Over 58% of Healthcare Workers Received Canada PR Between 2000-2022: Study

According to a recent Statistics Canada report, more than half of the Temporary Foreign Workers in the healthcare sector (which is approximately 58%) who immigrated between 2000 and 2022 have successfully transitioned to Canada permanent residency (PR).

Among these, about 57% were Indian healthcare professionals and 77% were from the Philippines. The best part to note is that over one quarter (i.e., more than 25%) of workers who secured Canada PR, it took them just 2 years since starting their healthcare job in Canada, a specific trend that has remained steady across the study period.

Which Healthcare Workers Are Gaining PR in Canada?

Between 2000 and 2022, nearly 105,000 healthcare workers transitioned to permanent residency status in Canada from temporary status. The breakdown of new PR holders based on their landing years is as follows:

• The majority of healthcare workers (about 68% - 78%) obtained PR through economic immigration streams.
• Between 2005-2019, about 25% of these workers gained PR through the Live-in Caregiver Program; however, the significance of this program has declined over the years.
• Among the temporary foreign workers who obtained PR between 2022 and 2023, about 27% received them through the Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident pathway, which was a limited-time policy effective between May to November 2021.
• Throughout the study conducted by Statistics Canada, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) have remained two of the most prominent programs for healthcare professionals' migration.
• A drastic increase through CEC was observed among the 2020-2021 cohort, which might have been due to IRCC’s initiatives in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which candidates were highly invited through the Express Entry pool to apply for PR.
• Out of the 105,000 healthcare workers who transitioned to PR, about 3 quarters were noted to be women
• The average age among healthcare workers who transitioned has also decreased slightly throughout the study duration, i.e., 36.9 years between 2005-2009, to 33.9 years between 2022-2023.
• The source countries for these healthcare professionals remained largely unchanged, with professionals from Asian countries like China, India, and the Philippines accounting for about 50%
• The new PR numbers from India and Haiti (as source countries) have witnessed a sharp increase in recent cohorts

Read Next: Canada Reveals Schedule for Category-Based Express Entry Draws in 2025

Growing Reliance on Foreign Workers in Canada’s Healthcare System

The role of Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) in the healthcare system in Canada has witnessed a drastic growth. Between 2000-2022, these numbers increased to 57,500 from previously 3,200, which is a direct 17 times rise.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated this growth, with TFW between 2019-2020 surging by 50% i.e., from 26,100 to 39,300, helping hospitals, long-term care homes, and home health services cope with the unprecedented pressures. As of 2022, TFW’s represented:

• 3% of the ambulatory healthcare workforce
• 1.2% in hospitals
• About 5% in nursing and residential care facilities
• About 8% in home health care

Keeping aside the nation as a whole, the provinces' dependencies on healthcare workers also greatly varied. In 2022,

• The healthcare professionals' demand in Prince Edward Island (PEI) exceeded the national average (2.7%) at 3.9%, followed by Nova Scotia at 3.8%, New Brunswick at 3.4%, and Ontario at 3.3%.
• Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia together accounted for about 90% of foreign healthcare workers across various hospitals, nursing homes, and related facilities

Also Read: How to Immigrate to Canada as a Healthcare Worker?

Canada Immigration Pathways For Healthcare Professionals

Many immigration pathways have been specifically built to ease the healthcare professionals immigration, considering the demand for these professionals in Canada. Among these, the most prominent ones include:

• Express Entry (Healthcare category)
• Home Care Worker Pilot (HCWP)
• Specific PNP Streams like - Alberta Dedicated Healthcare Pathway, Saskatchewan Health Talent Pathway, Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities Stream

Along with these healthcare and social services programs that are eligible for the Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP), also enables students (even below bachelor level of education) to gain Canadian work experience and eventually convert to PR.

Explore Your Canada Immigration Options With GetGIS

To explore your Canada immigration options and seamlessly navigate through the PR process, consider reaching out to GetGIS. Our expert team provides personalised, tailor-made guidance through your job search and visa application process, ensuring your guaranteed immigration and safe integration into Canada

Book Your Free Consultation

Canada Immigration Updates

• Canada to Boost Francophone Admissions Outside Quebec for PR and Jobs
• New Medical Exam Requirement Now in Effect for Express Entry PR Applicants
• TOEFL Essentials Test to Be Accepted for Canada PR Applications
• Canada Proposes 3 New Occupational Categories Under Express Entry in 2026
• Canada Introduces Express Entry Draw Category Changes for 2026