Canada · Express Entry physician category
Canada invites 229 physicians in Express Entry draw at CRS 198
IRCC's September 3 physician-category Express Entry round issued 229 invitations at CRS 198 to eligible candidates with qualifying Canadian work experience, 25 points below the previous physician round.
Published . Updated .
Reported and checked by the QueueCheck news desk. Last checked September 4, 2026. How we verify information
IRCC Express Entry PR: the answer before you make plans
This was a narrow category round, not a 198-point entry route for every Express Entry candidate. The profile had to qualify for Express Entry, fall outside the Provincial Nominee Program class named in the instructions, and show at least one year of eligible Canadian physician work experience in the previous three years. Candidates meeting those conditions at 198 or above should check their IRCC account.
Visa applicants affected by this Canada update
Eligible Express Entry candidates with at least one year of qualifying Canadian work experience as a specialist, surgeon, general practitioner or family physician in NOC 31100, 31101 or 31102.
The Canada visa update behind this page
- Round #440 issued 229 invitations with a lowest invited CRS score of 198.
- The round ran on September 3, 2026 at 11:18:08 UTC, with invitations permitted through September 4.
- The tie-break was August 6, 2026 at 19:40:38 UTC.
- The category covers NOC 31100, 31101 and 31102.
- The previous physician-category round on June 24 issued 271 invitations at CRS 223.
IRCC: Ministerial Instructions for Express Entry round #440 details that affect applicants
The instructions require at least one year of full-time Canadian work experience, or the equivalent in part-time work, within the previous three years.
Candidates must have performed the actions in the occupation lead statement and a substantial number of the main duties, including all essential duties.
The listed occupations are specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine, specialists in surgery, and general practitioners and family physicians.
The instructions state that invitations may be issued to the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Program through this category round.
Physician-category round #440
IRCC Ministerial Instructions for round #440, checked September 4, 2026
The September physician result used a lower score and a slightly smaller invitation count than the June round.
Invitations
229
Maximum authorised under the instructions.
CRS cutoff
198
Lowest-ranked invited candidate.
Cutoff change
-25
Compared with June 24.
Qualifying NOCs
3
31100, 31101 and 31102.
| NOC | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 31100 | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine |
| 31101 | Specialists in surgery |
| 31102 | General practitioners and family physicians |
Official visa material summarized
- IRCC round #440 instructions and occupation table
Check route, residence, and stage before comparing
- The tie-break was August 6, 2026 at 19:40:38 UTC.
- Unauthorised work is excluded from the experience calculation.
IRCC Express Entry PR questions, answered
My CRS score is above 198. Why was I not invited?
The score applied only inside the physician category. Your profile also had to meet the program and category rules, including the qualifying Canadian work experience.
Does overseas physician experience count for this category?
The round requires at least one year of qualifying work experience acquired in Canada within the previous three years. Overseas experience alone does not meet that category condition.
Do I need an exact job-title match?
IRCC's instructions focus on the listed NOC, the lead statement, main duties and essential duties. The title alone is not the test.
What this Canada update changes for IRCC Express Entry PR
The cutoff fell 25 points from the June 24 physician round, while the invitation count fell by 42.
The low score reflects a tightly defined category and cannot be compared directly with a CEC, PNP or French-language cutoff.
Only authorised Canadian work counts toward the required experience, and the duties must substantially match the occupation description.
IRCC Express Entry PR checks before changing your plans
- Check the IRCC account for an invitation and use the deadline shown there.
- Map employment records to the correct NOC lead statement, main duties and essential duties before submitting.
- Prepare proof that the qualifying work was performed in Canada and was authorised.
- If the score was exactly 198, compare the profile submission time with the August 6 tie-break timestamp.
Read IRCC: Ministerial Instructions for Express Entry round #440 by route, stage, and source date
Category-based selection adds an occupational gate to the ordinary Express Entry requirements. A low CRS cutoff does not remove the gate.
The category's stated economic goal is retaining top talent with Canadian work experience.
What this IRCC Express Entry PR update cannot decide
- Round #440 does not predict the size or score of a future physician round.
- A job title by itself does not prove category membership. IRCC assesses the NOC duties and the timing and place of the work.
- An invitation is not approval and does not shorten processing after a complete application is submitted.
Compare IRCC Express Entry PR waits
This update covers more than one queue. Choose the service that matches your own application before sharing a date or comparing waits.
Official citation
Published September 3, 2026. Original source: IRCC: Ministerial Instructions for Express Entry round #440.
- Also checked: IRCC: Express Entry rounds index.