Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has issued 500 new Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the latest Express Entry healthcare and social services draw—marking the first healthcare-focused draw of 2025.
Key Details of the May 2 Healthcare Draw
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Number of ITAs issued: 500
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Minimum CRS score required: 510
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Eligibility cutoff: Candidates needed an active Express Entry profile before July 21, 2024 (4:31 AM UTC)
This draw follows recent updates to the healthcare category, which expanded in February 2025 to include additional social services occupations. Notably, this round featured the highest CRS cut-off ever for a healthcare-specific draw.
2025 Express Entry Draws at a Glance
Here’s a summary of Express Entry draws in 2025 so far:
| Date | Draw Type | ITAs Issued | CRS Cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2 | Healthcare & Social Services | 500 | 510 |
| May 1 | Education | 1,000 | 479 |
| Apr 28 | Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 421 | 727 |
| Apr 14 | PNP | 825 | 764 |
| Mar 21 | French Proficiency | 7,500 | 379 |
| Mar 17 | PNP | 536 | 736 |
| Mar 6 | French Proficiency | 4,500 | 410 |
| Mar 3 | PNP | 725 | 667 |
| Feb 19 | French Proficiency | 6,500 | 428 |
| Feb 17 | PNP | 646 | 750 |
| Feb 5 | Canadian Experience Class (CEC) | 4,000 | 521 |
| Feb 4 | PNP | 455 | 802 |
| Jan 23 | CEC | 4,000 | 527 |
| Jan 8 | CEC | 1,350 | 542 |
| Jan 7 | PNP | 471 | 793 |
2025 Draw Trends
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PNP draws dominate (7 so far)
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3 French-language draws (lowest CRS: 379)
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3 Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws
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1 Education draw (new category introduced May 1)
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1 Healthcare draw (May 2)
Total ITAs issued in 2025: 33,429
What’s New in the Healthcare Category?
The February 2025 expansion added social services occupations to the healthcare category, broadening opportunities for skilled workers. Today’s draw reflects IRCC’s continued focus on addressing labor shortages in critical sectors.
How Long Does Express Entry Take?
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Express Entry profiles remain valid for 12 months.
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If you receive an ITA, IRCC aims to process PR applications within 6 months (from submission to decision).
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If no ITA is received within a year, candidates can resubmit their profile (if still eligible).
Why Choose Express Entry Over Other Pathways?
Express Entry is faster than most PNP streams, as provincial nominations still require federal approval, adding processing time.
Key Takeaways
- First healthcare draw of 2025 issued 500 ITAs (CRS: 510).
- 2025 trends: PNP leads, French draws have lowest CRS (379).
- New education & expanded healthcare categories reflect IRCC priorities.
- Express Entry processing is faster than most PNP routes.
Stay updated on Express Entry draws! Bookmark this page or follow IRCC’s official updates.
