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Latest Express Entry Healthcare Draw June 25, 2026: CRS 475 Explained (And What To Do Next)

By Amir Ismail, RCIC #R412319 | Last Updated: 29 June 2026. Amir Ismail is a licensed Canadian immigration consultant (RCIC #R412319) and has advised over 25,000 applicants on Express Entry and provincial nomination strategies since 1991.

According to official data released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on June 25, 2026, the government issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to healthcare and social services workers through Express Entry.

IRCC’s June 25, 2026, healthcare Express Entry draw issued 4,000 ITAs with a CRS cut-off of 475. Eligible profiles needed at least 12 months in one of 37 healthcare NOC codes and had to be created before May 21, 2026.

Key Takeaways

  • The June 25 cut-off was CRS 475, up 8 points from the previous healthcare draw in February 2026
  • IRCC has now issued a total of 8,000 ITAs to healthcare and social services workers in 2026
  • There are 37 qualifying NOC codes in this category
  • Workers below 475 have real options: provincial nomination, language score improvements, and the French-language draw stream
  • Physicians qualify under a separate draw with far lower CRS requirements (223 in the June 24 draw)

In summary: The June 25, 2026, Express Entry healthcare draw issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) with a CRS cut-off of 475. To be eligible, candidates must have at least 12 months of experience in one of 37 qualifying healthcare occupations and must have created their profile before May 21, 2026.”

What is the healthcare and social services category in Express Entry?

The Express Entry healthcare and social services category is a targeted immigration stream by IRCC designed to fast-track Canadian permanent residency for candidates with at least 12 months of experience in 37 qualifying medical and social work occupations. To qualify, you must hold an active Express Entry profile and meet the baseline eligibility for FSW, CEC, or FST programs. IRCC selects these occupations through Ministerial Instructions under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act to fill high-demand labor shortages.

If you’re an internationally trained nurse or doctor overseas, you usually start through the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW). If you’re already working in Canada, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is usually the faster path.

Which NOC codes qualify for the healthcare and social services Express Entry draw?

There are 37 occupations on IRCC’s list for the healthcare and social services category. The first ten, taken directly from IRCC’s category-based selection criteria, are listed below.

Occupation2021 NOC Code
Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians32104
Audiologists and speech-language pathologists31112
Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists32123
Chiropractors31201
Dental hygienists and dental therapists32111
Dentists31110
Dietitians and nutritionists31121
General practitioners and family physicians31102
Licensed practical nurses32101
Massage therapists32201

The remaining 27 occupations, including registered nurses (NOC 31301), physiotherapists (NOC 31202), and personal support workers (NOC 44101), are on the full IRCC list. If your NOC code does not appear on that list, you do not qualify for category-based healthcare draws, but you may still qualify for general Express Entry rounds based on your CRS score alone.

Do internationally trained healthcare workers qualify?

Yes, if you meet the baseline eligibility for one of the three Express Entry programs: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or Federal Skilled Trades. Your CRS score at the time of the draw cut-off determines whether you receive an ITA. Workers who have not yet obtained Canadian work experience typically enter through FSW. Those already working in Canada on a work permit often qualify through CEC, which comes with higher CRS scores due to Canadian experience points.

What does the June 25, 2026, healthcare Express Entry draw mean for you?

IRCC issued 4,000 ITAs on June 25, 2026, with a CRS cut-off of 475 and a profile creation deadline of May 21, 2026. This is the second healthcare and social services draw of the year, up from a cut-off of 467 in February.

“The rising CRS cut-off, combined with the strict profile creation deadline, means that relying solely on time-in-pool is no longer a viable strategy. Healthcare professionals currently sitting below 475 must proactively pursue provincial nominations or maximize language scores to remain competitive in upcoming 2026 draws. The truth is, just sitting in the pool and hoping isn’t a strategy anymore. If you’re below 475, you must look at language, French, and PNP , or you’ll watch others pass you by.” — Amir Ismail, RCIC.

Why did the CRS cutoff rise from 467 in February to 475 in June?

The CRS cut-off rises when more high-scoring candidates enter the pool than draws can clear. CIC News reported that from May 24 to June 21, 2026, the number of top-scoring Express Entry profiles grew at a rate 4,400% faster than the rest of the pool. If you are sitting below 475 right now, that gap may grow before the next healthcare draw unless you take steps to push your score higher.

How does the healthcare draw differ from the physicians’ Express Entry draw?

On June 24, 2026, one day before the healthcare draw, IRCC issued 271 ITAs to physicians with Canadian work experience at a CRS of just 223. That is a 252-point gap. The physicians category covers only three NOC codes (31100, 31101, and 31102) and draws from a much smaller pool, which is why the cut-off is far lower. If you are a physician, surgeon, or specialist in clinical and laboratory medicine with Canadian work experience, you qualify under the physicians category, not the general healthcare stream. The two draws are completely separate.

What to do if you missed the June 2026 healthcare Express Entry draw

IRCC held two healthcare draws in 2026, and the draw frequency suggests more will follow later in the year. The two most effective ways to improve your position are raising your CRS score and securing a provincial nomination, which adds 600 points to your profile. See AIA’s Express Entry guide for a full breakdown of how CRS scores are calculated and where candidates typically gain or lose points.

If you’re below 475 and unsure whether to focus on language, French, or PNP, book a strategy assessment, and we’ll map the fastest path for your situation.

