The fourth Express Entry draw of the week was stated to take place on February 20, 2026, with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRRC) issuing 4,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs), which was a massive 10,670 weekly Invitations to Apply (ITAs).
The most recent Express Entry draw was based on 37 healthcare and social services jobs, and had a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 467.
This acceleration in the speed of the Express Entry process is an indicator that Canada is on a frenzy as it tries to overcome the most severe labor shortages, especially in the healthcare field.
The period between February 16 and 20, with four draws in only five days, including the recent healthcare-themed round, is one of the busiest periods in the life of Express Entry.
Express Entry Draw #398 Details
- Draw Number: #398
- Date: February 20, 2026
- Draw Type: Healthcare and Social Services Occupations, 2026-Version 3
- Number of ITAs Issued: 4,000
- Minimum CRS Score: 467
- Rank Required: 4,000 or above
- Tie-Breaking Rule: December 09, 2025 at 18:22:06 UTC
In the case of several applicants having the same CRS mark of 467, an invitation is sent to the first applicant, based on the tie-breaking date.
In this Express Entry draw the tie-breaking point was December 09, 2025 at 18:22:06 UTC.
This implies that only those candidates who have submitted their Express Entry profile ahead of this date were allotted an ITA regardless of the points with which they had identical scores of 467.
The following round did not invite candidates who had 467 points who had created or updated their profile on or after December 9, 2025 at 18:22:06 UTC.
All Express Entry Draws This Week: 10,670 ITAs
Canada has made 10,670 Invitations to Apply in four Express Entry draws February 16-20, 2026.
Such a fast invitation rate shows that IRCC is determined to achieve 2026 immigration goals and meet the certain labour market demands.
| Draw # | Date | Category | ITAs | CRS |
| 398 | Feb 20 | Healthcare & Social Services | 4,000 | 467 |
| 397 | Feb 19 | Physicians (Canadian Experience) | 391 | 169 |
| 396 | Feb 17 | Canadian Experience Class | 6,000 | 508 |
| 395 | Feb 16 | Provincial Nominee Program | 279 | 789 |
| Total | This Week | 4 Draws | 10,670 | – |
This week has a significant diversity of draws.
IRCC focused on four different categories: a PNP draw that featured the lowly invitations, a Canadian Experience Class draw with an unbelievably low CRS of only 169, and the current healthcare draw that is broader with 467.
Such a diverse approach enables candidates with various profiles and in different score ranges of CRS to get an invitation.
Invitations Sent To Ineligible Profiles In Today’s Healthcare Draw?
Candidates were required to fulfill special conditions to be considered in this Express Entry draw in addition to having CRS score of at least 467.
The qualifying candidates should have completed at least 12 months of full-time employment (or equivalent amount of part-time employment) in the last three years in any of the 37 specified healthcare and social services occupations.
This experience is applicable in Canada or overseas and does not necessarily have to be continuous.
The work experience should be in one of the eligible occupations, no matter how that candidate had described his/her major occupation in his/her Express Entry profile.
It has been reported that the ITAs have been granted to many candidates who had a work experience of 6 months in one of these 37 qualified healthcare and social services occupations.
Classical mistakes to IRCC, it may not have communicated and/or applied new eligibility requirements internally.
But, the eligibility of all the categories says, as we will quote, meet all requirements in instructions of that round.
And the requirements of the current round are plainly stated, which are, experience in the last three years, which they have gained, one year of full-time work experience, or the equivalent of part-time work experience in one of the occupations being targeted.
In this case, IRCC would be safe, but not you, when less than 12 months of experience in the targeted occupation and an invitation to apply.
Our recommendation to the candidates who have less than 12 months of work experience in one of the targeted occupations they are offering in this round is to decline the ITA because they do not qualify to access today’s draw
37 Eligible Occupations for Healthcare Express Entry Draw
The following occupations qualified for today’s Express Entry draw. Candidates with valid work experience in any of these NOC codes were eligible if they met the CRS threshold.
TEER 1 Occupations (Professional)
| Occupation | NOC 2021 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 |
| Dentists | 31110 |
| Optometrists | 31111 |
| Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 31112 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 |
| Dietitians and nutritionists | 31121 |
| Psychologists | 31200 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 |
| Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 31300 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 |
| Social workers | 41300 |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 |
TEER 2 Occupations (Technical)
| Occupation | NOC 2021 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 |
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 32104 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 |
| Social and community service workers | 42201 |
TEER 3 Occupations (Support)
| Occupation | NOC 2021 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 |
What Happens After Receiving an ITA
Applicants who were invited to apply under this Express Entry draw now have 60 days to bring forward a full permanent residence application using his or her IRCC online account.
This is not negotiable and any gap of not having submitted within the 60 days period sees the expiry of the ITA and the candidate has to re-enter the Express Entry pool again.
It involves the application with a lot of documentation such as evidence of work experience in a qualified and qualified healthcare or social services occupation, language test results, educational credential tests, police certificates, medical tests, and evidence of funds.
Provincial licensing requirements should also be initiated by the healthcare professionals because this differs depending on the province and profession.