Draw #398

Express Entry draw #398 was held on February 20, 2026, issuing 4,000 invitations to apply for permanent residence under the Healthcare occupations category with a minimum CRS score of 467.

The CRS cutoff dropped 9 points compared to the previous Healthcare occupations draw, suggesting increased competition relief or larger pool capacity. IRCC also increased the invitation count by 3,000, signaling a broader intake for this round.

A cutoff of 467 is in the typical range for Healthcare occupations draws. Candidates with a combination of youth, a master's degree, and strong language scores would generally clear this threshold.

Healthcare occupation draws target candidates working in eligible medical and healthcare NOC codes, supporting Canada's healthcare workforce needs.

If your CRS score is within 30 points of this cutoff, focusing on language test improvement or gaining additional Canadian work experience could make the difference in an upcoming draw.