Canada Introduces New PR Pathway for International Doctors (Launching Early 2026)

Canada has announced a major immigration update that will greatly benefit internationally trained doctors already working in the country. These targeted measures aim to support Canada’s health-care system, address long-standing physician shortages, and create a smoother pathway to Permanent Residency (PR) for medical professionals.

Below is a detailed breakdown of everything you need to know — eligibility, program details, timelines, and what you should do right now to prepare.

Key Features of the New PR Pathway for Doctors

Program Feature	Details
Program Launch	Early 2026
System Used	Express Entry (new occupation-specific category)
Who Can Apply	International doctors already working in Canada
Work Experience Needed	1+ year in Canada (within last 3 years)
Eligible Occupations	Family physicians, surgeons, clinical & lab specialists
Additional PNP Spots	+5,000 for provinces (only for licensed doctors)
Work Permit Processing	14-day processing for PNP-nominated doctors
Primary Goal	Address nationwide physician shortages

🩺 Why Canada Is Creating a New PR Pathway for Doctors

Canada continues to face a nationwide shortage of family doctors and medical specialists. Millions of Canadians do not have a primary care physician, particularly in rural and underserved regions.

To help address this crisis, the government announced:

A new Express Entry category for international doctors — beginning in early 2026.

This category will focus on selecting physicians who are already contributing to Canada’s health-care system and who wish to build a long-term future here.

Express Entry vs New Doctor Category

Criteria	Regular Express Entry	Doctor-Specific Express Entry Category (2026)
Selection Based On	CRS score	Medical occupation + Canadian experience
CRS Score Importance	Very high	Secondary
Work Experience Type	Any eligible skilled work	Must be Canadian medical experience
Benefits	General skilled worker intake	Priority for doctors already in Canada
PR Predictability	Depends on score fluctuations	More stable & targeted

⭐ Key Highlights of the New Pathway

1. The program will run through Express Entry

To be considered, eligible doctors must have an active Express Entry profile.
No profile = no chance of being selected.

Even if you feel your CRS score is “too low,” you must be in the pool to be considered.
Selections will be based on occupation and experience — not CRS cutoffs.

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2. Required: 1 year of Canadian work experience

Candidates will need at least one year of work experience in Canada within the last three years in an eligible medical occupation.

This includes:

• Family physicians
• General practitioners
• Specialists in surgery
• Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
  

Importantly, your job title does not need to literally say “doctor.”
If your experience falls under IRCC’s eligible medical NOCs, you may qualify.

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3. Provinces receive 5,000 additional PNP nomination spaces

To help provinces attract and retain doctors, IRCC is allocating:

+5,000 extra Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) spots

These nominations are reserved specifically for licensed doctors who have job offers.

A PNP nomination significantly boosts a candidate’s PR chances by:

• Adding 600 Express Entry points
• Prioritizing processing
• Creating a clear pathway to PR approval
  

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4. Faster Work Permit Processing for nominated doctors

Another major advantage:

Doctors nominated by PNP will get 14-day work permit processing.

This ensures that internationally trained physicians can continue working while their PR applications are being finalized.

Eligible Medical Occupations (Based on IRCC Announcement)

NOC Code	Occupation
31102	General Practitioners & Family Physicians
31101	Specialist Physicians — Clinical & Laboratory
31103	Specialist Physicians — Surgery
+ Additional related NOCs	Depending on IRCC’s final publication

Why This Matters for International Doctors

This is one of the strongest immigration opportunities medical professionals in Canada have seen in years.

The new category:

• Recognizes doctors who are already supporting Canada’s health-care system
• Removes barriers that previously discouraged physicians from applying
• Provides a more predictable, streamlined path to PR
• Helps Canada retain essential medical talent long-term

If you are a doctor currently working in Canada — or planning to work here — this pathway could be transformative for your immigration journey.

This pathway is officially confirmed by IRCC and is now formally included in the Express Entry category-based selection system. Physicians with Canadian work experience — including general practitioners and family physicians — are now a targeted occupation for Express Entry invitations.

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📌 What Doctors Should Do Right Now

Even though the program launches in 2026, preparation needs to start immediately:

✔ Create or update your Express Entry profile

You must be in the system when the first draws open.

✔ Gather proof of work experience

Job letters, contracts, pay stubs, NOAs (if applicable), and detailed job descriptions.

✔ Ensure your licensing is in order

Provinces will prioritize licensed doctors with job offers.

✔ Improve your language scores

Higher CLB scores increase your competitiveness and CRS ranking.

✔ Consider a consultation with a licensed immigration consultant

A strong strategy now can determine your eligibility later.

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🧭 How Dayana Immigration Services Can Help

As a regulated Canadian immigration consultancy (RCIC), we provide:

• Full Express Entry profile setup and optimization
• PR strategy for doctors and health-care workers
• Professional document preparation
• Eligibility assessment for PNP nominations
• Guidance on job offers and licensing requirements
• Ongoing support from profile creation to PR approval

If you’re a medical professional in Canada, this is the perfect moment to prepare strategically.

📩 Book a consultation with licensed Canadian immigration consultant and get a personalized PR roadmap.

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📚 Official Source

Government announcement:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2025/12/targeted-immigration-measures-to-boost-canadas-supply-of-doctors.html