The Canadian government has announced plans to open a pathway to permanent residence for foreign-trained physicians currently working in Canada on temporary status, in an effort to address the country’s ongoing doctor shortage.
The federal Minister of Immigration, Lena Diab, unveiled the policy change on December 8 in Toronto, stating that 5,000 permanent residence spots will be created specifically for internationally trained physicians, in addition to current immigration targets.
“Many of these doctors are already caring for patients in our communities. We cannot afford to lose them,” said Immigration Minister Lena Diab.
Under the plan, a new Express Entry category for foreign physicians will be introduced starting in 2026. To qualify, applicants must have at least one year of Canadian work experience within the past three years and must currently hold a valid job offer.
According to a government statement, eligible applicants will include primary care physicians as well as specialists in surgery, clinical medicine, and laboratory medicine.
Additional Provincial Nominations and Accelerated Processing
The government confirmed that provinces and territories will be able to nominate licensed physicians with job offers for the fast-track program. These nominations will be added on top of existing annual provincial nomination allocations.
Physicians selected under this accelerated pathway will have their work permits processed within 14 days, allowing them to continue working while their permanent residence applications are being finalized.
Addressing Access to Care
The federal government said the measure aims to improve access to healthcare for the 17 percent of adults and 11 percent of children and youth who reported not having access to a regular healthcare provider.
The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) welcomed the announcement, calling it a step in the right direction.
“Currently, more than 13,000 internationally trained physicians in Canada are not working in their field,” said CMA President Dr. Margot Burnell in a statement.
“We must do more to recognize the medical talent already present in this country and to attract, welcome, and retain more professionals from around the world,” Burnell added.
Source: CBC / P. Zimonjic
Adaptation: RCI / R. Valencia
