Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 2,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in a recent category-based selection for healthcare and social services professionals under the Express Entry system. This marks the second-largest healthcare-focused draw of 2025 so far.
To qualify for this round, candidates were required to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 470 and must have submitted their Express Entry profile prior to 8:08 p.m. (UTC) on April 23, 2025.
This draw is part of IRCC’s increasing emphasis on category-based selections, particularly for high-demand sectors like healthcare. The healthcare stream alone has now seen three dedicated draws in 2025, with the largest taking place in July when 4,000 candidates were invited with a slightly higher CRS cutoff of 475.
This latest draw marks the fifth Express Entry invitation round in August and the second of the current week. It closely follows previous draws including 192 invitations through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) on August 18, 2,500 for French-speaking candidates on August 8, and 1,000 through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) on August 7.
As of mid-August, IRCC has issued a total of 55,820 ITAs through the Express Entry system in 2025. Most draws have focused on PNP candidates, but large portions have also been directed toward CEC applicants, French-language proficient candidates, and individuals whose professional backgrounds align with Canada’s priority occupation categories, such as healthcare, education, and skilled trades.
Here’s a summary of the draw categories for 2025 so far:
– Provincial Nominee Program: 15 draws
– Canadian Experience Class: 8 draws
– French-language proficiency: 4 draws
– Healthcare and social services: 3 draws
– Education: 1 draw
The consistent focus on healthcare workers this year reflects Canada’s forward-looking immigration strategy, aimed at addressing ongoing labour shortages in vital public service sectors such as medical care, mental health, elder care, and social work.
Candidates interested in immigrating through Express Entry are encouraged to keep their profiles up to date and actively monitor category-based draws that align with their language skills and professional backgrounds.
For continuing updates and insights on Canada’s evolving immigration system, stay connected with Maple News.