How to immigrate to Canada as a doctor
In late 2025 Canada made permanent residence simpler for international medical doctors. There is now a special Express Entry category for doctors, 5,000 reserved provincial-nomination spaces, and a 14-day work permit after a nomination. Here is the plain-English version — and a free way to see which route fits your profile.
We match you to permanent-residence programs. Getting your medical training checked and getting a licence to practise are separate steps — official links are in the Sources below.
What changed for doctors in 2026
Canada added three new measures to bring in more medical doctors. All three are official — see the Sources at the bottom.
A new Express Entry category just for doctors
Canada now runs special Express Entry draws for medical doctors. To be in this group, you need at least 1 year of full-time work as a medical doctor in Canada, done within the last 3 years. Being in this group is another way you can be invited — whether you get an invitation still depends on your score and the cutoff set for each draw.
5,000 reserved provincial-nomination spaces
Provinces and territories have up to 5,000 federal spaces set aside to nominate medical doctors who have a job, a job offer, or a letter of support. A letter of support is a letter from a health authority saying they want you.
A 14-day work permit after a nomination
If a province or territory nominates you as a doctor, your work permit is processed in 14 days. That lets you start working in Canada while you wait for your permanent-residence decision.
Two things every doctor needs first
No matter which route you take, you must be able to do both of these. They are run by Canadian bodies, not by us, and they can take time — so it is smart to start early.
1. Get your credentials assessed
An approved Canadian body checks that your medical training and degrees meet Canadian standards.
2. Get a licence to practise
Each province and territory has its own medical regulator that gives you the licence to work as a doctor there.
The routes doctors can use
Doctors immigrate through the same programs as other skilled workers — the 2026 changes just add doctor-only advantages on top. Which one fits depends on your experience and where you want to live.
Express Entry (with the new doctor category)
You have worked as a doctor in CanadaBest if you have at least 1 year of full-time work as a medical doctor in Canada in the last 3 years, and you are eligible for one of the three Express Entry programs. You can be invited through the new doctor category, a general draw, or a program-specific draw. You do not need a job offer.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
You have a job, job offer, or letter of supportBest if a province or territory will back you. This is the route tied to the 5,000 reserved spaces and the 14-day work permit. First you get nominated by the province, then you apply to IRCC for permanent residence. Quebec and Nunavut do not run a PNP — they have their own paths.
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
You want to live in Atlantic CanadaBest if you can get a job offer from an approved (“designated”) employer in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador.
Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
You want to live in a smaller, rural communityBest if you have at least 1 year of doctor work experience in the last 3 years (or you graduated from an approved school) and you can get a job offer from an approved employer in a participating rural community.
Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP)
You speak French and want a French-speaking communitySame idea as the rural pilot, plus you can communicate in French and want to live in a French-speaking community outside Quebec.
Canada needs doctors
Internationally trained doctors already keep the Canadian health system running.
of family doctors in Canada were trained abroad (2024)
health-care workers in Canada are immigrants
health-care workers arrived in 2024 through economic immigration
See which route fits you
Reading each program on the IRCC website one by one is slow, and the rules interact. Our free check scores your profile to see if Express Entry is your best fit and gives you a CRS estimate. The $20 USD report then ranks your matches across the 50+ programs we cover, with the blockers and documents for your exact situation.
We are not the government and not a law firm. We are a matching tool that points you to the right programs so you do not miss one.
Doctor immigration questions
What is the new Express Entry category for doctors?+
It is a set of special Express Entry draws only for medical doctors, new in 2026. To be considered, you need at least 1 year of full-time work as a medical doctor in Canada, done in the last 3 years, and you must be eligible for one of the three Express Entry programs. Being in this group is another way you can be invited — whether you get an invitation still depends on your score and the cutoff for the draw.
Do I need a job offer to immigrate to Canada as a doctor?+
It depends on the route. Express Entry does not require a job offer — but the doctor category needs recent Canadian doctor experience. The Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, and the rural and francophone pilots do need a job, a job offer, or a letter of support from an approved employer or health authority.
What are the 5,000 reserved spaces?+
Provinces and territories have up to 5,000 federal immigration spaces set aside to nominate medical doctors who have a job, a job offer, or a letter of support. It is a way to move doctors through the Provincial Nominee Program more quickly.
How fast is the 14-day work permit?+
Once a province or territory nominates you as a doctor, your work permit is processed in 14 days. This lets you start working in Canada while IRCC processes your permanent-residence application.
Do I still need to get licensed to practise?+
Yes. For every route, you must first have your foreign credentials assessed and get a licence to practise from the province or territory's medical regulator. This is a separate process from immigration, and it can take time. We do not do this step — links to the official credential and licensing bodies are in the Sources below.
Can I bring my family?+
Yes. You can include your spouse or common-law partner, your dependent children, and a dependent grandchild in your application, on every route.
What if my Canadian doctor experience is more than 3 years old, or I have never worked in Canada?+
You can still immigrate. The Provincial Nominee Program, Atlantic Immigration Program, and the rural and francophone community pilots are open to doctors without recent Canadian experience, as long as you can get your credentials assessed, get licensed, and (for most routes) get a job offer or letter of support.
Sources
The figures on this page (the doctor Express Entry category, the 5,000 reserved spaces, and the 14-day work permit) come from the Government of Canada. Rules change — check the official pages for today's details.
- Government of Canada — Live and work as a medical doctor in Canada
- Government of Canada — Medical doctors with experience in Canada
- Government of Canada — Medical doctors who haven’t worked in Canada
- Government of Canada — Faster work permit processing for doctors
- Government of Canada — Foreign credential recognition
- Medical Council of Canada — Pathways to licensure for international medical graduates
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