891
- Total Express Entry ITAs in 2026: 117,656
Canada Express Entry Physicians Draw Targets Canadian Experience
The latest Canada Express Entry physicians draw is part of IRCC’s broader category-based selection approach.
Unlike a general Express Entry round, this selection specifically targeted physicians who have Canadian work experience.
This distinction is important because candidates cannot simply qualify for Express Entry and expect to be selected in a physician-specific round. They must meet the eligibility requirements for the relevant category in addition to being eligible for an Express Entry-managed programme.
IRCC explains that category-based rounds are designed to select candidates who meet specific economic or labour-market priorities. The department ranks eligible candidates in the Express Entry pool according to their CRS scores and invites the highest-ranking candidates within the selected category.
CRS Cut-Off Falls Below 200
The Canada Express Entry physicians draw produced a CRS cut-off of 198.
A CRS score of 198 is considerably lower than the scores typically seen in Canadian Experience Class or Provincial Nominee Program draws. However, this should not be interpreted as meaning that a CRS score of 198 is sufficient for every Express Entry candidate.
The score applies specifically to the physician category and to candidates who met the category’s eligibility requirements.
For comparison, the source data shows that the September 1 Canadian Experience Class draw had a CRS cut-off of 521 for 2,000 invitations, while the August 31 Provincial Nominee Program round had a cut-off of 697 for 562 invitations.
This highlights how dramatically CRS requirements can vary between different Express Entry categories.
Only 229 Physicians Received ITAs
IRCC issued 229 invitations in the September 3 round.
This was the smallest physician-specific draw recorded in the 2026 data provided for this report.
The previous physician rounds were:
| Date | Category | CRS Cut-Off | ITAs |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2026 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 169 | 391 |
| June 24, 2026 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 223 | 271 |
| September 3, 2026 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 198 | 229 |
Across these three rounds, IRCC issued a combined 891 ITAs to physicians with Canadian work experience.
The latest draw therefore continued a relatively targeted approach, with fewer invitations being issued compared with the February and June physician selections.
Why Canadian Work Experience Matters
The physician category is specifically designed around doctors who have Canadian work experience.
This means international physicians who are interested in Canadian permanent residence should understand that simply having medical qualifications from another country does not automatically make them eligible for this particular Express Entry category.
Candidates must satisfy the applicable requirements for the category and Express Entry.
Canadian work experience can also be important because Canada’s immigration system increasingly uses category-based selection to target candidates who can contribute to identified labour-market priorities.
For physicians already working in Canada, this can create an additional opportunity to pursue permanent residence through Express Entry.
52 Express Entry Draws Held in 2026
Following the latest Canada Express Entry physicians draw, the number of Express Entry selection rounds held by IRCC in 2026 reached 52.
The distribution shows that IRCC has relied heavily on candidates with Canadian connections and targeted categories.
| Draw Type | Number of Draws |
|---|---|
| Provincial Nominee Program | 17 |
| Canadian Experience Class | 15 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 10 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 3 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 2 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 2 |
| Trades | 1 |
| Transport | 1 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 1 |
The figures show that PNP and Canadian Experience Class selections have accounted for the largest number of rounds so far in 2026.
IRCC Has Issued 117,656 ITAs in 2026
The Canada Express Entry physicians draw also adds to a much larger total of invitations issued by IRCC during 2026.
According to the supplied draw data, IRCC has issued 117,656 ITAs through Express Entry so far this year.
The largest share has gone to the Canadian Experience Class and French-language proficiency categories.
| Draw Type | ITAs Issued in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class | 51,250 |
| French-Language Proficiency | 50,500 |
| Healthcare and Social Services | 8,000 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 7,961 |
| Trades | 3,000 |
| Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 891 |
| Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 750 |
| Transport | 300 |
| Skilled Military Recruits | 4 |
| Total | 117,656 |
The figures indicate that physician selections remain a relatively small but highly targeted component of Canada’s overall Express Entry strategy.
September Begins With Multiple Express Entry Selections
The latest Canada Express Entry physicians draw follows another category-specific selection at the beginning of September.
On September 1, IRCC invited 2,000 Canadian Experience Class candidates with a CRS cut-off of 521, according to the supplied data.
Two days later, the department conducted the physician-focused round.
The sequence demonstrates the variety of Express Entry selection categories being used by IRCC rather than relying exclusively on one type of draw.
The August rounds were similarly diverse, including PNP, French-language, Canadian Experience Class and Transport selections.
What Physicians Need After Receiving an ITA
Receiving an ITA is not the same as receiving Canadian permanent residence.
Candidates who receive an invitation must submit a complete permanent residence application within the applicable deadline.
