Express Entry draw #397 has opened a powerful new path to permanent residence for doctors already working in Canada, inviting 391 physicians under the first “Physicians with Canadian Work Experience” category-based round on February 19, 2026, with an unusually low CRS cut-off of 169. This is the first implementation of the new 2026 physician category announced in Canada’s “top talent” Express Entry strategy and aims to retain specialists and family doctors critical to the health system.
- 01Overview of draw 397: physicians-only, Canada-wide
- 02What the new physician category requires
- 03How category-based ranking worked in this draw
- 04How this fits into Canada’s 2026 “top talent first” strategy
- 05Who benefits from draw 397?
- 06What invited physicians should do next
- 07If you are a doctor who was not invited
Overview of draw 397: physicians-only, Canada-wide
On February 19, 2026, IRCC ran Express Entry draw #397 as a category-based, physicians-only round under the new “Physicians with Canadian Work Experience, 2026–Version 1” category.
Key draw details:
- Category: Physicians with Canadian work experience, 2026–Version 1.
- Date and time of round: February 19, 2026 at 14:24:23 UTC.
- Number of invitations: 391.
- CRS score of lowest-ranked invited candidate: 169.
- Rank required: 391 or above within the physician grouping.
- Tie-breaking rule: January 3, 2026 at 03:25:14 UTC.
- Programs covered: ITAs can be issued under FSWP, CEC, or FSTP for candidates who meet category requirements.[query]
A CRS cut-off of 169 is extremely low by Express Entry standards, which reflects how restrictive this category is: only a narrow set of licensed or practice-ready physicians in specific NOC codes, with Canadian experience, were eligible to compete within this grouping.
What the new physician category requires
The Ministerial Instructions for Physicians with Canadian Work Experience (2026–Version 1) define who qualifies for this category.[query]
To be considered a member of the category, an eligible foreign national must:
- Not be a member of the PNP class described in paragraph 2(d) of the general Express Entry Instructions (i.e., this category is separate from PNP nominees).[query]
- Meet all of the following work experience requirements in the last three years:
- Have acquired at least one year of full-time work experience in Canada (or equivalent in part-time) in one of three NOC physician unit groups:[query]
- 31100 – Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine.
- 31101 – Specialists in surgery.
- 31102 – General practitioners and family physicians.
- During that work period, have performed the actions described in the lead statement of the NOC occupational description.
- Have performed a substantial number of the main duties, including all essential duties, listed in the NOC description.[query]
- Have acquired at least one year of full-time work experience in Canada (or equivalent in part-time) in one of three NOC physician unit groups:[query]
Additionally:
- Any unauthorized work in Canada cannot be counted towards the one-year experience requirement.[query]
- The category is created for the purpose of ranking and is in force for invitations issued from February 19 to February 20, 2026.[query]
The economic goal explicitly cited is to “contribute to Canada’s long-term economic success by retaining top talent with Canadian work experience” – in this case, foreign-trained doctors who are already practicing in Canada.[query]
How category-based ranking worked in this draw
The Instructions establish a grouping of eligible foreign nationals consisting only of those who meet the physician category criteria (section 5).[query] Within that group, IRCC:
- Creates a group ranking using the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
- Sets the number of invitations at 391 (section 8).
- Issues ITAs to those who rank among the first 391 in that group ranking (section 9).[query]
Because the group is restricted to a small number of high-skill candidates (physicians with recent Canadian experience), the CRS cut-off lands at 169, far below normal all-program or CEC thresholds.
The tie-breaking rule — January 3, 2026 at 03:25:14 UTC — means that among candidates at the cut-off of 169, only those who submitted their Express Entry profile before that date and time were invited.[query]
How this fits into Canada’s 2026 “top talent first” strategy
This is the first real draw implementing the physician category touted in the February 18, 2026 news release “Canada prioritizes top talent in 2026 immigration Express Entry categories.” That release confirmed:
- A new category for foreign medical doctors with Canadian work experience.
- Additional new categories for researchers and senior managers with Canadian experience, transport occupations (pilots, aircraft mechanics, inspectors), and highly skilled foreign military recruits.
- Continued 2025 categories: French-language proficiency, health care and social services, and trades.
The physician category specifically builds on late‑2025 measures designed to:
- Give foreign-trained doctors with Canadian practice a clearer, faster route to PR through Express Entry.
- Support provincial physician recruitment programs and 5,000 reserved federal selection spaces for French-speaking and essential service professionals.
- Reduce bottlenecks where physicians are working under temporary permits but lack long-term status security.
Draw #397 shows IRCC is now acting on that promise by using category-based selection to invite physicians even when their CRS scores are relatively modest, as long as they meet strict experience and NOC criteria.
Who benefits from draw 397?
This draw mainly benefits foreign medical doctors who:
- Are already working legally in Canada in one of the specified NOC physician codes (31100, 31101, 31102).
- Have at least one year of full-time Canadian work experience in the last three years.
- Have created an Express Entry profile and qualify for FSWP, CEC or FSTP.
Because the CRS cut-off is just 169, this draw particularly helps:
- Older physicians whose age reduces CRS points.
- Doctors with less CRS-boosting factors (e.g., lower spouse scores or no Canadian study), but solid Canadian practice experience.
- Physicians who may have struggled to hit typical all-program cut-offs in the 500s despite high incomes and critical roles.
Candidates with unauthorized work or work outside the listed NOCs are excluded from category membership, even if they have many years of experience as doctors in other roles or countries.[query]
What invited physicians should do next
If you are one of the 391 invited in draw #397:
- You will see an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in your Express Entry account under the federal program you qualify for (FSWP, CEC, or FSTP).
- You have 60 days to submit a complete electronic application for permanent residence, including:
- Reference letters and contracts confirming work in NOC 31100, 31101 or 31102.
- Proof that your duties match the lead statement and essential/main duties.
- Licensing or registration documents as required by the province/territory.
- Police certificates, medical exams and proof of funds (if applicable to your program class).
Accuracy is critical: IRCC will check that your employment truly fits the NOC descriptions and that your work was authorized under your status.[query]
If you are a doctor who was not invited
If you are a physician in Canada but did not receive an ITA in this round:
- Ensure you have an active, accurate Express Entry profile.
- Confirm your job’s NOC code is correctly set to 31100, 31101 or 31102 and that your duties match the official description.
- Make sure your Canadian work experience is within the last three years and is clearly documented.
- If you created your profile after January 3, 2026, you may have missed the tie-break for this first round; future physician category draws are likely as IRCC builds out the new category.
You can also strengthen your overall CRS through language scores, education assessment, or — where possible — provincial nomination, which adds 600 points and opens PNP-only draw pathways.
Express Entry draw #397 is a milestone: it is the first physician‑specific category-based selection round, issuing 391 ITAs at a CRS cut-off of just 169 to doctors with Canadian experience.[query] It confirms that in 2026, foreign medical doctors already serving Canadian patients are at the front of the queue for permanent residence, as Ottawa uses category-based selection to retain top health talent and stabilize the health system for the long term.
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