This week saw a continuation of Express Entry category-based selection draws, as Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) continues to invite healthcare workers to immigrate to Canada.

IRCC held the second round of healthcare category-based draws today, issuing 1,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with experience in healthcare related professions, including Dentists, Nurse practitioners, Optometrists and more. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) of applicants invited was 463.

This week marks the second consecutive week of targeted healthcare draws. On the 28th of June, IRCC held the first targeted Express Entry draw ever, issuing 500 ITAs to healthcare workers with a minimum CRS score of 476.

In addition on July 4th, IRCC held its first targeted STEM draw under Express Entry, issuing another 500 ITAs to STEM workers in the Express Entry pool who had a minimum CRS score of 486.

The recent run of category-based draws has not stopped IRCC from holding CRS-based Express Entry draws, however. The department held two all-program Express Entry draws on the 27th of June, and the 4th of July, issuing a total of 5000 ITAs between these two draws.

About Express Entry
Express Entry is a comprehensive system of economic immigration programs that includes the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Since its introduction in 2015, the Express Entry programs have become one of the primary pathways for economic immigration in Canada. Typically, candidates in the federal pool are issued ITAs for Permanent Residency based on their CRS score.

To address labor shortages in key sectors and strengthen immigration efforts, the Canadian government has implemented changes to the Express Entry system. These changes, announced by Minister Fraser in March 2023, aim to specifically target labor needs and enhance Francophone immigration. Candidates in the Express Entry pool who meet certain criteria based on their specialised work experience and/or language skills will be invited under these new measures.

The targeted categories include:

• Healthcare workers;
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) professionals;
• Trades such as Carpenters, Plumbers, and Contractors;
• Transportation workers;
• Agriculture and Agri-food workers; and
• Candidates with strong French language proficiency.