The government of Canada has announced plans to open a new Express Entry pathway for foreign doctors in 2026.
The announcement was made in a statement by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Under the new measures, Canada will introduce a dedicated Express Entry category for international doctors who have accumulated at least one year of eligible Canadian work experience within the past three years.
The category targets physicians currently in Canada on a temporary basis who are contributing to patient care.
Invitations to apply under the new stream are expected to be issued in early 2026.
Announcing the initiative, Lena Metlege Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said the move would help ensure Canadians have better access to healthcare.
“Canada’s new government has a mandate to build a strong economy by attracting top global talent and filling critical labour shortages,” Diab said.
“This dedicated Express Entry category, along with the reserved federal admission spaces for provinces and territories, will help bring in and retain practice-ready doctors, so people across Canada can get the care they need.”
In addition, the federal government will set aside 5,000 admission spaces for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors who have job offers.
These spaces will be added to existing Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allocations.
Doctors nominated through this route will benefit from expedited 14-day work permit processing, allowing them to begin work while their permanent residence applications are being processed.
Maggie Chi, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, noted that increasing the number of qualified physicians is critical to improving health outcomes nationwide.
“Attracting skilled health professionals is essential to addressing Canada’s health workforce shortages,” she said.
“Increasing the number of qualified physicians with the expertise our healthcare system needs will ensure people across the country receive timely, high-quality care.”
She added that collaboration with subnational governments is key to addressing systemic gaps.
“By working closely with provinces and territories, we are tackling workforce challenges and strengthening the healthcare system so Canadians receive the care they need, when they need it,” she said.
Welcoming the announcement, Margot Burnell, President of the Canadian Medical Association, described the policy shift as beneficial for both patients and the health workforce.
“By creating a pathway to permanent residence for doctors here on temporary visas, we strengthen the health workforce, close staffing gaps, and improve patient care through diverse voices and experiences,” Burnell said.
“Today’s announcement is a step in the right direction.”
