Canada Announces New Express Entry Category for Doctors

Canada Announces New Express Entry Category for Doctors

Shiwangi Srivastava Shiwangi Srivastava
[Published 10 Dec, 2025 | 06:44 AM]
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On December 8, 2025, Canada introduced a new Express Entry category for doctors or physicians with Canadian work experience. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also mentioned this in Budget 2025 to address labour shortages in the high-skilled talent sector.

The Canadian government also aim to streamline the permanent residence process time and make it more accessible for international doctors.

This IRCC announcement basically introduces the three main points related to this:

  • New Express Entry Category
  • 5000 reserved federal admission spaces for licensed doctors
  • Work permit processing time

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New Express Entry Category For Doctors

Canada is making it easier than ever for doctors to immigrate by announcing a brand-new Express Entry category for physicians. With growing demand for healthcare talent, this update provides a direct, priority pathway for medical professionals aiming for Canadian PR.

Eligibility Criteria For Doctors/Physicians

To pursue a career in the field of medical, applicants must follow the eligibility criteria.

  • The candidate must have 1 year of relevant work experience in Canada.
  • The work experience must be in a single eligible occupation.
  • Must have gained the experience within the last 3 years.

Occupation Targeted in New Express Entry Category

Occupation demand targeted under this new category, and the NOC codes for doctors are listed below:

NOC CodesOccupation
31102 General practitioners and family physicians
31101 Specialists in surgery
31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine

5,000 PR Opportunities for International Doctors in Canada

The Government of Canada has announced it will reserve 5,000 federal admission spaces exclusively for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with valid job offers. These dedicated spots are in addition to the annual allocations under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), providing healthcare professionals with additional opportunities to secure permanent residency.

Processing Time of the Expected Work Permit

However, eligible international doctors nominated under these spaces will also benefit from fast-tracked processing of Canada work permits, with IRCC committing to a 14-day turnaround time.

This allows physicians to begin working in Canada sooner while their permanent residence applications are being finalized, helping meet urgent healthcare needs across the country.

Source: canada.ca



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