IRCC has announced targeted measures to make the path to permanent residence simpler for international doctors — one of the most physician-focused immigration moves Canada has ever made.
Three measures, all confirmed in IRCC’s official announcement:
– 14-day work permit processing: doctors nominated by a province or territory under this pathway get expedited 14-day work permit processing, so they can start working while their permanent residence application is finalized.
– A new Express Entry category for doctors: IRCC created a dedicated category for international doctors with at least one year of Canadian work experience in an eligible occupation, gained within the last three years. Invitations under the new category began in early 2026 — and early rounds invited physicians at CRS scores far below general draws.
– 5,000 reserved PNP spaces: the federal government reserved 5,000 admission spaces for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with job offers. These sit on top of regular annual PNP allocations, so provinces can run physician-specific selection without eating into their normal quotas.
What this means for physicians: if you are a doctor with Canadian work experience, a provincial nomination, or a job offer from a licensed practice, your route to permanent residence just got meaningfully faster. Licensing remains provincial, but immigration processing is no longer the bottleneck.
Contact ImmiQuest for a personalized assessment of your options as an international physician.
Vikas Tulashyam, RCIC #R709710 | +1 778-855-4155 | info@immiquest.ca | https://immiquest.ca