Express Entry draw on Feb. 20, 2026 invited 4,000 healthcare and social services candidates (CRS 467)
IRCC held a new category-based Express Entry draw on February 20, 2026 for the Healthcare and social services category. In this round, IRCC issued 4,000 invitations to apply (ITAs) with a minimum CRS score of 467.
This matters if you work in healthcare or social services because category-based draws can invite people who match a specific labour need, even when general draw scores stay higher. IRCC explains how category-based selection works on its official category page.
Key draw details (what we know)
Based on the published draw reporting:
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Draw type: Healthcare and social services (category-based)
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ITAs issued: 4,000
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CRS cut-off: 467
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Profile timing rule: candidates needed to have created their Express Entry profile before Dec. 9, 2025 (6:22 p.m. UTC) to be considered in the tie-break situation.
Who can be selected in the healthcare category
IRCC’s official rules say that, for the Healthcare and social services occupations category, you must have:
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At least 12 months of full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience within the past 3 years
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In one eligible occupation listed under the healthcare and social services category
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Work experience can be in Canada or abroad (this is different from the separate physicians category)
Also, you still need to be eligible for one of the Express Entry programs (FSW, FST, or CEC) to be in the pool and receive an ITA.
Why the CRS score is “lower” than many general draws
A category draw ranks candidates who meet the category rules, then invites the top CRS scores within that smaller group. IRCC confirms this is the logic behind category-based rounds.
So 467 is not a new “normal CRS.” It’s a result for this specific category on this specific day.
What this means if you are a healthcare worker in the pool
If your CRS is close to 467 (or above), your best move is to make sure your profile is clearly category-eligible:
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Your work experience should match the correct NOC and job duties
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Your work dates, hours, and occupation should be consistent across documents and profile entries
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Your language test must be valid (IRCC explains accepted tests and validity rules)
If you were not invited, it does not automatically mean you are ineligible. It may simply mean:
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your CRS was below the cut-off for this round, or
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your profile was created after the tie-break timestamp.
If you got an ITA: what happens next
IRCC states that after an ITA, you generally have 60 days to submit a complete PR application (this applies to category-based rounds too).
This is where delays usually happen:
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waiting too long to collect required documents
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documents not matching what was claimed in the Express Entry profile
Context: why healthcare continues to be prioritized in 2026
IRCC’s 2026 categories announcement confirms that health care and social services remains a priority category for invitations in 2026.
Reality check
Category-based draws can be helpful, but they are not predictable on a fixed schedule. A healthcare draw today does not guarantee another draw next week, and a low cut-off in one category does not mean general draws will drop. Always plan based on what is confirmed, not what you hope will repeat.
