Explore the latest changes in Canada's Physicians immigration category and what they mean for aspiring applicants.
After a short pause in Express Entry activity, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has resumed invitation rounds.
The pause followed an issue affecting invitations for the 28 May 2026 French-language proficiency round. IRCC has since confirmed that the issue has been resolved and that eligible candidates from that round should now have received their Invitations to Apply.
Following this, Express Entry activity resumed with three consecutive draws in June:
22 June 2026: Provincial Nominee Program draw, with 955 Invitations to Apply issued and a CRS cut-off score of 730.
23 June 2026: Canadian Experience Class draw, with 4 000 Invitations to Apply issued and a CRS cut-off score of 516.
24 June 2026: Physicians with Canadian Work Experience draw, with 271 Invitations to Apply issued and a CRS cut-off score of 223.
These draws are significant because they show that Express Entry remains active, but also that selection continues to be highly targeted.
Canadian Experience Class candidates remain competitive, but the score remains high
The 23 June 2026 Canadian Experience Class draw was the first CEC draw since 27 May 2026. It issued 4 000 invitations, which was a larger draw than the previous CEC round, where 3 000 invitations were issued.
The CRS cut-off also reduced slightly, from 518 in the previous CEC draw to 516 in the latest CEC draw.
While this movement is positive for candidates with Canadian work experience, the cut-off remains high. It would therefore be misleading to suggest that CEC selection has become broadly accessible. At present, candidates in the low 500s remain the most competitive for CEC rounds, and future draw sizes, cut-offs and frequency can change.
For applicants already in the Express Entry pool, this highlights the importance of maintaining an accurate and complete profile, ensuring that work experience is correctly classified, and updating language results or other factors where this can meaningfully improve the CRS score.
The physician draw shows the importance of category-based selection
The 24 June 2026 draw for Physicians with Canadian Work Experience had a much lower CRS cut-off of 223. This does not mean that Express Entry has become easier overall. It reflects the fact that this was a targeted category-based draw for a very specific group of candidates.
To benefit from a category-based draw, a candidate must still meet the requirements of one of the Express Entry-managed programmes and must also meet the requirements of the specific category being selected.
For physicians with Canadian work experience, this includes having at least one year of full-time work experience as a medical doctor in Canada within the last three years. Medical licensing and credential requirements also remain important, particularly for those who wish to practise as doctors in Canada.
This is an important reminder that CRS scores cannot be viewed in isolation. A lower CRS cut-off in a targeted draw does not assist candidates who do not meet that category’s requirements.
Express Entry in 2026 remains targeted
The recent June draws are consistent with the broader direction of Express Entry in 2026. IRCC has continued to use a combination of programme-specific draws and category-based draws, rather than relying only on general invitation rounds.
The 2026 categories include French-language proficiency, healthcare and social services, trades, transport occupations, physicians with Canadian work experience, researchers and senior managers with Canadian work experience, and selected military recruitment categories.
This means that applicants should not only ask, “What is my CRS score?” They should also ask whether their profile aligns with one of the areas currently being prioritised.
For some candidates, a strong CRS score may still be enough if CEC or other programme-specific rounds continue. For others, competitiveness may depend on whether they have Canadian work experience, French-language ability, a provincial nomination, or experience in an occupation that falls within an active category.
ITAs and admissions are not the same thing
It is also important to understand the difference between an Invitation to Apply and permanent resident admission.
An Invitation to Apply allows a candidate to submit a permanent residence application. It does not mean the application has already been approved, and it does not guarantee permanent residence. The application must still be submitted correctly and assessed for eligibility, admissibility and supporting documentation.
For this reason, the number of ITAs issued in a year should not be treated as the same as the number of people admitted to Canada as permanent residents. ITA numbers are useful for understanding Express Entry activity, but they are not the same as final admissions under Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan.
What applicants should take from the latest draws
The latest June 2026 draws are a positive indication that Express Entry activity has resumed after the May invitation issue. However, they also confirm that the system remains selective and targeted.
CEC candidates with CRS scores in the low 500s remain competitive based on recent draw results, but there is no guarantee that future rounds will follow the same pattern. Candidates outside recent cut-off ranges should be cautious about relying on general assumptions that scores will necessarily drop.
The most practical approach is to assess each profile individually. This includes reviewing CRS score, work experience, language results, provincial nomination options, category-based eligibility and the strength of supporting documents.
Express Entry remains active, but it is not one-size-fits-all. A realistic assessment of eligibility and competitiveness is still essential before relying on any pathway to permanent residence.