Canada to introduce express entry pathway for migrant doctors
Canada will introduce a new immigration pathway under its Express Entry system aimed specifically at foreign-trained doctors, with the programme set to launch in 2026.
The Canada Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship office announced that the new stream will be open to international physicians who have gained at least one year of eligible Canadian work experience within the past three years. The initiative is designed to retain doctors already in the country on temporary permits who are actively involved in patient care.
According to the government, invitations to apply under the dedicated Express Entry category are expected to begin in early 2026.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said the policy aligns with the federal government’s broader plan to strengthen the economy while tackling critical labour shortages in the healthcare sector.
“Canada’s new government has a mandate to attract top global talent and address pressing workforce gaps,” Diab said. “This dedicated Express Entry category, combined with reserved federal admission spaces for provinces and territories, will help retain practice-ready doctors so Canadians can access the care they need.”
As part of the announcement, Ottawa also revealed plans to allocate 5,000 additional admission spaces to provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with confirmed job offers. These slots will be incorporated into existing Provincial Nominee Programme quotas.
Physicians nominated through the provincial route will be eligible for accelerated work permit processing within 14 days, enabling them to start working while their permanent residency applications are under review.
Maggie Chi, parliamentary secretary to the minister of health, said expanding the pool of qualified physicians is vital to improving healthcare delivery across the country.
“Bringing in skilled health professionals is essential to addressing Canada’s physician shortage,” she said. “Increasing the number of qualified doctors will help ensure timely and high-quality care for people nationwide.”
Chi added that close cooperation between the federal government and provinces remains crucial to resolving long-standing gaps in Canada’s healthcare system.
