Express Entry opens a new door for foreign-trained doctors in Canada

Canada continues to face serious shortages of family doctors and specialists. According to the federal government, in 2024 about 5.7 million adults (17 per cent) and 765,000 children and youth (11 per cent) in Canada did not have a regular health-care provider.

To help close this gap, the Government of Canada has announced targeted immigration measures that create a new pathway to permanent residence for international doctors who are already working in Canada. On December 8, 2025, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab and Parliamentary Secretary Maggie Chi introduced a new Express Entry category for physicians with Canadian work experience, along with extra permanent residence spaces and faster work permit processing for nominated doctors.

For foreign-trained doctors and internationally educated medical graduates (IMGs), these changes open an important door: a clearer route to settle permanently in Canada while continuing to support the health-care system.

What Canada announced for foreign-trained doctors

According to the official news release from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the government has introduced three main measures to boost Canada’s supply of doctors:

- A new Express Entry category for international doctors with Canadian work experience
- 5,000 reserved federal admission spaces for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with job offers
- Expedited work permit processing for nominated, practice-ready physicians

These measures are part of the federal government’s plan to fill critical labour gaps with high-skilled talent and support a more stable health-care system for Canadians.

New Express Entry category: Physicians with Canadian work experience

What the new category is

IRCC will create a new Express Entry category for international doctors with at least one year of Canadian work experience in an eligible occupation, gained within the last three years. 

CIC News explains that, under this new “Physicians with Canadian work experience” category, candidates must:

• Have at least 12 months of full-time, continuous work experience in Canada Or an equivalent amount of part-time work
• Have gained this experience within the last three years
• Have that experience in one single eligible occupation

Invitations to apply (ITAs) under this new category are expected to begin in early 2026. 

Which doctors are included: NOC codes

The occupations that qualify for these measures, as listed by IRCC are: (Canada)

• General practitioners and family physicians – NOC 31102
• Specialists in surgery – NOC 31101
• Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine – NOC 31100

So, if you are a foreign-trained doctor working in Canada and your role falls under NOC 31100, 31101 or 31102, you may be eligible for this new Express Entry category, as long as you meet the Canadian work experience requirement and other standard Express Entry criteria.

5,000 reserved permanent residence spaces for doctors

In addition to the new Express Entry category, the federal government will reserve 5,000 federal admission spaces for provinces and territories. These spaces are specifically for licensed doctors who have job offers in Canada and are nominated by a province or territory.

Key details:

• These 5,000 spots are in addition to the regular annual allocations under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
  
• This means provinces and territories will have more room to nominate foreign doctors for permanent residence each year.
  

IRCC highlights that foreign credential recognition and licensing for doctors remain the responsibility of each province and territory, which makes the PNP an effective tool for recruiting health-care professionals. 

Faster work permits for nominated physicians

Another major change is expedited work permit processing for certain doctors.

CIC News explains that doctors who are nominated by a province or territory under these measures will benefit from work permit processing in just 14 days, allowing them to work while their permanent residence applications are being finalized.

This is a significant improvement, since work permit applications from within Canada can normally take several months to process. This faster work authorization means that practice-ready physicians can more quickly begin or continue working in Canadian health-care settings while their PR status is being processed.

Why these changes matter for Canada’s health-care system

The IRCC news release links these measures directly to Canada’s doctor shortage and health-care access problems. 

Key points from the federal government:

• Immigration now accounts for almost 100 per cent of Canada’s labour force growth, which helps address labour shortages in key sectors, including health care.
• Millions of Canadians still report not having a regular health-care provider. 
• By giving international doctors already in Canada a simpler route to permanent residence, the government hopes to:
  
  
  • Keep more practice-ready doctors in the system
  • Support a more stable health-care workforce
  • Improve access to care across the country 

The President of the Canadian Medical Association, Dr. Margot Burnell, is quoted in the IRCC release saying that creating a PR pathway for doctors on temporary visas helps build a stronger health workforce and that the announcement is “a step in the right direction.” (Canada)

What this does not change

While the new measures are important, there are some things they do not change:

• Medical licensing is still separate from immigration: IRCC clearly notes that foreign credential recognition and licensing for doctors are the responsibility of each province and territory. (Canada)
  
  
• You must still meet provincial licensing requirements to practise medicine, even if you get permanent residence through the new Express Entry category or a provincial nomination.
  
  
• The new Express Entry category is specifically for doctors with recent Canadian work experience, not a general pathway for all foreign-trained doctors anywhere in the world. (Canada)
  

For internationally educated physicians, this means that immigration and licensing are two separate journeys that must be planned together.

How foreign-trained doctors can respond to this announcement

Based on the information currently available from IRCC, foreign-trained doctors who are already in Canada may want to: (Canada)

• Confirm their NOC code (31100, 31101 or 31102) matches the work they are doing in Canada‍
• Keep accurate records of Canadian work experience, including dates, hours and job duties‍
• Monitor IRCC updates in early 2026, when invitations under the new category are expected to begin‍
• Talk to provincial health authorities or immigration advisors about nomination options and how the 5,000 reserved admissions spaces may be used

Because the government has not yet published a detailed application guide for this new category, it is important to follow only official updates and trusted legal or immigration sources.

How Windmill Microlending can help internationally trained doctors

Even with a clearer immigration pathway, many foreign-trained doctors face significant costs related to:

• Credential verification and document translation
• Licensing exams and assessment fees
• Practice-ready assessment programs
• Temporary income gaps while studying or completing exams
• Relocation and settlement expenses for themselves and their families

Windmill Microlending helps internationally trained professionals overcome these financial barriers.

As a Canadian non-profit organization, Windmill offers low-interest loans of up to $15,000 to cover costs such as:

• Medical licensing exams and course fees
• Credential evaluation and registration costs
• Study materials and preparatory courses
• Short-term living and settlement expenses while you transition into practice

If you are an internationally trained doctor working in Canada and have already secure your permanent residency, Windmill Microlending can support you in the licensing and professional development side of your journey, so you can focus on building your medical career in Canada. Check your eligibility now!