Canada’s acute shortage of family physicians and specialist doctors reached a tipping point in 2025, with provincial health ministers warning that more than five million Canadians were now without a regular primary-care provider. In response, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has unveiled a dedicated Express Entry category that will make it markedly easier for doctors who are already practicing in Canada on temporary work permits to transition to permanent residence.
Under the new stream, announced in Toronto on December 8 by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab and Parliamentary Secretary for Health Maggie Chi, physicians who have accumulated at least 12 months of full-time Canadian work experience in an eligible National Occupational Classification (NOC) code within the past three years can apply through Express Entry without meeting the usual Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off. Ottawa will also reserve 5,000 additional permanent-residence admissions for provincially-nominated, practice-ready physicians and launch an expedited work-permit service for doctors who receive provincial nominations.
![Canada creates new Express Entry stream to fast-track permanent residence for international doctors]()
The changes address two long-standing barriers. First, many physicians have been excluded from Express Entry because their provincial billing arrangements classify them as self-employed, reducing CRS points. Second, lengthy processing times have discouraged internationally-trained doctors from staying in Canada after completing residencies. By carving out a dedicated category, IRCC is signalling that medical talent is now a national priority and that credentialed doctors will enjoy a “clear, quick and predictable” path to citizenship, Minister Diab said.
For hospitals, regional health authorities and private clinics, the policy provides a more stable workforce. Hospital HR chiefs in Ontario and Nova Scotia told Global Mobility News that temporary contracts have fuelled high turnover, leading to costly locum tenens placements and service gaps in emergency departments. Permanent-resident status, they argue, will improve retention and make rural postings more attractive. Provinces are expected to align their own immigration nominee programs with the federal stream to ensure seamless referrals.
Practical implications for employers and candidates include: (1) assembling proof of Canadian medical experience and provincial licences; (2) ensuring that job offers meet wage and location criteria; and (3) monitoring the launch date of the new category in IRCC’s online portal—which Ottawa says will open “in early 2026” after a 60-day stakeholder consultation. Recruiters advise physicians who already meet the criteria to update their Express Entry profiles immediately so they can be invited as soon as the category becomes active.
Under the new stream, announced in Toronto on December 8 by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab and Parliamentary Secretary for Health Maggie Chi, physicians who have accumulated at least 12 months of full-time Canadian work experience in an eligible National Occupational Classification (NOC) code within the past three years can apply through Express Entry without meeting the usual Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off. Ottawa will also reserve 5,000 additional permanent-residence admissions for provincially-nominated, practice-ready physicians and launch an expedited work-permit service for doctors who receive provincial nominations.
The changes address two long-standing barriers. First, many physicians have been excluded from Express Entry because their provincial billing arrangements classify them as self-employed, reducing CRS points. Second, lengthy processing times have discouraged internationally-trained doctors from staying in Canada after completing residencies. By carving out a dedicated category, IRCC is signalling that medical talent is now a national priority and that credentialed doctors will enjoy a “clear, quick and predictable” path to citizenship, Minister Diab said.
For hospitals, regional health authorities and private clinics, the policy provides a more stable workforce. Hospital HR chiefs in Ontario and Nova Scotia told Global Mobility News that temporary contracts have fuelled high turnover, leading to costly locum tenens placements and service gaps in emergency departments. Permanent-resident status, they argue, will improve retention and make rural postings more attractive. Provinces are expected to align their own immigration nominee programs with the federal stream to ensure seamless referrals.
Practical implications for employers and candidates include: (1) assembling proof of Canadian medical experience and provincial licences; (2) ensuring that job offers meet wage and location criteria; and (3) monitoring the launch date of the new category in IRCC’s online portal—which Ottawa says will open “in early 2026” after a 60-day stakeholder consultation. Recruiters advise physicians who already meet the criteria to update their Express Entry profiles immediately so they can be invited as soon as the category becomes active.
