Canada seeks medical doctors to strengthen healthcare: 5 immigration pathways you should know

Canada has five immigration pathways through which qualified medical doctors can apply to live and work permanently in the country, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said in a recent post on X.

The pathways include Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the Atlantic Immigration Program, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot.

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For international doctors planning to work in Canada, the appropriate pathway will depend on their work experience, job offer, location and other eligibility requirements.

Express Entry

Foreign doctors can apply for permanent residence through Express Entry. Canada also has a category under Express Entry for medical doctors who have at least one year of full-time Canadian work experience as a medical doctor in the last three years.

Provincial Nominee Program

The PNP allows provinces and territories to nominate eligible medical doctors for permanent residence.

Canada has reserved 5,000 federal immigration spaces through the PNP for provinces and territories to nominate medical doctors with job offers or letters of support to live and work permanently in the country.

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Doctors nominated by a province or territory can also have their work permits processed within 14 days, allowing them to work while they wait for their permanent residence application to be processed.

Atlantic Immigration Program

Medical doctors may also explore the Atlantic Immigration Program, which provides a route to permanent residence for eligible workers who plan to live and work in one of Canada's Atlantic provinces.

Rural Community Immigration Pilot

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot provides another option for eligible workers who want to settle and work in participating rural communities in Canada.

Francophone Community Immigration Pilot

French-speaking medical doctors may also be eligible for the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot, which supports skilled workers seeking to settle and work in participating Francophone minority communities.

What foreign doctors need before working in Canada

Choosing an immigration pathway is only one part of the process. International medical doctors must first have their foreign credentials assessed and obtain a licence to practise medicine from the relevant provincial or territorial regulatory authority.

Canada's healthcare workforce already has a significant share of internationally trained professionals. Internationally trained doctors accounted for 31% of family physicians in Canada in 2024, while immigrants made up one in four healthcare workers, according to the figures cited by the Canadian government.

Foreign doctors can therefore assess the eligibility requirements of each pathway and the medical licensing requirements before applying to live and work permanently in Canada.