Canada has announced new immigration options aimed at making it easier for international medical doctors to obtain permanent residence, as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
The update was disclosed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in a post outlining a new framework designed to attract more qualified doctors to work across Canadian provinces and territories.
According to IRCC, the framework provides medical doctors with five pathways to permanent residence through Express Entry as well as regional, provincial and territorial immigration programmes. The government has also introduced an accelerated process that allows doctors to begin working while their immigration applications are being processed.
As part of the changes, IRCC said medical doctors nominated by a province or territory will benefit from a faster 14-day work permit processing timeline, enabling them to enter the workforce more quickly while awaiting permanent residence approval.
The measure is expected to reduce delays that often prevent qualified doctors from practising in Canada, particularly in provinces and territories facing acute healthcare staffing shortages.
IRCC also confirmed that medical doctors can include their family members in their permanent residence applications, making Canada a more attractive destination for long-term settlement.
“We’re making the path to permanent residence simpler for international medical doctors to support a stable health care system for Canadians,” the department said.
For internationally trained doctors who have not yet worked in Canada, IRCC noted that immigration approval alone does not grant the right to practise medicine. Such applicants must first have their foreign credentials assessed and obtain licensing through a provincial or territorial medical regulatory authority.
Eligible doctors may apply through several programmes, including Express Entry, the Atlantic Immigration Program, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. In many cases, applicants must secure a job offer or letter of support from a designated employer. IRCC added that up to 5,000 federal immigration spaces have been reserved for medical doctors nominated by provinces and territories.
Doctors who already have Canadian work experience also have expanded options. They may qualify for permanent residence through the Express Entry system if they have at least one year of full-time work experience as a medical doctor within the last three years. Others may apply through the Provincial Nominee Program if they hold a job offer or letter of support from a province or territory.
The announcement comes amid reports that Canada has overtaken the United Kingdom as the preferred destination for international students seeking permanent residence, due to its faster and clearer post-study immigration pathways.
Under Canada’s Canadian Experience Class, graduates can qualify for permanent residence after as little as one year of skilled work experience, with the option to include family members in their applications. By contrast, the UK requires graduates to transition through additional visa stages, often involving employer sponsorship and minimum salary thresholds.
Experts say Canada’s streamlined and flexible immigration system has increasingly positioned the country as a top choice for international students and skilled professionals seeking long-term settlement opportunities.
