Express Entry Draw #440: Canada Targets Physicians with Canadian Work Experience
Draw Date: September 3, 2026 | Draw Type: Physicians with Canadian Work Experience (2026-Version 1) | Invitations Issued: 229 | CRS Cutoff: 198
What Happened in Draw #440
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 229 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) on September 3, 2026, in a highly targeted Express Entry draw exclusively for physicians with Canadian work experience. This round, designated as the 2026-Version 1 iteration of this category, carried a CRS cutoff score of just 198 — one of the lowest thresholds ever recorded in the Express Entry system.
The narrow scope of this draw is deliberate. Unlike general rounds or broader Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws that pull from tens of thousands of candidates, this occupation-specific round zeroed in on a precise segment of the Express Entry pool: internationally trained and Canadian-licensed physicians who have accumulated eligible work experience on Canadian soil. With only 229 invitations issued, IRCC is sending a clear and focused signal about where its labour market priorities currently lie.
What a CRS Cutoff of 198 Actually Means
To put a score of 198 into perspective, a typical general Express Entry draw in 2025 and 2026 has carried CRS cutoffs in the range of 470 to 510 or higher. A score of 198 is extraordinarily low by any standard measure, and that is entirely intentional.
In occupation-specific draws, the CRS score functions differently than it does in general rounds. IRCC uses a separate eligibility filter first — candidates must meet the occupation and work experience criteria — and the CRS score then serves as a final ranking mechanism among those who already qualify. Because the pool of physicians with Canadian work experience is relatively small, the competition within that subset is limited, which drives the effective cutoff down dramatically.
What this means in practical terms: if you are a physician who meets the occupational criteria, your Comprehensive Ranking System score based on age, education, language ability, or spousal factors is almost entirely irrelevant to your chances. Even candidates with weak language scores, older age brackets, or no post-secondary credentials beyond their medical degree would have cleared this threshold with ease.
How This Draw Compares to Recent Physician-Specific Rounds
This is the first physician-specific draw of 2026 under the updated category-based selection framework introduced by IRCC. Earlier occupation-specific draws targeting healthcare workers in 2024 and 2025 similarly featured low CRS floors, though those rounds often grouped multiple healthcare NOC codes together and issued larger volumes of invitations.
The fact that IRCC has carved out a dedicated draw specifically for physicians — and labelled it "2026-Version 1" — strongly suggests that additional physician-specific rounds are planned for the remainder of the year. The "Version 1" designation is a clear indicator that this is the opening draw in a series, not a one-off event. Candidates who were not reached this time around should not be discouraged; the data points toward more opportunities ahead.
Who Benefits from This Draw
Draw #440 directly benefits a specific and well-defined group of candidates. To have been eligible for this round, you would generally need to meet all of the following conditions:
- You hold an active Express Entry profile with an eligible federal program (Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, or Federal Skilled Trades)
- Your primary occupation falls under the physician category — most likely NOC codes such as 31100 (Specialist Physicians) or 31102 (General Practitioners and Family Physicians)
- You have accumulated qualifying Canadian work experience in your medical occupation
- Your CRS score met or exceeded the 198-point cutoff at the time of the draw
Physicians currently working in Canada under a work permit, those who completed residency programs at Canadian medical schools, and internationally trained physicians who have obtained provincial licensure and accumulated Canadian employment history are the primary beneficiaries of this category.
What Applicants Just Below the Cutoff Should Do Right Now
If you are a physician with Canadian work experience and you did not receive an ITA in this round, the most important thing you can do is audit your Express Entry profile immediately. Given that the cutoff was 198, the vast majority of eligible physicians in the pool should have qualified — which raises the possibility that some candidates may have incomplete or inaccurate occupational information recorded in their profiles.
Here are four concrete steps to take before the next draw:
- Verify your NOC code. Confirm that your primary occupation is correctly listed under the appropriate physician NOC code. An incorrect classification could exclude you from occupation-specific draws entirely, regardless of your work history.
- Document your Canadian work experience thoroughly. Ensure your employment records, reference letters, and pay stubs align with what is declared in your profile. IRCC verifies this information during the application stage.
- Update your profile if anything has changed. A new job offer, additional work hours, or a recent language test result can all affect your standing. Profiles must reflect your current situation.
- Watch for the next physician-specific draw. With this round labelled as Version 1, the probability of a Version 2 draw before the end of 2026 is high. Staying prepared now means you are positioned to receive an ITA the moment the next round opens.
The Bigger Picture: Canada Needs Physicians
Draw #440 is not happening in a vacuum. Canada faces a well-documented shortage of physicians across nearly every