How to Increase Your CRS Score for Healthcare Express Entry Draws

The biggest CRS gains come from three areas:

  1. Retake your language test. Moving from CLB 9 to CLB 10 in all four abilities adds up to 31 CRS points. For many candidates sitting 10 to 20 points below the cut-off, this alone closes the gap.
  2. Build French proficiency. Reaching NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities adds further CRS points and qualifies you for French-language draws, where 2026 cut-offs have been as low as 393.
  3. Pursue a provincial nomination. A nomination adds 600 CRS points, making an ITA in any subsequent draw virtually guaranteed regardless of the federal cut-off.

Should I wait for the next healthcare draw or pursue PNP?

For workers sitting below 460, waiting on the next federal healthcare draw carries real risk. If the cut-off keeps climbing, the gap widens. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points, which makes an ITA certain in any subsequent draw. Several provinces have dedicated healthcare streams with eligibility bars that are more accessible than the federal cut-off. See AIA’s Express Entry guide for healthcare professionals for a breakdown of which provincial streams match your specific NOC code.

Best Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) for Healthcare Workers with Low CRS

Three provinces run active healthcare-specific immigration streams in 2026. Each operates independently of the federal Express Entry cut-off, so a lower CRS score is not a barrier to a provincial nomination.

Saskatchewan SINP healthcare occupations stream

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) includes healthcare occupations under its Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand categories. Saskatchewan actively recruits registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and medical laboratory technologists. A provincial nomination letter from Saskatchewan adds 600 CRS points for Express Entry purposes, at which point a federal ITA follows in the next draw.

Alberta AAIP healthcare stream

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) targets healthcare workers through the Rural Renewal Stream and Alberta’s Express Entry-linked stream. Alberta issued 743 invitations to healthcare, manufacturing, and agriculture workers in its June 27, 2026, draw. Healthcare roles in rural Alberta communities are often the most competitive, with invitation thresholds lower than those in Calgary and Edmonton.

Ontario OINP healthcare pathway

Ontario launched three new PNP pathways on June 26, 2026, including the Ontario Workforce Priority Stream, which targets healthcare occupations, among others. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. If your occupation appears on Ontario’s in-demand list, this stream is worth assessing before the next federal healthcare draw.

These healthcare pathways operate across Canada, but Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan currently run some of the most active streams for nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals.

The French-language advantage for healthcare workers

French-language proficiency draws in 2026 had CRS cut-offs as low as 393, compared to 475 in the June healthcare draw. That is an 82-point gap. IRCC has held six French-language draws in 2026, issuing 30,500 ITAs, compared to 8,000 in the healthcare category. By volume alone, French-language draws invite far more people.

Healthcare workers who reach NCLC 7 or higher in all four French abilities qualify for French-language draws on top of category-based healthcare draws. That means two separate draw streams to consider. IRCC’s official Express Entry draw history confirms this pattern held across every French-language draw in 2026.

If you have any French language background worth building on, or if your home country uses French, this path deserves a serious look before the next healthcare draw cycle.

Frequently asked questions about the June 2026 healthcare and social services Express Entry draw

What NOC codes are included in the healthcare and social services Express Entry category in Canada?

IRCC lists 37 occupations in the healthcare and social services Express Entry category. The list includes licensed practical nurses (NOC 32101), dental hygienists and dental therapists (NOC 32111), audiologists and speech-language pathologists (NOC 31112), dietitians and nutritionists (NOC 31121), and chiropractors (NOC 31201), among others. The complete list is published on IRCC’s category-based selection page and is reviewed periodically.

When is the next healthcare and social services Express Entry draw expected in 2026?

IRCC does not publish a fixed schedule for healthcare draws. Based on the 2026 pattern, with draws on February 20 and June 25, a third healthcare draw may come in Q3 or Q4 2026. There is no guarantee. IRCC adjusts draw timing and frequency based on labour market data and the composition of the Express Entry pool.

Can I apply for the healthcare Express Entry category if I am an internationally trained nurse not yet working in Canada?

Yes, if you meet the Federal Skilled Worker eligibility requirements: at least one year of skilled work experience in a qualifying NOC code, a language score of CLB 7 or higher, and sufficient settlement funds. Your CRS score must also reach the draw cut-off at the time of the round. Nurses without Canadian work experience typically enter through FSW; those already in Canada on a work permit qualify through CEC.

Is a provincial nomination better than waiting for the next healthcare Express Entry draw?

It depends on your CRS score and timeline. If you are below 460, waiting on the next federal healthcare draw carries risk, particularly if the cut-off continues rising. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points, making an ITA near-certain in the next draw. For workers within 10 to 15 points of the cut-off, a language retest may be the faster path. An assessment of your full profile gives you a clearer answer.

What was the CRS cutoff for the healthcare Express Entry draw in June 2026?

The CRS cut-off for the June 25, 2026, healthcare and social services draw was 475. Candidates also needed to have created their Express Entry profile before May 21, 2026, at 12:14 PM UTC. Profiles created after that date were not considered in this draw, regardless of CRS score.

Why was there a profile creation deadline of May 21 in the June 25 draw?

IRCC uses profile creation deadlines in category-based draws to manage pool size and ensure ranking fairness. Candidates who entered the pool after May 21 were excluded from this draw’s ranking. This is a standard feature of category-based rounds. If your profile was created after that date, you remain in the pool and will be considered in future healthcare draws.

If you are within 10 to 15 points of 475, a language retest could get you there before the next draw. If you are further away, provincial nomination is the path worth starting now.

Book Your Strategy Assessment at www.amirismail.com/book-a-consultation/skilled-worker and we will go through your profile, your NOC code, and the fastest path to a PR decision for your situation.

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