IRCC Issues 3,500 ITAs in Category-Based Draw for Healthcare and Social Service Workers with Minimum CRS Score of 475

Key Highlights of Express Entry Draw 441

IRCC considered candidates with a CRS score of 475 or higher who met the eligibility requirements for the healthcare and social services category. Additionally, when multiple candidates had the same CRS score, IRCC applied a tie-breaking rule based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.

Healthcare and Social Services Category Continues to Receive Priority

Category-based Express Entry draws allow IRCC to select candidates who have skills, training or work experience in occupations that support Canada’s economic priorities.

Healthcare and social services professionals continue to be an important group within Canada’s Express Entry system. The latest draw provides another opportunity for eligible professionals in these occupations to move forward with their Canadian permanent residence plans.
The September 4 draw also follows an earlier Healthcare and Social Services draw in 2026, where IRCC issued 4,000 ITAs with a CRS cut-off of 475 on June 25.

How Does the Latest CRS Cut-Off Compare?

The 475 CRS cut-off in the September 4 draw remained at the same level as the June 25 Healthcare and Social Services draw.
However, the number of invitations decreased from 4,000 to 3,500.

This indicates that a CRS score of 475 was sufficient for the lowest-ranked candidates invited in both of these healthcare-focused rounds, subject to the applicable category eligibility and tie-breaking rules.

Who Could Receive an ITA?

Candidates needed to meet the requirements of the Healthcare and Social Services Occupations category and be eligible for at least one of the programs managed through Express Entry.

Express Entry manages applications under three federal economic immigration programs:

For category-based rounds, candidates must first be eligible to enter the Express Entry pool. IRCC then ranks eligible candidates according to the requirements of the particular category-based draw.

What Does This Draw Mean for Healthcare Professionals?

The latest invitation round is significant for healthcare and social services professionals who are considering Canadian permanent residence.

Candidates working in eligible occupations may have an additional pathway to receive an ITA through category-based selection, rather than relying only on general Express Entry competition.

However, meeting the occupational requirements does not guarantee an invitation. Candidates must satisfy the applicable eligibility criteria and achieve a CRS score high enough for the particular draw.

What Should Invited Candidates Do Next?

Candidates who received an ITA should carefully review their IRCC account and begin preparing their permanent residence application and supporting documents within the required timeframe.

Applicants should ensure that information provided in their Express Entry profile is accurate and that their supporting documents match the information declared in their application.

Candidates who did not receive an invitation in this round can continue to monitor upcoming Express Entry draws. Meanwhile, they can improve their CRS score by retaking language tests, gaining additional eligible work experience, or exploring other suitable immigration pathways.

What Could Happen in Future Express Entry Draws?

IRCC conducts different types of Express Entry rounds, including general, program-specific and category-based draws. The number of ITAs and CRS cut-offs can vary from one round to another depending on IRCC’s immigration priorities and the composition of the Express Entry pool.

Therefore, the 475 CRS cut-off from this draw should not be treated as a guaranteed score for future healthcare and social services draws.

Candidates should regularly monitor official IRCC announcements and assess their individual eligibility before making immigration decisions.