• by Admin

Canada Prioritizes Healthcare Workers with Dedicated Express Entry Draws: 500 ITAs Issued for Medical Professionals in 2025

Canada has significantly expanded its healthcare immigration strategy in 2025 through dedicated Express Entry draws specifically targeting medical professionals and social service workers. The landmark healthcare draw conducted on May 2, 2025, issued 500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) with a record-high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score of 510, marking the highest score ever recorded for this category.

This healthcare-focused approach addresses Canada's critical workforce shortages in the medical sector, particularly following pandemic-related challenges and an aging population requiring increased care. The Express Entry healthcare category now includes newly added social services occupations as of February 2025, expanding opportunities for social workers, therapists, and mental health professionals alongside traditional medical roles.

Eligible occupations under the healthcare category include registered nurses, family physicians, licensed practical nurses, pharmacists, dentists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, medical laboratory technologists, nurse aides, and patient service associates. The program requires candidates to have at least six months of continuous full-time work experience in recognized healthcare roles within the past three years. Healthcare professionals can expect high employment rates, competitive salaries, and accelerated pathways to permanent residency through both federal Express Entry and enhanced Provincial Nominee Programs.

The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots launched on March 31, 2025, provide additional pathways specifically for childcare providers and home support workers, with application caps of 2,610 spaces each for workers already in Canada. These pilots filled their capacity within hours of launching, demonstrating unprecedented demand for healthcare immigration pathways

Provincial programs have adapted to prioritize healthcare professionals, with Ontario, British Columbia, and Nova Scotia offering dedicated streams with lower CRS thresholds and faster processing times. The Atlantic Immigration Program has specifically prioritized healthcare and social assistance workers, with Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland focusing exclusively on medical professionals for their 2025 allocations.

Processing times for healthcare professionals have been streamlined, with Express Entry applications processed within six months and provincial nominations expedited for medical occupations. Healthcare workers also benefit from LMIA-exempt work permits, allowing them to begin employment while permanent residence applications are processed. The government's commitment to healthcare immigration reflects Canada's recognition that skilled medical professionals are essential for maintaining and expanding the country's universal healthcare system.