(CANADA) Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 1,000 Invitations to Apply for permanent residence on December 11, 2025, in an Express Entry category-based draw aimed at healthcare and social services workers, setting a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System CRS score of 476 and lifting the cut-off from the previous healthcare round.
Who was invited and the tie‑breaker
The draw invited candidates with scores at or above 476 who were ranked 1,000 or higher in the pool, IRCC’s draw notice shows. The tie‑breaking rule favored people who had created their Express Entry profile before “November 26, 2025 at 07:44:30 UTC.”
For many candidates clustered around the cut‑off, that timestamp can decide whether an application moves forward now or waits for a later round.
Important: The tie‑break time can determine immediate eligibility for many candidates with identical CRS scores.
How this compares to earlier healthcare rounds
- The 476 threshold was 14 points higher than the healthcare and social services draw on November 14, 2025, when IRCC issued 3,500 Invitations to Apply at a CRS score of 462.
- The increase will matter for applicants in the mid‑460s, particularly those without a job offer or Canadian work experience that could raise scores.
This December 11 round was the seventh healthcare draw of 2025. Targeted selections in 2025 have ranged from 500 to 4,000 invitations with minimum scores between 462 and 510, according to IRCC draw results and analysis by VisaVerge.com. For example, another recent draw on October 15 issued 2,500 invitations at 472, showing how quickly the cut‑off can move even within the same category.
Purpose of category‑based draws
Category‑based draws run alongside broader Express Entry rounds and are designed to select people with work experience in occupations Canada aims to recruit. IRCC updated the healthcare and social services category on February 27, 2025, expanding the list of eligible jobs to respond to labour shortages in essential services.
In practice, this means some candidates who might not be competitive in a general draw can become more competitive when their occupation matches a category and the government runs that kind of selection.
Eligible occupations (2021 NOC) — selected examples
The eligible occupations for this category in the 2021 National Occupational Classification include, among others:
- Dieticians and nutritionists (31121)
- Massage therapists (32201)
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (31301)
- Social workers (41300)
- Dentists (31110)
- Pharmacists (31120)
- Physiotherapists (31202)
- Psychologists (31200)
- Paramedical occupations (32102)
- Social and community service workers (42201)
- Veterinarians (31103)
- Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (32104)
These entries reflect how the category links health care, social supports, and related services.
Eligibility requirements for the healthcare & social services category
Candidates must still meet the basic Express Entry requirements for at least one of the federal programs that use the system. In addition, IRCC requires:
- At least six months of full‑time continuous work experience (or equivalent part‑time) in the last three years in one of the listed occupations.
- That qualifying work experience can be gained in Canada or abroad.
Application timeline and required documents
For workers abroad, receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) starts a tight timeline. Applicants have 60 days to submit a complete permanent residence application. Required items commonly include:
- Identity documents
- Police certificates
- Medical exams
- Proof of funds (when required)
- Educational Credential Assessments (ECA)
- Proof of employment
Missing documents can lead to a refusal. In many countries, police certificates and medical appointments can take weeks to arrange, making the two‑month window a practical challenge for candidates still working full time.
Ways to raise CRS and practical barriers
- A job offer can boost CRS points; however, obtaining an eligible job offer in regulated professions may require provincial licensing or registration before employers can formally hire.
- Professions such as nurses, medical technologists, therapists, and social workers often face additional provincial/regulatory steps that can delay or complicate job offers.
- Some employers recruit internationally and offer job offers for hard‑to‑staff roles, and candidates with Canadian work experience often benefit from higher scores even without category draws.
Candidates who work in more than one field should note: only the occupation used to claim qualifying experience counts for the category filter. That can affect whether a candidate receives an ITA and may require deciding which NOC best matches paid duties.
Impact and overall 2025 totals
The December 11 invitation round also contributes to the year’s overall pace. As cited in the source material, Canada issued 85,732 Invitations to Apply through Express Entry in 2025.
For provincial health systems, long‑term care providers, and community agencies, the steady flow of selections is one of the few federal tools that can move skilled workers from abroad into permanent status. It also highlights pressure on processing capacity and settlement services once people arrive.
Why cut‑offs change and what candidates can do
IRCC did not give a reason in the draw notice for the higher cut‑off, and the department does not publish how many eligible healthcare candidates are in the pool on any given day.
Because Express Entry ranks people together, a small shift in who enters the system or who updates a profile (for example, new language scores or work history) can change the CRS score line between draws.
Practical actions candidates can take:
- Keep Express Entry profiles up to date with any new language tests, work experience, or education.
- Prepare police certificates, medical exam bookings, ECAs, and other documents in advance.
- Consider provincial licensing or registration steps early if planning to rely on a job offer in a regulated profession.
Key takeaway: Thresholds can swing quickly. Keeping profiles current and documents ready matters as much as watching the next CRS score.
Official resources
IRCC posts official draw results and basic eligibility rules online. Candidates can create a profile and track category updates through the government’s Express Entry portal at Immigrate to Canada through Express Entry.
For candidates who missed this round by a few points or due to the tie‑break time, recent healthcare draws show that cut‑offs can move rapidly — staying prepared is essential.
IRCC issued 1,000 Express Entry ITAs on Dec. 11, 2025 for healthcare and social services workers, setting a 476 CRS minimum and using a Nov. 26 tie‑break time. Eligible candidates needed at least six months’ qualifying work experience (2021 NOC) and must submit complete applications within 60 days. The CRS cut‑off rose 14 points since Nov. 14, underscoring how small profile updates and pool changes can shift thresholds rapidly.
