Key Takeaways
• Canada invited 500 healthcare and social service workers with a CRS score cutoff of 504 on June 4, 2025.
• Candidates needed six months of recent healthcare experience and Express Entry profiles created before March 31, 2025.
• Express Entry targets specific sectors, supporting Canada’s plan for 395,000 new permanent residents annually by 2027.
Canada 🇨🇦 Invites 500 Healthcare and Social Service Workers in Latest Express Entry Draw
On June 4, 2025, Canada 🇨🇦 took another step to address its ongoing healthcare worker shortage by inviting 500 skilled professionals to apply for permanent residency. This move, part of the country’s Express Entry system, highlights the government’s focus on bringing in much-needed talent for healthcare and social service roles. The draw, officially known as Express Entry Draw #349, is the second healthcare-focused selection of the year and shows Canada’s continued commitment to supporting its essential services.
Who Was Invited and Why?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued 500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with experience in healthcare and social services. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this draw was 504 points. This score is slightly lower than the previous healthcare draw in May 2025, which had a cut-off of 510 points. The drop in the CRS score means the competition eased a bit, but the bar remains high.
The draw took place on June 4, 2025, at 13:54:24 UTC. To break ties between candidates with the same score, IRCC used a tie-breaking rule: only those who created their Express Entry profile before March 31, 2025, at 06:47:23 UTC were considered.
Canada 🇨🇦 is facing a shortage of healthcare workers, especially as its population ages and the demand for medical and social services grows. By targeting these professionals, the government hopes to fill critical gaps in hospitals, clinics, and community care settings across the country.
Eligibility Requirements for Healthcare and Social Service Workers
To be considered in this targeted Express Entry draw, candidates had to meet several specific requirements:
- At least six months of full-time work experience (or the same amount of part-time experience) in a qualifying healthcare or social service occupation.
- The work experience must have been gained within the last three years before the category was set up.
- Candidates needed to have performed the main duties described in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) for their job. This means doing most of the important tasks for their occupation, including all essential duties.
- An Express Entry profile had to be created before March 31, 2025, at 06:47:23 UTC to meet the tie-breaking rule.
These requirements ensure that only those with recent, relevant experience in healthcare and social services are invited, helping Canada 🇨🇦 bring in professionals who can quickly contribute to the workforce.
How the Express Entry System Works
The Express Entry system is Canada 🇨🇦’s main way to select skilled workers for permanent residency. It manages applications for three federal economic immigration programs:
1. Federal Skilled Worker Program – For people with skilled work experience outside Canada 🇨🇦.
2. Federal Skilled Trades Program – For skilled tradespeople.
3. Canadian Experience Class – For those with recent Canadian work experience.
Candidates create an online profile and are given a CRS score based on factors like:
- Age
- Education
- Language skills (English and/or French)
- Work experience
- Family in Canada 🇨🇦 or a job offer
- Provincial nominations
Those with the highest scores are invited to apply for permanent residency through regular draws. The system is designed to be fair and transparent, letting candidates see how they compare to others in the pool.
For more details on how Express Entry works, you can visit the official IRCC Express Entry page.
Recent Express Entry Activity: A Shift Toward Targeted Draws
The June 4 draw was the second Express Entry event in the first week of June 2025. Just two days earlier, on June 2, IRCC held a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw, inviting 277 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 726. This shows that Canada 🇨🇦 is using different types of draws to meet its changing needs.
So far in 2025, there have been 19 Express Entry draws:
- 9 for the Provincial Nominee Program
- 4 for the Canadian Experience Class
- 3 for French language proficiency
- 1 for education occupations
- 2 for healthcare and social services
This pattern reflects a new approach. Instead of only focusing on high overall immigration numbers, Canada 🇨🇦 is now using targeted draws to fill specific labor shortages, especially in healthcare and education.
Why Is Canada 🇨🇦 Focusing on Healthcare Workers?
Canada 🇨🇦 has an aging population, and many provinces are struggling to find enough doctors, nurses, personal support workers, and social service professionals. Hospitals and care homes are often short-staffed, leading to longer wait times and more stress for existing workers.
By inviting healthcare and social service workers through Express Entry, Canada 🇨🇦 hopes to:
- Reduce wait times for patients
- Improve the quality of care
- Support overworked staff
- Fill gaps in rural and remote areas
The CRS cut-off score of 504, while lower than the last healthcare draw, still shows that Canada 🇨🇦 is being selective. The country wants to attract the best-qualified professionals who can make an immediate impact.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step Process
If you received an ITA in the June 4 draw, you now have 60 days to submit your complete application for permanent residency. Here’s what the process looks like:
- Create an Express Entry profile – You’ll need documents like language test results, educational credentials, and your passport.
- Wait for an ITA – If you meet the requirements and have a high enough CRS score, you may be invited in a draw.
- Submit your application – After receiving an ITA, gather and upload all supporting documents. This includes reference letters from employers, identity documents, police clearance certificates, and results from a medical exam.
- Processing – IRCC aims to process most Express Entry applications within six months from the date you submit your full application.
You can find the official Express Entry application forms and instructions on the IRCC website.
What Documents Are Needed?
Applicants must provide:
- Proof of work experience (reference letters, pay stubs)
- Language test results (IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF for French)
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if your education is from outside Canada 🇨🇦
- Police certificates from every country you’ve lived in for six months or more since age 18
- Medical exam results from a panel physician approved by IRCC
- Valid passport
It’s important to double-check that all documents are up to date and meet IRCC’s requirements. Missing or incorrect documents can delay your application or lead to refusal.
