Canada Introduces New PR Pathways to Attract International Doctors

Lakshmi

Updated On Dec 9, 2025

IRCC Canada implements 3 major immigration measures to make it easier for international doctors to gain PR. That includes a new Express Entry category, 5000 dedicated PR admission spots, and expedited work permit processing for nominated physicians.

Canada Introduces New PR Pathways to Attract International Doctors

On December 8, 2025, Minister of Immigration, Lena Metlege Diab, and Maggie Chi unveiled three new immigration initiatives designed to help international doctors transition easily to permanent residency in Canada. The new measures introduced by IRCC include

A dedicated Express Entry category for physicians
5,000 additional permanent residency spaces reserved exclusively for provinces to nominate doctors.
Faster work permit processing for practice-ready physicians nominated by a province.

Introducing New Express Entry Category For Physicians

Under the new “Physicians with Canadian work experience category”, applicants to gain eligibility will be required to have completed at least 12 months of continuous, full-time or equivalent part-time work experience in Canada within the last three years, and this experience must fall under a single eligible occupation.

The targeted national occupation classification NOC under this category includes

NOC 31102: General Practitioners and Family Physicians
NOC 31101: Specialists in Surgery
NOC 31100: Specialist in Clinical and Laboratory Medicine

*Invitations to Apply under this new category will begin in early 2026

While this category will operate in conjunction with the existing Express Entry streams, IRCC often revises category priorities at the beginning of each year. Currently, the Healthcare Workers category already includes physicians, as well as other professionals such as nurses, dentists, and optometrists; however, unlike the new stream, the existing category requires only six months of Canadian or international work experience and does not mandate Canadian work experience.

We would, however, need to wait to see how the two categories would function together in the future.

Also Read: New Canada Workers Benefits Set to Increase in 2026

5,000 Reserve PR Admissions for Physicians

The federal government plans to set aside 5,000 permanent resident admission spaces for provinces and territories to nominate licensed physicians with valid job offers. These positions are over and above the annual Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allocations, which allow provinces to significantly ramp up their intakes of foreign doctors.

These admissions form a part of Canada's Immigration Levels Plan 2026-2028, which outlines the number of newcomers allowed each year across all immigration categories. However, the government has not yet clarified which allocation these 5,000 dedicated spaces will come from.

Expedited Work Permit Processing For Nominated Doctors

Physicians nominated by a province will also gain access to expedited work permit processing with approvals issued in as little as 14 days. This fast-track process allows nominated doctors to begin working in Canada sooner while awaiting the final decision on their permanent residence application.

This update marks a significant improvement from the standard in Canada work permit processing, which generally takes several months

Explore Your Eligibility for Physicians with Canadian Work Experience Express Entry Category With GetGIS

As policy changes continue to evolve in Canada, applicants could benefit from expert guidance to navigate the process. For personalised end-to-end assistance, consider reaching out for GetGIS guidance, as we help you significantly improve your chances of a successful PR journey.

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