Canada has just held its first-ever Express Entry draw under a brand-new category, and it came with a big surprise.

The CRS cut-off score was only 169, which is the lowest score seen since 2021.

Let’s break this down.

What Happened in This Draw?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued:

  1. 391 Invitations to Apply (ITAs)
  2. Under the new category: Physicians with Canadian work experience

To qualify for this draw, candidates needed:

  1. A minimum CRS score of 169
  2. An Express Entry profile created before 3:25 a.m. (UTC) on January 3, 2026

That’s it.

Why Is a CRS Score of 169 So Shocking?

A CRS score of 169 is extremely low compared to normal Express Entry draws.

In fact:

  1. This is the second-lowest CRS cut-off in Express Entry history
  2. The only lower score was during a 2021 pandemic CEC draw, when the CRS dropped to 75

Normally, CRS scores are significantly higher, often exceeding 500 in many draws.

This is a significant development.

What Is This New Physician Category?

This is the first draw under the newly created category:

“Physicians with Canadian work experience,”

IRCC announced this category in December 2025 as part of Canada’s effort to address doctor shortages.

The goal is simple:
Canada needs more doctors, so the government created a faster immigration pathway specifically for physicians who already have Canadian experience.

Who Is Eligible Under This Category?

To qualify, candidates must:

  1. Meet the basic eligibility requirements of one of the three Express Entry programs (CEC, FSWP, or FSTP)
  2. Have at least 12 months of full-time Canadian work experience (or equivalent part-time) within the last three years
  3. Have that experience in one of the eligible physician occupations included in this category
  4. Meet all requirements listed in the ministerial instructions for the draw

Most importantly:
The work experience must have been gained in Canada.

Express Entry Draws in 2026 So Far

This was:

  1. The first draw under the new physician category
  2. The second category-based draw of 2026
  3. The ninth Express Entry draw of the year overall

Here’s a quick summary of 2026 draws so far:

February 19 – Physicians with Canadian work experience

  1. CRS: 169
  2. ITAs: 391

February 17 – Canadian Experience Class

  1. CRS: 508
  2. ITAs: 6,000

February 16 – Provincial Nominee Program

  1. CRS: 789
  2. ITAs: 279

February 6 – French-language proficiency

  1. CRS: 400
  2. ITAs: 8,500

February 3 – Provincial Nominee Program

  1. CRS: 749
  2. ITAs: 423

January 21 – Canadian Experience Class

  1. CRS: 509
  2. ITAs: 6,000

January 20 – Provincial Nominee Program

  1. CRS: 746
  2. ITAs: 681

January 7 – Canadian Experience Class

  1. CRS: 511
  2. ITAs: 8,000

January 5 – Provincial Nominee Program

  1. CRS: 711
  2. ITAs: 574

Check your eligibility instantly with our Canada PR Points Calculator and discover your CRS score for permanent residency success.

What Has IRCC Been Focusing On in 2026?

So far this year, IRCC has mainly focused on candidates who are already inside Canada.

Here’s how many draws have happened by type:

  1. Provincial Nominee Program: 4 draws
  2. Canadian Experience Class: 3 draws
  3. French-language proficiency: 1 draw
  4. Physicians with Canadian work experience: 1 draw

The clear trend:
Canada is prioritising candidates with Canadian work experience and provincial nominations.

Total ITAs Issued in 2026 So Far

Up to now, in 2026, IRCC has issued 30,848 ITAs across different categories:

  1. Canadian Experience Class: 20,000
  2. French-language proficiency: 8,500
  3. Provincial Nominee Program: 1,534
  4. Physicians with Canadian work experience: 391

Most invitations have gone to candidates with Canadian experience.

Instantly calculate your CRS score with our smart CRS calculator and see how close you are to getting Canada PR.

What This Means

This drawing shows something very important:

Canada is creating targeted immigration pathways to solve labour shortages, especially in healthcare.

A CRS cut-off of 169 proves that when Canada really needs workers in a specific field, it is willing to lower the score dramatically for that category.

For physicians already working in Canada, this is a major opportunity.

For other candidates, it shows that category-based draws are becoming more important than general draws.

Final Takeaway

Canada’s first draw under the new physician category:

  1. Issued 391 ITAs
  2. Had a CRS cut-off of just 169
  3. Became the second-lowest score in Express Entry history

This marks a significant shift in how Canada is selecting immigrants in 2026, with a strong focus on in-demand occupations and Canadian work experience.