Tie-Breaking Rule: What Does It Mean?
The tie-breaking rule is used when more than one candidate has the same CRS score at the cut-off point. In this draw, only those who created their Express Entry profile before March 31, 2025, at 06:47:23 UTC were considered. This means that even if you had a high CRS score, you would not have received an ITA if your profile was created after this date and time.
This rule helps IRCC manage the number of invitations and ensures fairness among candidates.
Canada 🇨🇦’s Immigration Strategy for 2025 and Beyond
Canada 🇨🇦’s immigration plan for 2025-2027 marks a shift from previous years. The government plans to welcome about 395,000 new permanent residents per year, which is lower than in recent years. However, the focus is now on quality over quantity.
IRCC is giving priority to:
- Candidates with provincial nominations
- Those with Canadian work experience
- Applicants with French language skills
- People working in high-demand sectors like healthcare and education
This targeted approach is meant to fill the most urgent labor shortages and help the economy recover from the effects of the pandemic and an aging workforce.
What Does This Mean for Healthcare and Social Service Workers?
For healthcare and social service professionals, these targeted draws are a big opportunity. If you have recent experience in these fields and a competitive CRS score, your chances of being invited are higher than ever.
However, competition remains strong. The CRS cut-off is still above 500, which means you need to maximize your score by:
- Improving your language test results
- Gaining more work experience
- Getting a higher level of education
- Securing a provincial nomination, if possible
It’s also important to keep your Express Entry profile up to date and make sure all your documents are ready in case you receive an ITA.
What About the Future? Will More Healthcare Draws Happen?
Based on current trends, it’s likely that IRCC will continue to hold targeted draws for healthcare and social service workers throughout 2025. The slight drop in the CRS cut-off score in the June 4 draw could mean that requirements may ease further if shortages continue.
The Express Entry pool is growing. Between May 13 and June 1, 2025, the number of candidates increased by 4,948 (a 2% rise), reaching a total of 255,030 candidates. This shows that interest in Canadian immigration remains high, and future draws will likely stay competitive.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, staying competitive in the Express Entry pool is key. Healthcare and social service professionals should focus on keeping their credentials up to date and making sure their work experience matches the requirements set out in the National Occupational Classification.
Tips for Healthcare and Social Service Workers Applying Through Express Entry
- Check your NOC code: Make sure your job title and duties match the official description in the National Occupational Classification. This is important for eligibility.
- Get your credentials assessed: If you studied outside Canada 🇨🇦, you’ll need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an approved organization.
- Improve your language skills: Higher scores in English or French can boost your CRS points.
- Consider provincial programs: Some provinces have their own immigration streams for healthcare workers. A provincial nomination gives you an extra 600 CRS points.
- Prepare your documents early: Police certificates and medical exams can take time to arrange. Start early to avoid delays.
For more information on the National Occupational Classification and how to find your code, visit the official NOC website.
Implications for Employers and Provinces
Employers in Canada 🇨🇦, especially in the healthcare sector, benefit from these targeted draws. They can fill vacancies faster and reduce the burden on existing staff. Provinces and territories can also address local shortages by nominating candidates through their own programs.
However, the high CRS cut-off means that not all qualified workers will be invited right away. Employers may need to support candidates in improving their profiles or consider other immigration streams if Express Entry is too competitive.
What Happens After You Get Permanent Residency?
Once your application is approved, you and your family can move to Canada 🇨🇦 as permanent residents. This gives you the right to:
- Live and work anywhere in Canada 🇨🇦
- Access public healthcare and social services
- Enroll your children in Canadian schools
- Apply for Canadian citizenship after meeting residency requirements
Permanent residency is a pathway to a stable future in Canada 🇨🇦, with many opportunities for career growth and personal development.
Conclusion: What Should You Do Next?
If you’re a healthcare or social service worker interested in moving to Canada 🇨🇦, now is a good time to prepare your Express Entry profile. Make sure your documents are ready, your work experience matches the requirements, and your language skills are as strong as possible.
Keep an eye on future draws and consider other options like provincial nominee programs if your CRS score is below the cut-off. The demand for healthcare workers in Canada 🇨🇦 is not going away, and targeted Express Entry draws are likely to continue.
For official updates and detailed instructions, always refer to the IRCC Express Entry page.
By staying informed and proactive, you can improve your chances of being selected and starting a new life in Canada 🇨🇦 as a permanent resident.
Learn Today
Express Entry → Canada’s online system managing skilled worker immigration applications for permanent residency.
CRS score → Comprehensive Ranking System score assessing candidates’ eligibility based on age, education, language, and experience.
ITA → Invitation to Apply issued to candidates in Express Entry draws to submit permanent residency applications.
NOC → National Occupational Classification system defining job duties and eligibility for immigration programs.
Tie-breaking rule → Policy to resolve score ties by considering profile creation dates for candidate selection in draws.
This Article in a Nutshell
Canada’s June 4, 2025, Express Entry draw invited 500 healthcare workers to apply for permanent residency, addressing labor shortages. With a CRS cutoff of 504 points, this targeted draw shows Canada’s commitment to supporting essential health and social service roles to meet rising demands.
— By VisaVerge.com
