Kelowna 
Canada is expanding targeted immigration measures intended to ease persistent shortages in the health workforce by offering a more direct route to permanent residence for internationally trained physicians already working in the country.
The federal government will introduce a new Express Entry category for doctors who have accumulated at least one year of Canadian work experience in an eligible medical occupation within the past three years.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), invitations under this new stream are expected in early 2026. The department says the measure is designed to retain physicians currently employed on temporary permits and to stabilize access to care.
In addition, Ottawa will set aside 5,000 federal admission spaces for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with job offers. These spaces are separate from existing Provincial Nominee Program allocations. Physicians selected through this process will receive expedited work permit processing, with a stated 14-day turnaround, allowing them to remain on the job while their permanent residence applications are finalized.
The announcement aligns with the government’s International Talent Attraction Strategy and supports commitments in Budget 2025 to address critical labour needs. Federal officials noted that immigration drives nearly all labour force growth and remains central to reinforcing sectors facing shortages, including health care.
Health system pressures remain significant. In 2024, an estimated 5.7 million adults, 17% of the population, and about 765,000 children and youth (11%) reported lacking a regular health provider. Eligible occupations for the new measures include general practitioners, family physicians, surgical specialists, and specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine.
Minister of Immigration Lena Metlege Diab said the initiatives are intended to keep “practice-ready doctors” in Canada, while Parliamentary Secretary Maggie Chi emphasized the importance of strengthening the physician workforce.
