The Canadian government has confirmed plans to introduce a new express entry pathway for foreign doctors starting in 2026.
The announcement was made through a statement by the Canada immigration, refugees and citizenship office.
Under the new framework, a dedicated express entry category will be created for international doctors who have completed at least one year of eligible Canadian work experience within the past three years.
This category is aimed at physicians currently in Canada on temporary status and actively contributing to patient care.
Invitations to apply under this stream are expected to be issued in early 2026.
Announcing the initiative, Lena Metlege Diab, minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, said the measure would improve access to healthcare services for Canadians.
“Canada’s new government has a mandate to build a strong economy by attracting top global talent and filling critical labour shortages,” Diab stated.
“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.”
The federal government will also set aside 5,000 admission spaces for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with confirmed job offers.
These allocations will be added to existing Provincial Nominee Programme quotas.
Doctors selected through this route will benefit from fast-tracked work permit processing within 14 days, enabling them to begin work while their permanent residence applications are processed.
Maggie Chi, parliamentary secretary to the minister of health, emphasized that increasing the number of qualified physicians is essential to improving national health outcomes.
“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 health care system needs will ensure people across the country receive timely, high-quality care.”
Chi added that collaboration with provincial and territorial governments is crucial to addressing systemic gaps in healthcare delivery.
“By working closely with provinces and territories, we are tackling workforce challenges and strengthening the health care system so Canadians receive the care they need, when they need it,” she explained.
Margot Burnell, president of the Canadian Medical Association, welcomed the announcement, describing it as beneficial for both patients and healthcare workers.
“By creating a pathway to permanent residence for doctors here on temporary visas, we create a stronger health workforce, staffing gaps begin to close, and patient care benefits from diverse voices and experiences,” Burnell said.
“Today’s announcement is a step in the right direction.”