Maple News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 3,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Healthcare and Social Services category in the latest Express Entry draw, held on November 14, 2025. This marks the sixth healthcare-targeted draw of the year, with a record-low Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirement of 462—the lowest CRS cut-off for this category in all of 2025.
To be eligible for this round, candidates needed to have submitted their Express Entry profile before 10:19 p.m. UTC on December 2, 2024, and had a CRS score of at least 462. This draw is part of Canada’s ongoing strategy to prioritize immigration in key sectors, including healthcare and other essential services critical to Canada’s public infrastructure and workforce recovery.
The latest draw brings the total number of healthcare category ITAs to 13,292 in 2025, making it the third-highest category by volume of invitations issued. Only candidates in the Canadian Experience Class and French language proficiency draws have received more ITAs this year.
This draw is also the third held in November, following a Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw on November 12 and a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw on November 10. The focus on category-based selection highlights IRCC’s continued tailoring of Express Entry to align with Canada’s evolving labour market needs.
So far in 2025, Canada has issued a total of 85,723 ITAs through Express Entry across various programs, including PNP, CEC, French language proficiency, and category-specific draws targeting education, trades, and healthcare professionals. The healthcare sector remains one of the top priorities given Canada’s aging population and healthcare workforce shortages.
This trend also underscores the importance for professionals in high-demand fields—including nurses, physicians, and allied health workers—to explore immigration through Express Entry category-based pathways. The lower CRS threshold offers a significant opportunity for healthcare professionals to secure permanent residency in Canada.
As IRCC continues to fine-tune the Express Entry system for 2025 and beyond, future draws are expected to further reflect targeted occupational priorities to support Canada’s economic and social development.