Canada's commitment to strengthening its healthcare system through immigration took another concrete step forward on June 24, 2026. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held the second Express Entry draw of the year exclusively for physicians with Canadian work experience, providing another chance for medical professionals to gain their permanent residency in Canada. This article covers everything you need to know about this draw, what it means for foreign-trained doctors, and how Canada's category-based selection system is reshaping the immigration landscape for healthcare workers.
As of this draw, IRCC has conducted a total of 33 Express Entry draws in 2026, with Canada's immigration priorities leaning heavily toward candidates already in the country, especially those with provincial nominations or Canadian work experience. The physicians draw fits squarely into that pattern, and its back-to-back timing with the June 22 PNP and June 23 CEC draws signals that IRCC is pushing hard through the second half of the year.
June 24 Express Entry Draw: Official Details
Here's a full breakdown of everything officially released about this draw:
✅ Invitation Round: #421
✅ Date of Round: June 24, 2026
✅ Type of Deaw: Physicians with Canadian Work Experience
✅ Number of ITAs Issued: 271
✅ CRS Score of Lowest-Ranked Candidate Invited: 223
✅ Tie-Breaking Rule: March 21, 2026 at 01:02:28 UTC
What Makes This Draw Stand Out
The numbers here tell a clear story. The draw required a CRS score of just 223, making it one of the lowest CRS thresholds seen in Express Entry this year, and the most important takeaway is not the number of invitations or the CRS score alone, but what the draw reveals about Canada's growing focus on healthcare immigration.
The first physicians draw of 2026, held on February 19, issued 391 ITAs at a record-low CRS of 169, the lowest CRS cut-off in the entire history of the Express Entry program. The June 24 draw came in at 223, slightly higher, reflecting a marginally larger eligible pool since the category launched.
The CRS score of 223 does not mean Express Entry has become easier overall. Instead, it demonstrates how category-based selection creates opportunities for candidates working in priority occupations, while general Express Entry and other category draws continue to carry much higher CRS requirements.
Impact on Immigration to Canada
This selection round marks the second time in 2026 that federal authorities have carved out an exclusive draw for physicians, and given that provinces across the country continue to struggle with retaining medical personnel, particularly in rural and underserved communities, this draw functions as a vital retention tool for foreign-trained doctors who have successfully navigated provincial licensing and established local clinical practice.
Canada specifically targeted physicians with Canadian work experience because healthcare worker shortages remain a major challenge nationwide. Rather than relying exclusively on high CRS scores, Canada is increasingly selecting candidates who can help address specific labour market shortages, meaning occupation may become just as important as CRS points for many applicants.
What Are Physicians with Canadian Work Experience Draws
The Physicians with Canadian Work Experience category is a targeted Express Entry stream introduced in December 2025. The category was quietly added on December 8, 2025, and held its first draw on February 19, 2026.
To qualify, candidates must meet the following requirements:
At least 12 months of full-time work experience as a physician in Canada within the past three years
A NOC code aligned with their medical speciality
All standard Express Entry eligibility criteria, including a valid language test and educational credentials
An active Express Entry profile with accurate and up-to-date information
For the 271 physicians selected in this draw, the immediate challenge transitions from point accumulation to strict regulatory compliance, with confirming that medical licenses match provincial college requirements and validating reference letters during the 60-day submission window being crucial to securing a successful permanent residency outcome.
If you are a foreign-trained physician currently working in Canada, keeping your Express Entry profile updated and your documents ready is the most important step you can take right now.
Canada Express Entry Draw List 2026
Total ITAs issued in 2026: 85,067