Express Entry
Canada Targeted Physicians Through the Express Entry Draw #421
Canada’s immigration department invited 271 physicians with Canadian work experience to apply for permanent residence on June 24, marking the second Express Entry draw #421 round held for this occupation group in 2026. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score needed to land an invitation climbed to 223, a jump of 54 points over the first physicians round held in February.
Express Entry Draw #421 for Physicians
To qualify for this draw, candidates needed a CRS score of at least 223 and an Express Entry profile created before 6:13 p.m. UTC on May 31, 2026. That bar is considerably higher than the one set on February 19, when IRCC invited 391 doctors at a cutoff of just 169 points, among the lowest thresholds ever recorded for any Express Entry stream. Fewer invitations went out this time as well, 120 short of the February total, a sign that Ottawa may be pacing this still-new category as more eligible physicians build out their profiles.
How the Two Physicians Draws Compare
| Draw Date | CRS Cutoff | Invitations Issued |
| June 24, 2026 | 223 | 271 |
| February 19, 2026 | 169 | 391 |
Â
The physicians category was added to the Express Entry system at the end of 2025 as part of a broader push to fast-track healthcare talent already working in Canada toward permanent status.
Where This Draw Fits Into 2026’s Bigger Picture
June 24 marked the 33rd Express Entry draw of the year. Together, those rounds have produced 85,067 invitations to apply so far in 2026, spread unevenly across the program’s various streams.
| Draw Type | Draws Held | ITAs Issued |
| Canadian Experience Class | 10 | 41,250 |
| French-language proficiency | 6 | 30,500 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 12 | 5,405 |
| Healthcare and social services | 1 | 4,000 |
| Trades | 1 | 3,000 |
| Physicians with Canadian work experience | 2 | 662 |
| Senior managers with Canadian work experience | 1 | 250 |
A Candidate Pool Still Packed With High Scorers
As of June 21, the Express Entry pool held 239,645 candidates. Data tracked between December 2025 and May 2026 shows the pool has consistently carried somewhere between 68,000 and 74,000 candidates scoring between 451 and 500 points, with another 11,000 to 27,000 sitting in the 501-to-600 range. With that much depth at the top end, competition for general and Canadian Experience Class rounds is expected to stay tight for the foreseeable future.
Why Physicians Got Their Own Lane
Category-based draws let the immigration minister target occupations tied directly to labour market gaps, rather than simply inviting the highest scorers across the board. Physicians with Canadian work experience is one of nine such categories named for 2026, joining French-language proficiency, healthcare and social services, STEM occupations, trades, education, senior managers with Canadian work experience, researchers with Canadian work experience, and skilled military recruits.
What to Watch for the Rest of 2026?
With more than 70,000 invitations already issued by late May, immigration watchers expect the pace to slow through the back half of the year, since the volume seen so far isn’t considered sustainable for the full twelve months. Provincial Nominee Program rounds are likely to continue roughly every two weeks and to run larger given expanded provincial allocations, while French-language draws should stay frequent.
The bigger question mark is the Canadian Experience Class stream, where the arrival of physicians and other new categories has made the usual draw patterns harder to predict. Exact dates and cutoffs are never announced ahead of time, so candidates are best served by tracking each round as it lands.
FAQs for the Latest Express Entry Draw #421
1. What was the CRS score required for Express Entry Draw #421 for physicians?
The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required in Express Entry Draw #421 was 223, significantly higher than the first physicians-specific draw held in February 2026.
2. Who was eligible for the physicians-specific Express Entry draw?
The draw targeted physicians with Canadian work experience who had an active Express Entry profile and met the eligibility requirements under the designated occupation category.
3. Why did IRCC create a separate Express Entry category for physicians?
Canada introduced a dedicated physicians category to address ongoing healthcare shortages by helping experienced doctors already working in Canada transition to permanent residence more quickly.
4. Will there be more physician-specific Express Entry draws in 2026?
While IRCC does not announce future draws in advance, immigration experts expect additional physician-specific invitations throughout 2026 as Canada continues prioritizing healthcare professionals.
5. How can physicians improve their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA)?
Physicians can strengthen their profile by maintaining valid work authorization, maximizing their CRS score through language improvements or additional qualifications, ensuring their Express Entry profile is up to date, and monitoring future category-based draws.
Canada’s second physician-specific Express Entry draw #421 reinforces the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s healthcare workforce while creating faster permanent residence opportunities for medical professionals already contributing to Canada’s healthcare system. Although CRS scores have increased, dedicated occupation-based draws continue to provide physicians with a clear immigration pathway that may not be available through general Express Entry rounds.
Stay informed with Canada Immigration News for the latest Express Entry draws, CRS score trends, policy changes, and immigration analysis. Whether you’re a healthcare professional or planning your Canadian immigration journey, our timely updates can help you make informed decisions and stay one step ahead.
