Ontario to limit residency applications for international medical graduates

Ontario will restrict first-round residency applications for international medical graduates (IMGs) to those who completed at least two years of high school in the province before studying abroad. The change, announced Wednesday during the ongoing application period that ends November 27, means IMGs without Ontario high school experience must wait until the second round to apply for unfilled positions, according to a report by The Globe and Mail.

Ema Popovic, spokeswoman for Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones, said the move “supports Ontario-educated residents” and aims to build a local health care workforce that connects people across the province. IMGs are now required to submit high school transcripts to apply in the first round. Exceptions are made for those whose parents or guardians were posted abroad through the Canadian Armed Forces, diplomatic service, or Department of Foreign Affairs.

The policy follows last year’s announcement reserving nearly all medical school spots for provincial residents. Premier Doug Ford had then remarked that foreign-born students were “taking our kids’ seats and then not even staying here,” later clarified to refer to postgraduate residency seats.


The new eligibility rules have drawn criticism, especially amid a nationwide doctor shortage. Ranika Singh, founder of IMG Career Counselling, called the changes “unfair and discriminatory,” noting that many applicants have already invested substantial time, money, and effort to prepare for the first round. She told The Globe and Mail, the abrupt shift undermines transparency and creates financial and emotional hardships for IMGs who plan to work in Ontario regardless of contractual obligations.

Ms. Singh described the second round as offering fewer opportunities and more competition, particularly in specialized fields, leaving some applicants questioning the value of applying. As per the Globe and Mail report, national data indicates that in 2023, 31% of family doctors, 25% of medical specialists, and 16% of surgeons in Canada were internationally trained, underscoring the ongoing reliance on IMGs.