Canada Express Entry Draw: 229 Physicians Invited at CRS 198

IRCC held an Express Entry category-based round for physicians with Canadian work experience on September 3, 2026. The round issued 229 Invitations to Apply (ITAs), with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off of 198. The reported tie-breaking rule was August 6, 2026 at 7:40 p.m. UTC.

What Happened in the September 3 Express Entry Draw

The September 3 round targeted candidates in the physicians with Canadian work experience category. To be considered in the reported round, candidates needed a CRS score of at least 198 and an Express Entry profile submitted before the tie-breaking time when candidates shared the cut-off score.

This followed the September 1 Canadian Experience Class round, which issued 2,000 ITAs at a CRS cut-off of 521, and the August 31 Provincial Nominee Program round, which issued 562 ITAs at CRS 697.

Who Is Eligible for the Physicians Category?

IRCC lists physicians with Canadian work experience as a current Express Entry category in 2026. Candidates must first meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry, including eligibility for one of the three programs managed through Express Entry, and must meet the requirements established for the category and invitation round.

IRCC's dedicated guidance for medical doctors states that the physician pathway requires at least one year of full-time work experience as a medical doctor in Canada within the last three years, in addition to Express Entry eligibility. Medical doctors must also have their foreign credentials assessed and be licensed through the appropriate provincial or territorial regulatory authority to work as physicians in Canada.

What This Means for Express Entry Candidates

The low CRS threshold in this targeted round should not be interpreted as a general Express Entry cut-off. Category-based rounds rank candidates who meet the specific category requirements, so a candidate's eligibility for the physician category is critical.

For physicians already working in Canada, the round shows IRCC continuing to use the new 2026 physician category as part of its strategy to target labour-market needs. Candidates should keep their Express Entry profiles accurate and current and confirm that they meet all program and category requirements before relying on a category-based pathway.

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Official Government Sources

IRCC — Express Entry rounds of invitations: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/rounds-invitations.html

IRCC — Express Entry category-based selection: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/rounds-invitations/category-based-selection.html

IRCC — Medical doctors with experience in Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/medical-doctors/experience.html

IRCC — 2026 Express Entry categories announcement: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2026/02/canada-prioritizes-top-talent-in-2026-immigration-express-entry-categories.html

Reviewed by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant — Christine “Doc Teen” Daquiado, RCIC.