Faster Permanent Residency for Doctors in Canada
In early 2026, Canada is offering a life-changing Express Entry (EE) pathway for internationally trained doctors working in Canada making their path to permanent residency much faster.
With the release of Canada’s 2025 federal budget, the government has confirmed plans to fast-track permanent residency for foreign doctors who are already practicing in the country on a temporary basis. For many physicians juggling demanding schedules, career uncertainty, and immigration hurdles, this news gives them clarity and offers peace of mind.
Who Is Eligible for This New EE Stream?
The new PR pathway Express Entry (EE) stream will be available to foreign doctors across relevant specialties including family medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, dermatology, psychiatry/psychology, and others. To be eligible, applicants must have completed at least one year of recent Canadian work experience on a temporary work permit within the past three years.
Doctor Shortages in Canada
The reasoning behind this decision is that in 2024 alone, 5.7 million Canadian adults and more than half a million children reported not having a regular health-care provider. Additionally, in an interview, Dr. Joss Reimer, the former president of the Canadian Medical association, stated that Canada is currently short an approximate 23,000 family doctors. Evidently, this decision is not only going to help fill workforce gaps, but it will also keep the system moving.
How the Program Will Work
According to the government of Canada website, as part of the program’s launch, 5,000 admission spaces will be allocated for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors who have valid job offers. These allocations are in addition to the current Provincial Nominee Program quotas, giving physicians more opportunities than ever to secure permanent residency. Additionally, nominated doctors will be eligible for 14-day expedited work permit processing.
What to Expect When Applications Open
Invitations to apply under this new Express Entry category are expected to begin in early 2026. We will continue to update this space as more information is released by the federal government.
If you’re interested in this pathway and want to prepare in advance, contact us today as interest is already rising, and spots are expected to fill quickly once applications open.
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