On December 8, 2025, Canada unveiled a set of targeted immigration reforms designed to better support international physicians seeking to establish long-term careers in the country. The announcement was delivered by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab alongside Maggie Chi, Member of Parliament for Don Valley North and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health. Chi’s participation reflects ongoing collaboration between the immigration and health portfolios, with a shared goal of improving access to skilled medical professionals across Canada.

The new measures span the Express Entry system, provincial nomination processes, and work permit procedures, collectively aiming to streamline the pathway for physicians to live and work in Canada.

New Express Entry category for physicians with Canadian work experience

IRCC will introduce a new Express Entry category in early 2026 dedicated specifically to physicians who meet the following criteria:

• At least 12 months of continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time) Canadian work experience within the past three years;
• Work experience must fall under one eligible occupation.

Eligible National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes include:

• General practitioners and family physicians (31102);
• Specialists in surgery (31101);
• Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (31100).

This new category will operate alongside existing Express Entry categories. Currently, the healthcare occupations category already includes physicians, but it only requires six months of work experience, which can be gained either in Canada or abroad. How the existing healthcare and social services category will integrate with the newly introduced category has not yet been clarified by IRCC.

5,000 reserved permanent residence admissions for provinces and territories

The Canadian government will reserve 5,000 federal admissions spaces for provinces and territories to nominate licensed physicians who hold valid job offers. These admissions:

• Are in addition to yearly Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allocations;
• Will significantly increase the ability of provinces to nominate foreign-trained doctors;
• Will be counted within Canada’s annual Immigration Levels Plan.

IRCC has not yet disclosed which specific allocation the 5,000 reserved spaces will come from, but confirmed they will contribute to the total number of new permanent residents admitted each year.

Expedited work permit processing within 14 days

Practice-ready physicians who receive provincial nomination will become eligible for expedited work permit processing, with approvals issued within 14 days. This accelerated timeline:

• Allows nominated physicians to begin working sooner while awaiting permanent residence;
• Represents a major improvement over standard in-Canada work permit processing, which often takes several months;
• Helps address ongoing physician shortages across multiple provinces.

Conclusion

Canada’s new physician-focused immigration measures represent a significant step toward addressing the country’s persistent healthcare workforce shortages. By introducing a dedicated Express Entry category, expanding provincial nomination capacity, and accelerating work permit processing, Canada is creating a more predictable and attractive pathway for international physicians. With implementation beginning in early 2026, the country is positioning itself to welcome more qualified medical professionals into its healthcare system in the years ahead.