According to Maple News, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has invited 4,000 candidates to apply for permanent residence through a dedicated Express Entry draw targeting healthcare and social services professionals. The draw took place on July 22, 2025, under Canada’s category-based Express Entry system.
Eligible candidates required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 475 and needed to have submitted their Express Entry profile before 1:08 p.m. UTC on March 13, 2025. This marks the third healthcare-focused draw of 2025, affirming Canada’s ongoing commitment to attracting skilled professionals in critical sectors.
This latest draw is part of a busy month for IRCC, which has conducted four Express Entry draws in July alone. These include invitations to candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (July 21), the Canadian Experience Class (July 8), and another PNP-specific draw on July 7.
So far in 2025, IRCC has issued 49,403 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across various draw types. While the bulk of this year’s ITAs have gone to Provincial Nominee Program candidates, significant numbers have also been invited under the Canadian Experience Class, French-language proficiency, healthcare, social services, and education streams.
A breakdown of the 2025 Express Entry draws reveals a notable prioritization of candidates with professional experience in essential fields. As of July, IRCC has held 13 PNP draws, 7 focusing on CEC candidates, 3 targeting French-speaking applicants, 3 for healthcare and social services professionals, and 1 linked to the education sector.
The IRCC appears to be following a structured biweekly schedule for conducting PNP and CEC draws, a pattern that has been ongoing since June 10. This consistent strategy reflects an evolving focus on labour market needs and maintaining momentum in Canada’s economic immigration system.
Category-based Express Entry draws, introduced in 2023, allow Canada to efficiently target skilled workers in priority sectors such as healthcare, technology, and trades, addressing critical labour shortages and enhancing the country’s long-term economic resilience.