Yes, Canada now allows inland foreign physicians to apply via Express Entry for permanent residency. The Canadian government is making it easier for foreign-trained physicians to settle permanently in Canada.

This response came in as Canadian provinces and territories are working to recruit and retain more of the foreign trained physicians due to staff shortages in healthcare.

People are having hard time to find a family doctor in Canada as all of the existing practicing physicians have fully packed schedule.

IRCC Minister, the Honourable Sean Fraser made the announcement following a meeting with family doctors and Healthy Pictou County at the Aberdeen Hospital on Friday.

This will make it simpler for foreign-born doctors to stay in Canada and continue to support Canadian healthcare system.

What does this mean for Express Entry?

The “fee-for-service” model used in Canada for health care professionals is outside of the traditional employer-employee relationship. So some physicians have encountered obstacles in obtaining permanent residence through the country’s flagship programmes for skilled workers managed under the Express Entry system.

Due to the fact that certain doctors are now regarded as self-employed, they cannot fulfil the requirements of the economic paths for permanent residency under Express Entry Canadian Experience Class or Federal Skilled Worker Program.

To solve this, Minister Fraser said that the IRCC will now exclude doctors who collaborate with public health authorities under a fee-for-service approach from the existing rules.

With this modification, physicians will have access to Canada’s economic permanent residency programmes and will be recognised for the distinctive employment model employed in the country’s healthcare system.

As a result, this will allow a large number of the doctors who are already working in Canadian healthcare system to fill important positions and stay in the country permanently.

“In my home province in particular, foreign-born physicians have been helping to keep families healthy and to take care of our aging population. Their skills are critical resources in our community. And, it does not take long before they become our neighbours, friends, and fellow community leaders. Physicians resettling here in Nova Scotia or in other parts across the country is a win-win situation. The measures announced today signal to these physicians that we want them to stay, by making it easier for them to choose Canada as their permanent home.”
IRCC Minister, Sean Fraser