IRCC Conducts First 2025 Express Entry Draw for Healthcare Professionals

By Eva Olsen [Published 05 May, 2025 | 04:51 AM] 5310

Ottawa – On May 2, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held its second Express Entry draw of the month, exclusively targeting candidates with experience in Healthcare and Social Services Occupations. In this targeted draw, 500 skilled professionals received Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residency.

This draw is part of IRCC’s category-based selection strategy for 2025, designed to align immigration invitations with critical labour shortages across the country. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required in this round was 510, indicating a competitive selection process for this occupational category.

Express Entry Draw Latest Draw – May 2, 2025

Category: Healthcare and Social Services Occupations (Version 2)
Date and time: May 2, 2025
CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 510
Number of invitations issued: 500
Rank needed: 500 or above
Tie-breaking rule: July 21, 2024 at 04:31:17 UTC

In case of a tie at the minimum score, IRCC uses a timestamp-based tie-breaking rule. Candidates who submitted their Express Entry profiles earlier are given priority. Invitations to apply to the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program may be issued through this round of invitations.

Calculate Your CRS Points

Canada’s Ongoing Demand for Healthcare Professionals

This targeted draw highlights Canada’s strong demand for professionals in the healthcare and social services sectors. As the country continues to respond to healthcare needs and population growth, IRCC remains focused on welcoming talent that can support the national health infrastructure.

With its 2025 immigration strategy, Canada is conducting more occupation-specific draws to ensure newcomers are equipped with in-demand skills. This includes not only healthcare workers but also professionals from sectors such as education, STEM, trades, and agriculture.

Who Was Eligible for This Draw?

To be considered under the Healthcare and Social Services category, candidates must:

Have at least six months of full-time (or equivalent part-time) experience in a relevant occupation within the last three years
Meet all requirements outlined in the draw’s invitation instructions

Application Timeline & Processing

Candidates who received an ITA now have 60 days to submit their complete application for permanent residency. According to IRCC, 80% of Express Entry applications are processed in six months or less, providing a relatively fast immigration route for eligible professionals.

Express Entry Categories for 2025 Include: