The Canadian government has created a new immigration pathway for foreign doctors. The move aims to keep thousands of international physicians already working in the country. These doctors will get a faster route to permanent residence.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced the policy on December 8, 2025. A new Express Entry category will open in early 2026. It targets doctors with recent Canadian work experience. The government will also reserve 5,000 permanent residence spots for provinces to nominate licensed doctors.
Officials say this addresses critical doctor shortages. Millions of Canadians currently lack a regular family physician. The plan is part of a broader strategy to fix the health system with high-skilled talent.
The dedicated Express Entry stream starts in early 2026. It is for international doctors already working in Canada on a temporary basis. To qualify, a doctor must have one year of Canadian work experience. This experience must be from the last three years.
The work must be in one of three specific medical occupations. These are general practitioners and family physicians, specialists in surgery, and specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine. Immigration officials will begin issuing invitations to apply under this category in early 2026.
This new stream differs from current immigration programs. Existing healthcare draws are much broader. They include nurses, dentists, and other professionals. Those draws also do not require Canadian work experience. The new program is narrowly focused. Its goal is to retain doctors already integrated into the Canadian health system.
A major part of the announcement involves provincial nominations. The federal government will set aside 5,000 admission spaces. These are for provinces and territories to nominate licensed foreign doctors.
These 5,000 spots are separate from regular annual provincial quotas. This gives provinces significant extra capacity to recruit doctors. A doctor needs a valid job offer to be nominated through this channel.
Once nominated, doctors get a key benefit: expedited work permit processing. Their work permits are expected to be processed within just 14 days. This allows them to keep working without delay. They can work while their application for permanent residence is being finalized.
The policy responds to a severe and ongoing doctor shortage. Recent government data highlights the problem. About 5.7 million Canadian adults, or 17%, have no regular health care provider. The same is true for 11% of children and youth.
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) welcomed the new pathway. CMA President Dr. Margot Burnell said it is a step in the right direction. She noted there are over 13,000 internationally trained physicians in Canada not working in their field. The new program helps recognize medical talent already in the country.
The government says immigration is crucial for labour force growth. It accounts for almost 100% of it. Attracting skilled health professionals is essential to fixing workforce shortages.
The program has clear eligibility rules. Candidates must be international doctors. They must have at least 12 months of full-time work experience in Canada. This experience must be gained within the three years before applying.
The work must be in one of the three eligible doctor occupations. Foreign credential recognition and licensing remain under provincial authority. This makes the Provincial Nominee Program a logical tool for recruitment.
The government has not announced all details yet. The scale and timing of invitation rounds for the new Express Entry category are still unclear. More information is expected as the 2026 launch approaches.
This policy fits within a wider shift in Canadian immigration strategy. The government is focusing on specific labor market needs. It is also trying to retain temporary residents already contributing to the economy.
The new doctor category blends two approaches. It uses category-based selection for a specific job. It also requires Canadian work experience, like the Canadian Experience Class. If successful, this model could be used for other high-need occupations.
The announcement coincides with other changes to immigration plans. For example, study permit allocations are set to decrease slightly in 2026. This shows a focus on attracting specific, practice-ready workers like doctors.
News of the pathway has been reported globally. Publications in countries like Nigeria highlighted the opportunity for their doctors. The term "japa," a Nigerian slang for emigration, was used in some reports.
Immigration lawyers and consultants are analyzing the news. They note the program is for physicians already working in Canada's health care system. Its goal is to let these doctors stay and help with labour shortages.
The government's next step is to implement the system. Invitations to apply under the new Express Entry category will start in early 2026. Provinces will begin using their extra 5,000 nomination spots to recruit licensed doctors with job offers.