Canada has issued 229 invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to physicians in a category-based Express Entry draw held on September 3, 2026.
The round targeted candidates in the Physicians with Canadian Work Experience category, with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 198. It was the third physicians round of 2026 and the 52nd Express Entry draw of the year.
September 3, 2026 Express Entry draw results
| Date | Category | Invitations issued | Minimum CRS score |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 3, 2026 | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience | 229 | 198 |
Under Express Entry’s tie-breaking rule, candidates with a CRS score of 198 who submitted their profile before August 6, 2026 at 19:40:38 UTC were included in this round.
Physicians draws in 2026
The September 3 cut-off of 198 is the second-lowest ever recorded in a physicians round, behind only the inaugural draw of February 19, 2026. Invitation volumes have declined with each successive round, while cut-off scores have moved within a narrow band far below those of general and Canadian Experience Class draws.
| Date | Round | Invitations issued | Minimum CRS score |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 19, 2026 | #397 | 391 | 169 |
| June 24, 2026 | #421 | 271 | 223 |
| September 3, 2026 | #440 | 229 | 198 |
Across the three rounds, IRCC has now issued 891 invitations to physicians in 2026.
The Physicians category
The Physicians with Canadian Work Experience category is one of 10 current Express Entry categories used for category-based selection. To be considered, candidates must have recent Canadian work experience in an eligible physician occupation, in addition to meeting the requirements of one of the programs managed under Express Entry.
Because the category draws on a small pool of eligible candidates who are already working in Canada, its CRS cut-offs have been dramatically lower than those in general and Canadian Experience Class rounds — the September 1, 2026 Canadian Experience Class round, two days earlier, required a score of 521.
Express Entry category-based draws in 2026
Throughout 2026, IRCC has leaned heavily on category-based selection to invite candidates with experience in priority occupations and strong French-language ability. Physicians join healthcare and social services, trades, education, transport, STEM, French-language proficiency, senior managers, researchers and skilled military recruits among the groups eligible to be invited under a category.
You can see every round of the year on our Express Entry Draws 2026 page, and read how candidates are chosen on the Government of Canada’s category-based selection page.
Check your CRS score
A cut-off of 198 is low enough that many physicians already working in Canada will be within range of an invitation in a future round. Calculate your CRS score with our free Express Entry CRS calculator to see where you stand against the 198 cut-off and recent category-based rounds.