Last Updated On 8 December 2025, 11:04 AM EST (Toronto Time)
On December 8, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announces a new Express Entry category exclusively for physicians with recent Canadian work experience.
Invitations under this new category are expected to begin in early 2026, subject to final approvals under Budget 2025.
This announcement also includes 5,000 reserved federal admission spaces for licensed doctors nominated by provinces and territories, along with fast-tracked 14-day work permit processing.
Together, these changes mark one of the most aggressive physician-focused immigration initiatives Canada has ever introduced.
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New Express Entry Category For Doctors Launching In 2026
IRCC will create a dedicated Express Entry category for international doctors who already have hands-on experience in Canada’s healthcare system.
To qualify, candidates must meet all of the following conditions:
- At least 12 months of full-time, continuous Canadian work experience, or the equivalent in part-time
- Work experience must be gained within the last 3 years
- Employment must be in a single eligible occupation
- Must meet all requirements listed in the official instructions for each draw round
This new category is specifically designed to transition practice-ready doctors already working in Canada from temporary status to permanent residency.
IRCC confirmed that this stream will operate within the Express Entry system, alongside existing Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades, and select Provincial Nominee Program pathways.
Eligible Occupations and Job Titles Under The New Express Entry Category
The new Express Entry physician category will cover the following high-demand occupations:
- General Practitioners and Family Physicians: NOC 31102
- Example job titles: Family physician
- General practice resident
- General practitioner (GP)
- Medical doctor
- Community preventive medicine physician
- Medical missionary
- Specialists in Surgery: NOC 31101
- Example job titles: Cardiac surgeon
- General surgeon
- Neurosurgeon
- Obstetrician-gynecologist
- Ophthalmologist
- Orthopedic surgeon
- Orthopedist
- Otorhinolaryngologist
- Pediatric surgeon
- Plastic surgeon
- Thoracic surgeon
- Urologist
- Vascular surgeon
- Specialists in Clinical and Laboratory Medicine: NOC 31100
- Example job titles: Anatomical pathologist
- Anesthetist
- Cardiologist
- Dermatologist
- Diagnostic radiologist
- Emergency physician
- Endocrinologist
- Gastroenterologist
- General pathologist
- Geriatrician
- Hematologist
- Hematopathologist
- Medical biochemist – physician
- Medical microbiologist
- Nephrologist
- Neurologist
- Neuropathologist
- Oncologist
- Pediatrician
- Physiatrist
- Pneumologist
- Psychiatrist
- Radiation oncologist
- Respirologist
- Rheumatologist
IRCC clarified that eligibility is based on actual Canadian work experience in one of these roles, regardless of what the applicant lists as their primary occupation.
5,000 Reserved Federal PR Spaces For Provincially Nominated Doctors
In addition to the new Express Entry stream, the federal government will reserve 5,000 permanent resident admission spaces specifically for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with valid job offers.
Key highlights include:
- These 5,000 spaces are in addition to regular Provincial Nominee Program allocations
- Nominated doctors will receive expedited 14-day work permit processing
- Doctors can work while their permanent residency application is being finalized
- Provinces and territories will retain control over licensing and job matching
IRCC emphasized that medical licensing and foreign credential recognition will remain under provincial and territorial authority, making the Provincial Nominee Program the most direct pathway for immediate workforce integration.
Why Canada Is Fast-Tracking Doctors Now
The federal government cited alarming national healthcare access gaps as a major driver behind this policy shift.
Key national statistics highlighted by IRCC include:
- Immigration now accounts for nearly 100% of Canada’s labour force growth
- In 2024, about 5.7 million adults (17%) did not have a regular healthcare provider
- Around 765,000 children and youth (11%) were also without consistent medical care
These numbers reveal the scale of Canada’s physician shortage, especially in rural and fast-growing urban regions.
This new doctor-focused immigration reform is part of Canada’s broader International Talent Attraction Strategy, which aims to:
- Stabilize long-term labour supply
- Fill high-skill shortages in essential sectors
- Support economic growth
- Strengthen public services like health care
It also builds on earlier federal initiatives targeting international graduates and high-skill workers.
What This Means For International Doctors In Canada Right Now
For international physicians already working in Canada on temporary permits, this announcement delivers a clear and structured permanent residency pathway for the first time under Express Entry.
Doctors who qualify will no longer be required to compete directly against general skilled workers under standard CRS cut-offs. Instead, they will be prioritized through category-based selection.
For internationally trained doctors outside Canada, the Provincial Nominee Program combined with fast-tracked work permits now offers one of the fastest routes into the Canadian health-care system.
What Happens Next
- Express Entry invitations under the new doctor category are expected to begin in early 2026
- Final eligibility and draw instructions will be released closer to launch
- Provinces will begin accessing the 5,000 reserved nomination spaces once federal approvals are finalized
- Doctors can prepare now by securing eligible work experience, licensing, and job offers
Canada is officially redesigning its immigration system to prioritize doctors as a national workforce emergency.
With a new Express Entry physician category and 5,000 reserved PR spaces, international doctors already working in Canada are now positioned for one of the fastest permanent residency pathways ever introduced.
As healthcare waitlists continue to grow across the country, this policy marks a turning point in how Canada recruits and retains medical talent in 2026 and beyond.
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