Express Entry: Canada Holds First Healthcare Professions Draw of the Year

Canada conducted its first Express Entry draw of 2025 targeting healthcare professions on May 2, marking a pivotal moment for international healthcare and social service professionals aiming for permanent residency. This draw issued 500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to eligible candidates in healthcare and newly included social services occupations.

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score for this draw was 510, the highest ever recorded for this category. This reflects heightened competition and Canada’s growing emphasis on attracting skilled professionals in these critical fields.

Key Features of the May 2, 2025 Draw

• Candidates needed to submit their Express Entry profile before 4:31 a.m. UTC on July 21, 2024, to be eligible.
• In February 2025, the list of eligible occupations expanded to include social services roles such as social workers, therapists, and mental health professionals.
• The record-high CRS cut-off score of 510 highlights increased demand and competition, aligning with Canada’s strategic focus on healthcare and social services immigration.

Subsequent draws in 2025 continued to prioritize healthcare and social services. On June 4, 2025, another 500 ITAs were issued with a minimum CRS score of 504. Eligible profiles had to be submitted before 6:47 a.m. UTC on March 31, 2025.

The trend reached a peak on July 22, 2025, when a major draw issued 4,000 ITAs with a CRS cut-off of 475. This lower threshold broadened opportunities for skilled professionals, with profiles submitted before 1:08 p.m. UTC on March 13, 2025, being eligible.

Eligibility for these category-based draws requires at least six months of full-time, continuous work experience in a designated healthcare or social services occupation. Candidates must also meet the CRS score announced for each draw.

Canada’s Express Entry system uses a points-based ranking (CRS) to select immigrants likely to thrive economically. Healthcare and social services have become a priority due to the country’s pressing need for medical, mental health, and social support professionals.

For candidates with CRS scores below 500, these targeted draws provide a practical pathway to permanent residence that may not be available in general draws. The evolving list of eligible occupations and fluctuating CRS thresholds demonstrate Canada’s efforts to address labor market gaps and ensure adequate professional capacity in healthcare.

Overall, the 2025 healthcare Express Entry draws highlight Canada’s ongoing commitment to attracting talent in healthcare and social services. With more opportunities and increasingly competitive selection processes, this year’s draws reflect a strategic shift in immigration priorities.

Source: CIC News

Canada’s Healthcare Immigration Strategy Intensifies with Larger Draws

Following the initial May 2 draw, Canada’s Express Entry system continued to prioritize healthcare and social service professionals with subsequent rounds. On July 22, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted one of the largest healthcare-focused Express Entry draws to date, issuing 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to eligible candidates.

This draw marked a significant shift in strategy, as the CRS cut-off score dropped to 475, the lowest threshold for a healthcare-specific draw in 2025. This adjustment allowed a broader range of candidates to qualify, including those with lower CRS scores who may not have been competitive in previous rounds. Profiles submitted before 1:08 p.m. UTC on March 13, 2025, were eligible for consideration in this draw.

Key Features of the July 22, 2025 Draw

• The CRS cut-off score was set at 475, representing a deliberate effort to expand eligibility and attract a wider pool of skilled professionals.
• A total of 4,000 ITAs were issued, surpassing the previous healthcare draws in terms of volume and opportunity.
• Candidates needed to have submitted their Express Entry profiles before 1:08 p.m. UTC on March 13, 2025, to meet the eligibility criteria.
• The tie-breaking rule applied to profiles with equal CRS scores, prioritizing those submitted on or before the specified deadline.

This draw underscored Canada’s strategic approach to addressing labor shortages in the healthcare and social services sectors. By increasing the number of ITAs and lowering the CRS threshold, IRCC aimed to attract a diverse range of professionals, including mental health workers, social workers, and other in-demand occupations added to the eligibility list earlier in the year.

Experts view this as part of a broader immigration strategy to enhance Canada’s healthcare system, which has faced significant challenges in recent years. The inclusion of social services roles reflects a growing recognition of the importance of mental health and social support in overall healthcare outcomes.

For candidates with CRS scores below 500, these targeted draws provide a unique opportunity to secure permanent residency through Express Entry. The evolving eligibility criteria and fluctuating CRS thresholds demonstrate IRCC’s adaptability in responding to labor market needs and immigration goals.

As 2025 progresses, immigration watchers anticipate additional healthcare-focused draws, further solidifying Canada’s position as a leading destination for international healthcare and social service professionals. These efforts align with the federal government’s broader immigration targets, which emphasize the recruitment of skilled workers to support economic growth and address critical labor shortages.

Source: CIC News

Conclusion

Canada’s Express Entry system has undergone a significant shift in 2025, prioritizing healthcare and social service professionals to address labor shortages. With targeted draws issuing thousands of ITAs and adjusting CRS thresholds, the strategy aims to attract a diverse range of skilled workers. This approach not only offers opportunities for candidates with varying CRS scores but also aligns with broader immigration goals to support economic growth and enhance healthcare services. As 2025 progresses, this focused effort is expected to continue, solidifying Canada’s position as a leading destination for international healthcare professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions