Canada: New Express Entry Category and Immigration Measures for Foreign Doctors Announced

The government of Canada has announced new immigration measures aimed at strengthening the healthcare workforce and streamlining permanent residence pathways for international doctors in Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will introduce a new Express Entry category for international doctors with at least one year of Canadian work experience in an eligible occupation within the past three years. Invitations to apply for permanent residence under this category are expected to begin in early 2026. The government will reserve 5,000 permanent residence admission spaces for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with job offers. These spaces are in addition to existing Provincial Nominee Program allocations, significantly expanding provincial capacity to select foreign-trained doctors. Nominated physicians will benefit from expedited work permit processing (estimated at 14 days), allowing them to begin or continue working while their permanent residence applications are adjudicated. Further program details are expected as IRCC rolls out these measures in 2026, including any additional updates or changes to the category-based selection process for Express Entry candidates for 2026. 
 
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.