The Canadian government introduces new measures for international doctors Canada. These changes simplify the path to permanent residence. The goal is to strengthen Canada’s healthcare system. They also aim to fill critical labour gaps. The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced these steps. Maggie Chi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, also made the announcement. These measures support a Budget 2025 commitment. This commitment focuses on filling critical labour gaps with high-skilled talent. This strategic move helps Canada attract top global talent. It addresses the urgent need for medical professionals across the country.

New Express Entry for International Doctors Canada

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will create a new Express Entry category. This category targets international doctors. These doctors must have at least one year of Canadian work experience. They must have gained this experience in an eligible occupation. This work experience must be within the last three years. These doctors already work in Canada temporarily. They help patients. They contribute to the healthcare system. The new pathway offers them permanent residence. This fills critical health workforce gaps. It supports reliable care. It also ensures a stable health system for Canadians. Invitations for this new category will begin in early 2026. This dedicated Express Entry category will help bring in and keep practice-ready doctors. People across Canada can then get the care they need. Minister Diab emphasized this point. She stated that the new government has a mandate to build a strong economy. Attracting top global talent and filling critical labour shortages achieves this goal.

Provinces Gain More Doctor Nominations

The Government of Canada will reserve 5,000 federal admission spaces. Provinces and territories can use these spaces. They will nominate licensed doctors with job offers. These spaces are extra. They add to the annual Provincial Nominee Program allocations. Nominated doctors will receive expedited work permit processing. This processing takes 14 days. It allows them to work while awaiting permanent residence. This supports the broader International Talent Attraction Strategy. This strategy strengthens jobs and industries. It drives the economy and communities. It also helps restore balance and long-term sustainability in the immigration system. Attracting skilled health professionals is essential. It addresses Canada’s health workforce shortages. Parliamentary Secretary Chi highlighted the importance of increasing qualified physicians. This ensures people across the country receive timely, high-quality care. Working closely with provinces and territories helps tackle workforce challenges. It strengthens the health care system. Canadians receive the care they need, when they need it.

Strengthening Canada’s Healthcare Workforce

Creating a pathway to permanent residence for doctors on temporary visas builds a stronger health workforce. Dr. Margot Burnell, President of the Canadian Medical Association, confirmed this. She noted that staffing gaps will begin to close. Patient care benefits from diverse voices and experiences. Today’s announcement marks a step in the right direction. Immigration accounts for almost 100% of Canada’s labour force growth. This helps address labour shortages in key sectors. The new measures directly support this growth. They target a critical sector: healthcare. This ensures Canada maintains a robust and responsive medical system. It also helps meet the growing demands of the population.

Eligible Medical Occupations and Provincial Role

The new measures target specific medical occupations. These include general practitioners and family physicians. Specialists in surgery also qualify. Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine are also eligible. Foreign credential recognition and licensing are provincial responsibilities. Each province and territory handles these processes. This makes the Provincial Nominee Program an effective tool. It recruits health care professionals. Through this program, candidates and employers work directly with the appropriate level of government. This streamlines processes. It supports faster integration into the labour market. Canada works to attract and retain the best talent. Today’s announcement builds on this important work. It includes targeted measures for graduate students. In 2024, about 5.7 million Canadian adults reported not having a regular health care provider. Also, about 765,000 children and youth reported this issue. These new measures directly help address these significant gaps in access to care. They aim to provide more Canadians with a regular health care provider.

These targeted immigration measures aim to boost Canada’s supply of doctors. They create a simpler path to permanent residence for international doctors. This initiative supports Canada’s healthcare system. It addresses critical labour shortages. The government ensures Canadians receive the care they need. This strategy attracts top global talent. It fills critical labour shortages. It ultimately strengthens the health and well-being of communities across Canada.