The Canadian government has announced plans to grant permanent residency to foreign doctors currently working in the country as temporary residents to address the nationwide shortage of physicians. Immigration Minister Lena Diab revealed the new policy in Toronto, stating that an additional 5,000 spots will be made available for international doctors beyond the existing immigration quotas.
The initiative includes the introduction of a new express entry category for foreign doctors by 2026. Eligible physicians must have at least one year of Canadian work experience within the past three years and a current job offer. The program is open to primary care doctors and specialists in fields like surgery, clinical, and laboratory medicine.
In a government statement, it was highlighted that these measures aim to provide a clear pathway to permanent residency for foreign doctors, helping to address critical healthcare workforce shortages and ensuring a stable healthcare system for Canadians. Provinces and territories will be able to nominate licensed doctors with job offers to the express entry stream, expediting the processing of their work permits within 14 days to enable them to work while their permanent residency status is finalized.
The government emphasized that the goal of this initiative is to enhance healthcare access for the significant percentage of adults and children who currently lack a regular healthcare provider. The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) expressed support for the announcement, noting that there are over 13,000 internationally trained physicians in Canada not practicing in their field. CMA President Dr. Margot Burnell called for greater recognition of existing medical talent in the country and efforts to attract and retain healthcare professionals from around the world.