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New Express Entry Stream and Immigration Updates Introduced for Doctors
On December 8, 2025, Minister of Immigration Lena Metlege Diab and Maggie Chi revealed three major immigration changes aimed at helping more international doctors become permanent residents in Canada.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced the following measures:
- A new Express Entry category specifically for doctors
- 5,000 permanent residence admissions reserved for provinces
- Faster work permit processing for physicians who are nominated and ready to practice
New Express Entry Category for Physicians
IRCC will launch a dedicated “Physicians with Canadian work experience” Express Entry category. To qualify, doctors must:
- Have at least 12 months of continuous full-time work experience in Canada within the last three years (or the equivalent in part-time work)
- Have work experience in one eligible occupation under a single NOC code
Eligible roles include:
- General practitioners and family physicians – NOC 31102
- Specialists in surgery – NOC 31101
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine – NOC 31100
The first invitations to apply in this new stream are expected in early 2026.
This new category will run alongside current Express Entry healthcare draws. IRCC may update its selection priorities in the new year. Currently, the healthcare occupations category does not require candidates to have experience in Canada, while the newly announced category focuses specifically on physicians already practicing in the country.
5,000 Special Provincial Nominee Spaces Reserved
The federal government is creating 5,000 additional permanent residence spaces for provinces and territories. These spots will allow them to nominate more licensed doctors who already have a job offer in Canada.
These admissions are separate from the regular annual Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) limits, giving provinces much more room to welcome skilled physicians to support healthcare needs.
Faster Work Permit Processing for Physicians
Doctors nominated by a province will also benefit from fast-track work permit processing. Their applications will be processed in just 14 days, so they can begin working while waiting for their permanent residence decision.
Currently, processing for in-Canada work permits often takes several months, so this change is expected to significantly reduce delays for healthcare employers and professionals.