Canada has unveiled five immigration routes for medical doctors seeking to relocate and practice in the country.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) highlighted options tailored to applicants’ qualifications, language skills, and preferred destinations.
Physicians can apply through Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. The update was shared by IRCC on its official X account and website on Monday.
Under the Express Entry system, doctors can compete for permanent residency through Canada’s points-based selection process, which assesses candidates using the Comprehensive Ranking System based on age, education, work experience and language ability.
Healthcare professionals, including physicians, may improve their chances of receiving an invitation by securing a valid job offer or a provincial nomination, which can increase their CRS score.
The Provincial Nominee Program enables provinces and territories to nominate skilled workers needed to address local labour shortages. Several provinces operate dedicated healthcare streams targeting doctors and other medical professionals.
A provincial nomination adds 600 points to an applicant’s CRS score, significantly increasing the likelihood of receiving an invitation for permanent residency.
Doctors may also apply through the Atlantic Immigration Program, which covers Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Applicants under the programme must obtain a job offer from a designated employer in one of the four provinces.
IRCC noted that the region’s continued shortage of physicians makes medical practitioners strong candidates for employer sponsorship.
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot is designed to attract skilled workers to smaller communities facing workforce shortages.
Participating communities recommend eligible candidates for permanent residency based on their local labour needs.
For doctors willing to work in rural or remote areas, the pilot offers another pathway to permanent settlement while helping to address healthcare staffing gaps.
French-speaking physicians can also explore the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot, which supports immigration to French-speaking communities outside Quebec.
To qualify, applicants must demonstrate French-language proficiency and secure a job offer from a designated employer in a participating community.
According to IRCC, the programme is intended to strengthen healthcare services and support the growth of francophone communities across Canada.
It read, “Doctors can obtain permanent residence through Express Entry and regional, provincial, and territorial programs: Express Entry category for physicians with at least one (1) year of full-time work experience in Canada, acquired within the last three years.
“5,000 places reserved under federal admissions through the Provincial Nominee Program, which allows provinces and territories to nominate physicians with job offers or letters of support to live and work in Canada permanently.
“Processing of work permit applications within 14 days for physicians designated by a province or territory, the aim being to allow them to work while their permanent residence application is being processed.”
This came days after it tightened its eligibility requirements for foreign nationals seeking reciprocal employment work permits under the C20 exemption.
It restricted access for workers who are not already employed by an overseas company.
According to the revised rules, foreign workers whose employment is expected to begin only after arriving in Canada will no longer qualify under the exemption.
