Canada’s Holds First Express Entry Draw for Physicians, Lowest Minimum CRS Score Since 2021

The first draw for candidates in the Physicians with Canadian Work Experience category under the Express Entry has been conducted on February 19, 2026. In the draw, 391 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence have been issued for the candidates in the category. To qualify in the draw, candidates must have had a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 169 and should have created an Express Entry profile before 3:25 a.m., Universal Coordinated Time (UTC), on January 3, 2026.

The cut-off score of 169 is the second lowest in the history of Express Entry. To be invited, candidates needed to have, within the previous three years, at least 12 months of full-time Canadian work experience (or an equivalent amount of part-time) in one of the three occupations included within the category.

As of now, 30,848 ITAs have been issued across the draws:Canadian Experience Class, French-language proficiency, Provincial Nominee Program, physicians with Canadian work experience