Canada’s New Immigration Pathway for Doctors: What You Need to Know

On 8 December 2025, Canada announced new immigration measures to help bring more doctors into the country. This is big news for internationally trained physicians already working here, and for communities struggling to find family doctors.

1. A New Express Entry Stream for Doctors
   Starting in early 2026, doctors with at least one year of recent Canadian work experience will have access to a special Express Entry category.
   This means faster invitations and a clearer path to permanent residence.
2. 5,000 New Spaces for Provinces to Nominate Doctors
   The federal government also reserved 5,000 federal admission spaces just for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors who have job offers.
   Once nominated, these doctors can apply for permanent residence right away.
3. Faster Work Permit Processing
   Doctors nominated by a province will benefit from 14-day work-permit processing, so they can keep working without interruption.

Why Is Canada Doing This?

Canada is facing a major doctor shortage. Millions of Canadians do not have a family doctor, and many rural or remote communities have waited years to recruit one.
At the same time, many internationally trained doctors are already working here, but are often on temporary permits and without long-term stability.

What This Means for International Doctors

If you are an internationally trained doctor in Canada, these changes may:

• Give you a faster and more predictable path to permanent residence
• Allow you and your family to plan your future in Canada
• Help you continue working while your PR application is in process

It's important to remember that immigration and medical licensing are separate processes. Permanent residence does not automatically give you a licence to practise medicine, and each province has its own rules.

How Azzi Law Can Help‍

At Azzi Law, we work with many healthcare professionals who are navigating immigration challenges. If you are a doctor in Canada and want to know whether you qualify for this new pathway, we can guide you through it.

These changes open the door; we help you walk through it. Contact us anytime for a consultation.