Ottawa, February 19, 2026, On February 19, 2026, Canada held its first ever category based draw exclusively for physicians with Canadian work experience, issuing 391 Invitations to Apply for permanent residence with a record low Comprehensive Ranking System cutoff of just 169.
The historic round was conducted under the authority of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and followed an announcement by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab only one day earlier. The speed of implementation makes this one of the fastest category rollouts in Express Entry history.
In this detailed guide, we break down:
If you are a foreign trained doctor working in Canada or planning to enter Express Entry in 2026, this update could significantly impact your immigration strategy.
Here are the official details of the February 19, 2026 draw:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Draw Type | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience 2026 Version 1 |
| Date | February 19, 2026 |
| CRS Cutoff | 169 |
| Invitations Issued | 391 |
| Rank Required | 391 or above |
| Tie Breaking Rule | January 03, 2026 at 03:25:14 UTC |
This is the lowest CRS score ever recorded in any Express Entry draw since the system launched in 2015.
The tie breaking rule for this draw was set at January 03, 2026 at 03:25:14 UTC.
If multiple candidates had exactly 169 CRS points, only those who submitted their Express Entry profile before this timestamp received an invitation.
Any physician with a CRS score of 169 who created their profile after that time will need to wait for the next physicians category draw.
This rule ensures fairness when several candidates share the same minimum score.
A CRS score of 169 is unprecedented in Express Entry history.
To understand how remarkable this is, consider typical score ranges:
| Draw Type | Typical CRS Range |
|---|---|
| Canadian Experience Class general draws | 500 plus |
| Healthcare category draws | 430 to 480 |
| STEM category draws | 480 to 500 |
| Trade occupation draws | 350 to 450 |
| Physicians draw February 19, 2026 | 169 |
The 169 cutoff means almost every eligible physician in the Express Entry pool received an invitation.
This includes candidates who may have:
Under normal general draws, such candidates would not be competitive. But because this category was limited to licensed physicians with Canadian work experience, the eligible pool was small enough for IRCC to invite nearly all qualified doctors.
This demonstrates a targeted immigration strategy focused on retention rather than broad competition.
To receive an invitation under this new physicians category, candidates needed to meet strict criteria.
Applicants must have:
This change reflects the 2026 update that increased work experience requirements across category based draws from 6 months to 12 months.
The draw was limited to the following physician occupations:
| Occupation | NOC Code | TEER Level |
|---|---|---|
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 | 1 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 | 1 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 | 1 |
These categories include:
Unlike broader healthcare draws, nurses, pharmacists, and physiotherapists were not included in this round.
Canada continues to face a serious physician shortage.
Many rural and suburban communities struggle to attract and retain doctors. Long wait times for family physicians and specialists remain a major public policy concern.
By issuing 391 invitations to doctors already working in Canada, IRCC is signaling a shift toward retention of medical talent rather than recruitment alone.
These physicians are already:
Without permanent residence, many could leave once their temporary work permits expire. This targeted pathway helps stabilize the healthcare workforce.
Although 391 may seem small compared to general draws that invite thousands, it is significant within the narrow physician category.
Canada has been conducting healthcare category-based draws since 2023. However, this physicians draw is fundamentally different.
| Feature | Physicians Draw | General Healthcare Draw |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible Occupations | Doctors only | Dozens of healthcare roles |
| Canadian Work Experience Required | Yes | Not always |
| Foreign Experience Accepted | No | Yes |
| CRS Cutoff | 169 | 430 to 480 |
| Pool Size | Very small | Large |
The requirement for Canadian work experience dramatically reduces the candidate pool. This explains why the CRS score dropped to historic levels.
In broader healthcare draws, candidates from abroad with competitive profiles enter the pool, pushing scores higher.
The physicians category was announced on February 18, 2026 and implemented the next day.
Such rapid rollout is rare for Express Entry categories.
This suggests:
With healthcare access ranking among top voter concerns nationwide, immigration policy is increasingly aligned with workforce shortages.
Doctors who received Invitations to Apply now have 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application.
There are no extensions except in very limited circumstances.
Applicants must provide:
Physicians should begin gathering documentation immediately to avoid missing the deadline.
Failure to submit within 60 days results in the invitation being canceled.
IRCC has not confirmed an official schedule for future physicians category draws.
However, several indicators suggest more rounds will occur in 2026:
Physicians who narrowly missed this draw due to the tie breaking rule should ensure their profiles are active and updated.
Given the 169 cutoff, future draws may also see low scores unless the pool grows significantly.
The 2026 immigration landscape is changing.
Work experience requirements increased from 6 months to 12 months for most category-based draws. This reduces the number of eligible candidates.
Fewer candidates in category pools can lead to:
Other categories that could see lower scores include:
Candidates should monitor upcoming draw results closely to identify trends.
If you are a doctor currently working in Canada:
Given how low the CRS cutoff dropped, eligible physicians have one of the strongest immigration positions in 2026.
The CRS cutoff was 169 points, the lowest in Express Entry history.
The eligible pool of physicians with 12 months of Canadian work experience was small. This allowed IRCC to invite nearly all qualified candidates.
391 physicians received Invitations to Apply.
No. Only Canadian physician work experience qualified for this category.
Although no fixed schedule is announced, additional draws are expected throughout 2026.
The February 19, 2026 physicians Express Entry draw marks a turning point in Canadian immigration policy.
A record low CRS score of 169 demonstrates that category based selection is reshaping how permanent residence invitations are issued.
Rather than relying solely on high CRS competition, Canada is now using precision targeting to address labor shortages.
For physicians already serving Canadian communities, permanent residence has never been more accessible.
As Express Entry evolves in 2026, occupation specific draws may continue to produce surprising results. Candidates across all sectors should pay close attention.
This historic physicians draw could be the beginning of a new era in targeted Canadian immigration.
