Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the latest Express Entry Draw #422 on June 25, 2026. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score was 475, with a tie-breaking rule of May 21, 2026 at 12:14:09 UTC. This draw capped off a rare four-draw week and marks only the second healthcare draw of 2026 so far.
Key Details of Express Entry Draw #422?
Here is a quick summary of draw #422:
- Invitation Round: #422
- Date of Draw: June 25, 2026 at 13:51:43 UTC
- Type of Draw: Healthcare and Social Services Occupations
- CRS Score Cut-Off: 475
- Number of ITAs Issued: 4,000
- Tie-Breaking Rule: May 21, 2026 at 12:14:09 UTC
This was the 15th healthcare draw in Express Entry history since the category launched in June 2023. It tied the all-time record for the largest healthcare draw, matching the volumes seen on February 20, 2026, and July 22, 2025.
Why Did Canada Hold a Healthcare-Specific Draw?
Canada doesn’t pick skilled workers at random. The healthcare and social services category exists because Canada’s aging population has created a persistent and growing need for qualified healthcare professionals. From registered nurses and pharmacists to dental hygienists, social workers, and medical laboratory technologists, the country is actively seeking workers who can fill these critical gaps in its public health system.
IRCC introduced category-based selection through Express Entry in 2023 to move beyond just picking the highest CRS scorers. Instead, it allows the government to directly target occupations where demand is greatest. The social services component was added in 2025, broadening the pool further to include roles that support community health and vulnerable populations.
This approach means that even candidates with CRS scores below the all-program cut-off may be eligible for a targeted invitation as long as they have qualifying experience in a healthcare or social services occupation.
How Does This Draw Compare to Previous Healthcare Rounds?
The June 25 draw came about four months after the last healthcare draw, held on February 20, 2026. That gap is longer than the near-monthly cadence seen in late 2025. The CRS cut-off of 475 is slightly above the 467 set in February, a modest increase of 8 points.
Over the years, the healthcare category has shown a clear upward trend in invitation volumes. In 2023, IRCC issued 5,600 ITAs across three draws. That grew to 10,250 in 2024, and then jumped to 14,500 across seven draws in 2025. So far in 2026, 8,271 ITAs have been issued under this category across just two draws, suggesting fewer but larger rounds ahead.
CRS cut-offs have remained fairly predictable too. The highest ever was 510 in May 2025, and the lowest was 422 in February 2024. The last six draws have all landed between 462 and 475, a relatively tight band that gives candidates a useful target to work toward.
What Changed with the Work Experience Requirement?
As of February 18, 2026, IRCC raised the minimum work experience threshold for the healthcare and social services category from six months to one full year within the last three years.
This is an important update. If you gained some healthcare experience but it falls short of a full year, or if your experience is older than three years, you may no longer qualify for this category. At ImmigCanada, we regularly see clients who are surprised to learn their experience window has expired. This is why keeping a current, accurate Express Entry profile is not just a good practice; it’s essential.
Your primary qualifying occupation for Express Entry (whether through the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, or Canadian Experience Class program) does not need to be in healthcare. You simply need at least one year of healthcare or social services experience within the required window.
Did You Receive an ITA? Here’s What to Do Next
If you received an Invitation to Apply on June 25, 2026, congratulations. You now have 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application to IRCC. Do not delay, missing this window means losing your ITA.
A complete application includes, among other things, police certificates, medical exams, proof of funds, language test results, and work experience documentation. The checklist can feel overwhelming, but getting every document right the first time avoids processing delays.
This is exactly where working with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) makes a real difference.
From Healthcare Worker to Permanent Resident
One of our clients, a registered nurse from the Philippines working in British Columbia had a CRS score of 471 and had been waiting in the pool since early 2025. She had just over one year of Canadian nursing experience and had been updating her language scores with the help of our team.
When the February 2026 healthcare draw issued ITAs at 467, she received her invitation. Under the guidance of RCIC Eivy Joy Quito, she submitted a complete, well-documented PR application within 40 days. Her application was approved without any procedural delays.
Her advice to others in the pool: keep your profile updated, maintain your language scores, and don’t wait until you have a perfect CRS, category-based draws can reach you even if your score is below the all-program cut-off.
What Should You Do If Your Score Is Below 475?
Not every candidate in the pool will receive an ITA in a category draw. If your CRS score sits below recent cut-offs, there are several ways to improve your position:
- Improve your language scores – Language is one of the biggest CRS point drivers. Retaking IELTS or CELPIP with proper preparation can add 20 to 50 points to your score.
- Explore Provincial Nominee Programs – A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points — effectively guaranteeing an ITA in any subsequent draw. Several provinces actively target healthcare workers through their PNP streams.
- Add your spouse or common-law partner to your profile – If your partner has strong language scores or Canadian education, including them could boost your overall CRS.
- Gain more work experience or education – Every additional year of skilled work experience and higher educational credentials add points to your profile.
- Learn French – Demonstrating proficiency in Canada’s second official language earns bonus CRS points and also opens the door to French-language proficiency draws.
What Can we Expect from Future Healthcare Draws in 2026?
IRCC has identified 10 occupational categories for targeted Express Entry selection in 2026. So far, draws have only been held for five: healthcare and social services, physicians with Canadian experience, senior managers, trades occupations, and French-language proficiency. That leaves five more categories yet to hold draws this year.
With IRCC spreading invitations across more categories, individual draw volumes may be larger but less frequent for any single category. Based on the trend of rising annual ITA volumes, there is every reason to believe the healthcare category will issue more invitations in 2026 than the 14,500 issued in 2025.
The next major draw event is expected to be a Provincial Nominee Program draw around July 6, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Candidates who have at least one year of full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time) in a qualifying healthcare or social services occupation within the last three years. This includes roles like registered nurses, pharmacists, social workers, dental hygienists, medical lab technologists, and many others.
A: No. You can qualify through the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades, or Canadian Experience Class program under your primary occupation, and still be eligible for a healthcare category draw if you have the required supplementary healthcare experience.
A: The CRS cut-off for Draw #422 on June 25, 2026 was 475.
A: IRCC issued 4,000 ITAs in this draw.
A: You have 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application. We strongly recommend working with an RCIC to ensure all documentation is accurate and complete before submitting.
A: Yes, potentially. You can boost your CRS through higher language scores, a provincial nomination, adding a spouse, or gaining more Canadian experience. You may also qualify for a different category draw with a lower cut-off.
A: There is no set schedule. In 2025, IRCC held seven healthcare draws. So far in 2026, only two draws have taken place. Draws in this category have been less frequent but larger in volume.
A: As of February 18, 2026, the minimum work experience for the healthcare category increased from six months to one full year within the last three years.
Your Canadian Immigration Journey Starts Here
Receiving an ITA is a milestone, but it’s only the beginning. Preparing a complete, accurate PR application with all the right documents, translations, and evidence of work experience is where many applicants stumble. RCIC Eivy Joy Quito and the ImmigCanada team are here to make sure that doesn’t happen to you. With deep expertise in Express Entry, healthcare category draws, and provincial nominee programs, we guide you every step of the way — from optimizing your profile to submitting your application with confidence. Book a Consultation with ImmigCanada, and let’s map out your path to Canadian permanent residency together.
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