On November 14, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) held Express Entry Draw #379, issuing 3,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Healthcare & Social Services occupations category. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this round was 462, with the tie-breaking rule applied to candidates who submitted profiles earliest when scores were equal.
This category-based draw is part of Canada’s focused effort to attract professionals who can immediately fill critical roles in hospitals, long-term care, clinics, and community services across the country.
Draw Snapshot
| Detail | Information |
| Date of Draw | November 14, 2025 |
| Category | Healthcare & Social Services occupations |
| Invitations Issued (ITAs) | 3,500 |
| Minimum CRS Score | 462 |
| Tie-Breaking Rule | Candidates with same CRS ranked by earliest profile submission |
Why This Draw Matters
- Targeted national need: Canada continues to face shortages in healthcare and social services, and category draws are designed to move qualified professionals more quickly into permanent residency.
- Large invitation volume: With 3,500 ITAs issued, this is one of the larger category draws, meaning a wide group of qualified healthcare applicants stood to benefit.
- Accessible CRS threshold for the sector: A CRS cut-off of 462 opens opportunities to many healthcare and social services professionals who may not be competitive in broader all-program draws but meet the sector criteria.
Who Qualified – Typical Eligible Occupations
This draw targeted a wide range of NOC occupations in health and social care, including (but not limited to):
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- Physicians and general practitioners
- Pharmacists and medical laboratory technologists
- Respiratory therapists, sonographers, and other allied health professionals
- Social workers and child & youth workers
- Personal support workers and home support workers
If your work experience fits one of the above roles and you have a valid Express Entry profile, you may have been eligible for selection in this category.
What This Means for Candidates
For those already in the Healthcare & Social Services category
- Strong chance if CRS ≥ 462: Candidates who met occupation and eligibility criteria and had CRS scores at or above 462 were well-placed to receive an ITA.
- Prepare documents immediately: If invited, you typically have 60 days to submit a complete PR application – keep reference letters, employment records, credentials, language tests, police certificates and passport pages ready.
For healthcare professionals below the cutoff
- Focus on quick wins: Improve language test scores, obtain additional verified work experience, or ensure your job duties align with the correct NOC description.
- Consider provincial streams: Many provinces have targeted healthcare nomination streams that may offer a nomination (and +600 CRS) or a direct route to PR.
For foreign-trained healthcare workers planning to immigrate
- Licensing & credentialing matters: Many regulated healthcare roles require provincial licensing – begin credential assessments early and pursue required certifications or bridging programs where necessary.
- Gather thorough employment evidence: Employer letters should clearly state duties, hours, dates and contact details – these documents are often the first things IRCC reviews.
Comparison – Recent Category & PNP Draws (Context)
| Draw Type | Date | ITAs | CRS (approx.) |
| Healthcare & Social Services | Nov 14, 2025 | 3,500 | 462 |
| PNP (recent rounds) | Oct–Nov 2025 | 300–700 | 740–780 |
| CEC draws (recent rounds) | Oct–Nov 2025 | 1,000 | ~531–534 |
| French-language draws (recent rounds) | Sept–Oct 2025 | 4,500–6,000 | ~416–446 |
Takeaway: Category draws for high-need sectors (healthcare, trades) continue to offer valuable, targeted pathways that may be more accessible than broader all-program draws for candidates who meet the occupation requirements.
Practical Checklist – If You Receive an ITA
- Confirm eligibility and link documents in your PR application as soon as possible.
- Employment evidence: employer letters, job duties, dates, hours and pay stubs.
- Language results: IELTS/CELPIP or TEF/TCF, valid at time of application.
- Educational credentials: ECA reports where required and any professional accreditation documents.
- Police certificates & medical exam: begin scheduling early – some countries have long processing times.
- Passport & identity documents: photocopies and scans of all relevant pages.
- Stay organized: create a clear folder structure and backups for each document.
Strategic Advice for Non-Invited Candidates
- Improve language scores: Small gains can add meaningful CRS points.
- Document work experience precisely: Clear, standardized letters speed verification.
- Seek provincial support: Explore PNPs that prioritize healthcare occupations.
- Pursue Canadian work experience: Bridging programs, bridging work permits or employer-sponsored roles can lead to faster PR eligibility.
- Consider bilingual skills: French proficiency may open additional category draws and increase CRS.
How Earnest Immigration Can Help
At Earnest Immigration, we work with healthcare and social services professionals to convert opportunity into residency:
- Eligibility assessment: confirm NOC alignment and Express Entry/category suitability.
- Profile optimization: boost CRS with practical, targeted steps (language strategy, ECA guidance, experience mapping).
- Documentation support: draft, review and format employment letters and other proofs to IRCC standards.
- PNP targeting: identify provincial streams most likely to nominate healthcare professionals.
- Full application handling: from ITA response to final submission, we manage timelines and quality checks.
Get in touch with Earnest Immigration today to review your profile and chart a clear, actionable pathway to Canadian permanent residency.
