December 23, 2025
Canada Introduces New Pathway to Permanent Residence for International Doctors
As part of its Budget 2025 commitment to address critical labour shortages, the Government of Canada has announced new measures to simplify the pathway to permanent residence for international doctors already working in the country. The announcement was made on 8 December 2025 by the Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, alongside Maggie Chi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health.
These measures are designed to strengthen Canada’s health care system by retaining high-skilled medical professionals who are currently contributing to patient care on a temporary basis. By reducing barriers to permanent residence, the government aims to support more reliable access to care and enhance the long-term stability of the health workforce across the country.
A New Express Entry Category for International Doctors
Central to the announcement is the creation of a new Express Entry category specifically for international doctors with Canadian work experience. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will introduce this category for physicians who have accumulated at least one year of eligible work experience in Canada within the last three years.
These doctors are already providing essential services in hospitals, clinics, and communities in Canada. The new category is intended to recognize their contributions and provide a clear and predictable route to permanent residence, helping to address ongoing physician shortages in many regions. Invitations to apply under this new Express Entry category are expected to be issued in early 2026.
Reserved Admission Spaces Through Provincial Nomination
In addition to the new Express Entry category, the Government of Canada will reserve 5,000 federal admission spaces for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with valid job offers. These spaces are separate from, and in addition to, the regular annual allocations under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Doctors nominated through PNP will benefit from expedited 14-day work permit processing. This will allow them to continue working in Canada while their permanent residence applications are being processed, minimizing disruptions to health services and ensuring continuity of care for patients.
Eligibility: Physicians With Canadian Work Experience
To qualify under the new Express Entry category for physicians with Canadian work experience, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Have accumulated, within the past three years:
- At least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equivalent amount of part-time experience)
- In a single eligible occupation, regardless of their primary occupation
- Gained in Canada
- The eligible occupations include:
- General practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102)
- Specialists in surgery (NOC 31101)
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (NOC 31100)
Supporting Health Care and Economic Priorities
These initiatives align with Canada’s broader International Talent Attraction Strategy, which focuses on strengthening key sectors that underpin economic growth and community well-being. By creating a targeted pathway for international doctors already working in Canada, the federal government is taking a focused step toward addressing critical health workforce gaps. These measures aim to improve retention of skilled physicians, support provinces and territories in meeting health care demands, and ensure that Canadians continue to receive timely and reliable medical care.
If you’d like to review your eligibility for this pathway or have additional questions, please feel free to contact us.
Lijing Cao
Lijing’s practice encompasses a broad range of Canadian immigration matters, including all categories of work permit applications under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the International Mobility Program, citizenship, labour market impact assessments, study permits, temporary resident permits, and sponsorship applications. She also advises entrepreneurs, business owners, international students and skilled workers on the options for permanent residence to Canada, including provincial nominee programs, Start-up Visa, Federal Skilled Worker, and Canadian Experience Class programs.
Lijing graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master of Laws (LL.M.) and holds a Juris Doctor degree from Hong Kong. She is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese. Prior to joining Bellissimo Law Group, Lijing worked as an associate lawyer at a boutique business immigration firm, where she provided advice to corporate clients to fulfill their workforce mobility and labour shortage needs.