Applicants should ensure that the information in their Express Entry profile can be supported by documentation.
This can include evidence relating to:
- Identity and civil status;
- Education;
- Medical qualifications;
- Canadian work experience;
- Language test results;
- Police certificates;
- Proof of funds, where applicable;
- Employment history; and
- Other documents requested by IRCC.
Any material change in circumstances should also be properly reported.
A candidate should not rely on the CRS score alone when preparing a permanent residence application. The underlying eligibility requirements remain important.
What Does a CRS Score of 198 Mean for Other Physicians?
The Canada Express Entry physicians draw may attract attention from physicians with lower CRS scores who are currently working in Canada.
However, the 198 cut-off should be interpreted carefully.
The cut-off does not mean that every physician with a CRS score of 198 or higher will receive an ITA.
The candidate must first be eligible for the specific physician category and be included in the relevant Express Entry pool.
IRCC then ranks eligible candidates and issues invitations based on the number of candidates the department intends to select.
Therefore, physicians should focus on meeting category eligibility requirements rather than simply targeting the latest cut-off score.
Latest Physician Draw Compared With 2026 Trends
The latest results show an interesting pattern.
The February physician draw had the lowest CRS cut-off of the three physician rounds at 169, while June’s round had the highest at 223.
The September selection sits between those two at 198.
At the same time, the number of invitations has steadily declined:
- February: 391 ITAs
- June: 271 ITAs
- September: 229 ITAs
This means the latest physician selection combined a relatively low CRS cut-off with the smallest invitation count among the three physician rounds held this year.
Future cut-offs cannot be predicted from this pattern because they depend on the size and composition of the eligible candidate pool and the number of invitations IRCC chooses to issue.
Canada Continues To Prioritize Candidates With Canadian Ties
The Canada Express Entry physicians draw fits into a wider 2026 trend in which IRCC has frequently selected candidates who already have connections to Canada.
The supplied data shows 15 Canadian Experience Class draws and 17 PNP draws during the year.
Together, these categories account for 32 of the 52 Express Entry rounds recorded through September 3.
Physicians with Canadian work experience therefore fall within a broader immigration strategy that places significant emphasis on candidates already contributing to Canada’s labour market.
What Physicians Should Watch Next
Physicians considering Canadian permanent residence should continue monitoring future Express Entry rounds rather than assuming the September CRS cut-off will remain unchanged.
The main factors to watch include:
- Future physician-specific draws
- Number of ITAs issued
- CRS cut-off scores
- Changes to category eligibility
- Canadian work-experience requirements
- Other healthcare-focused immigration pathways
- Provincial nomination opportunities
Candidates who qualify for more than one immigration pathway may also benefit from assessing provincial nomination options alongside Express Entry.
Key Takeaways Of Canada Express Entry Physicians Draw
The Canada Express Entry physicians draw on September 3, 2026, issued 229 ITAs to physicians with Canadian work experience.
The minimum CRS score was 198, while candidates needed to have created their Express Entry profile before 7:40 p.m. UTC on August 6, 2026.
This was the third physician-specific Express Entry round of 2026, bringing total physician ITAs for the year to 891.
The latest selection also brought the overall number of Express Entry rounds held by IRCC in 2026 to 52, with 117,656 ITAs issued across all draw types according to the supplied data.
For physicians already working in Canada, the result reinforces the importance of Canadian work experience within Canada’s current category-based Express Entry system.
However, the latest CRS cut-off should not be treated as a guaranteed target for future draws. IRCC can change both invitation numbers and selection thresholds depending on its immigration priorities and the composition of the Express Entry pool.
FAQs : Canada Express Entry Physicians Draw
How many physicians were invited in the latest Express Entry draw?
IRCC issued 229 ITAs to physicians with Canadian work experience on September 3, 2026.
What was the CRS cut-off for the September 3 physician draw?
The CRS cut-off was 198.
How many physician Express Entry draws have taken place in 2026?
There have been three physician-specific Express Entry rounds in 2026, according to the supplied draw history.
How many physician ITAs has Canada issued in 2026?
A total of 891 ITAs have been issued through physician-specific draws in 2026.
Does a CRS score of 198 guarantee an invitation?
No. Candidates must meet the eligibility requirements for the physician category and be ranked within the candidates selected in that particular round.
Does this draw apply to physicians outside Canada?
The draw specifically targeted physicians with Canadian work experience, so physicians without qualifying Canadian work experience should not assume they qualify for this category.
How many Express Entry ITAs has IRCC issued in 2026?
According to the supplied data, IRCC has issued 117,656 ITAs across Express Entry draw types in 2026.
Source : CIC News
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