Dear future neighbour,
Canada’s Express Entry system has just delivered good news for healthcare and social services workers hoping to call the country home permanently. Today, September 4, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sent out 3,500 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence, targeting candidates in this exact category.
See below details of September 4 Express Entry draw:
- Draw Category: Healthcare and social services
- Draw Date: September 4, 2026
- No. of Invitations: 3,500
- CRS Cut-off Score: 475
- Tie- Breaking Rule: May 26, 2026
This marks the third healthcare and social services draw of the year, bringing the total number of ITAs issued under this category to 11,500 so far in 2026. It’s part of a much bigger pattern too, since this was Canada’s 53rd Express Entry draw of the year, and the government has now handed out 121,156 invitations across all categories.
Here’s a full breakdown of every draw held so far this year:
| Date | Draw Type | CRS cut-off score | ITAs issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 4 | Healthcare and social services | 475 | 3,500 |
| September 3 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 198 | 229 |
| September 1 | Canadian Experience Class | 521 | 2,000 |
| August 31 | Provincial Nominee Program | 697 | 562 |
| August 19 | French-Language proficiency | 382 | 5,000 |
| August 18 | Canadian Experience Class | 523 | 1,000 |
| August 17 | Provincial Nominee Program | 760 | 442 |
| August 7 | Transport | 470 | 300 |
| August 6 | French-Language proficiency | 391 | 5,000 |
| August 5 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 3,000 |
| August 4 | Provincial Nominee Program | 768 | 507 |
| July 23 | Skilled Military Recruits | 368 | 4 |
| July 22 | French-Language proficiency | 399 | 5,000 |
| July 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 2,000 |
| July 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 744 | 511 |
| July 10 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 392 | 500 |
| July 9 | French-Language proficiency | 420 | 5,000 |
| July 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 517 | 2,000 |
| July 6 | Provincial Nominee Program | 708 | 534 |
| June 25 | Healthcare and social services | 475 | 4,000 |
| June 24 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 223 | 271 |
| June 23 | Canadian Experience Class | 516 | 4,000 |
| June 22 | Provincial Nominee Program | 730 | 955 |
| May 28 | French-Language proficiency | 409 | 4,500 |
| May 27 | Canadian Experience Class | 518 | 3,000 |
| May 25 | Provincial Nominee Program | 805 | 334 |
| May 11 | Provincial Nominee Program | 798 | 380 |
| April 29 | French-Language proficiency | 400 | 4,000 |
| April 28 | Canadian Experience Class | 514 | 2,000 |
| April 27 | Provincial Nominee Program | 795 | 473 |
| April 15 | French-Language proficiency | 419 | 4,000 |
| April 14 | Canadian Experience Class | 515 | 2,000 |
| April 13 | Provincial Nominee Program | 786 | 324 |
| April 2 | Trades | 477 | 3,000 |
| March 31 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 2,250 |
| March 30 | Provincial Nominee Program | 802 | 356 |
| March 18 | French-Language proficiency | 393 | 4,000 |
| March 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 507 | 4,000 |
| March 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 742 | 362 |
| March 5 | Senior Managers with Canadian Work Experience | 429 | 250 |
| March 4 | French-Language proficiency | 397 | 5,500 |
| March 3 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 4,000 |
| March 2 | Provincial Nominee Program | 710 | 264 |
| February 20 | Healthcare and social services | 467 | 4,000 |
| February 19 | Physicians with Canadian work experience | 169 | 391 |
| February 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 508 | 6,000 |
| February 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 789 | 279 |
| February 6 | French-Language proficiency | 400 | 8,500 |
| February 3 | Provincial Nominee Program | 749 | 423 |
| January 21 | Canadian Experience Class | 509 | 6,000 |
| January 20 | Provincial Nominee Program | 746 | 681 |
| January 7 | Canadian Experience Class | 511 | 8,000 |
| January 5 | Provincial Nominee Program | 711 | 574 |
Looking at the numbers, it’s clear that candidates with real ties to Canada, whether through a provincial nomination or hands-on Canadian work experience, keep getting priority. Those two categories alone account for 32 of the 53 draws this year.
For healthcare workers specifically, this is one of the friendliest CRS thresholds you’ll find across any Express Entry category. Compare 475 to what Canadian Experience Class candidates need (often north of 500), and it’s easy to see why this stream has become such an important pathway for nurses, personal support workers, social workers, and other essential care providers.
If you work in healthcare or social services and have been sitting on the fence about applying, this draw is a strong reminder that Canada genuinely needs you and is actively making room. But CRS scores shift with every draw, and profiles that don’t meet the cut-off simply sit and wait. Understanding where you stand, and what you can do to strengthen your profile, makes all the difference between getting invited in the next round or watching it pass you by.
Ready to Turn This Opportunity Into Your Permanent Residence?
Every Express Entry draw is a fresh chance to move closer to a new life in Canada, but only if your profile is built the right way. Whether you’re exploring healthcare-category Express Entry, provincial nomination, a work permit, a postgraduate work permit, spousal sponsorship, a visitor visa, a super visa, citizenship, or school admissions, our team at Ese Umoh Immigration is here to guide you through it step by step. Book a one-on-one consultation today at https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes and let’s map out the fastest, most reliable route to your Canadian future.