A key group of health professionals — including dermatologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists and other medical specialists — now has a more direct and streamlined procedure to obtain Canadian permanent residency.
Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lena Diab, officially announced on December 8 the launch of a new, specific category within the Express Entry system. This pathway is specifically designed to facilitate the immigration of physicians who already have work experience in the Canadian healthcare system.
This measure represents a strategic step by the government to address the chronic shortage of medical professionals in the country, retaining and attracting talent already adapted to the local labor market. By offering a clearer and more expedited path to permanent residency, Canada seeks not only to fill critical vacancies but also to provide stability for these essential workers, thereby strengthening its public health system.
The new category recognizes the value of Canadian experience and prioritizes physicians who are already contributing to the country, significantly simplifying their transition from temporary to permanent status.
Eligibility for the new category "Physicians with Canadian work experience"«
To qualify in this category, a foreign doctor must have work experience in one of the occupations listed below.
Furthermore, this work experience must meet the following requirements:
- Have 12 months of continuous full-time employment
- Having been carried out in Canada; and
- Having accumulated in the last three years.
Candidates must also meet all the requirements set out in the ministerial instructions for the specific round of invitations.
Finally, to be eligible to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in a categorical selection round, candidates must be eligible for one of the Express Entry programs and be active in the candidate pool, in addition to meeting the criteria mentioned above.
What occupations are included in the new category "Physicians with Canadian work experience"?
The newly introduced category only includes three occupations at the time of writing this content.
- General practitioners and family physicians NOC: 31102
- Specialists in surgery NOC: 31101
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine NOC: 3110
How does this new category differ from the existing category of healthcare and social services occupations?
The new IRCC physician category differs from the existing healthcare and social services occupations category in terms of location and the length of work experience required to qualify.
Criteria | Category of doctors with Canadian work experience | Category of occupations in the field of health and social services |
| Required work experience | 12 months of full-time Canadian work experience or equivalent part-time experience. | 6 months of full-time work experience or equivalent part-time work experience |
Location of work experience | You must obtain it in Canada | You must obtain it in Canada or outside of Canada |
Number of eligible occupations. | 3 | 37 |
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