The Immigration Minister of Canada made a momentous announcement concerning the immigration system on December 8, 2025: the establishment of a separate “physicians” stream under the Express Entry program that would hasten the process of granting permanent residency to doctors working in Canada.

The new stream is of utmost importance as it creates a less competitive environment. Such category-based draws usually provide lower cut-off scores under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), implying that qualified doctors would have better chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

The IRCC plans to carry out the initial draws for this category in the beginning of 2026; however, candidates interested in this are advised to open or refresh their Express Entry profiles now, to be fully prepared when the draws commence.

Which Medical Occupations Qualify

At the introduction of the new category for physicians, three significant groups of occupations will be included.

• General Practitioners & Family Physicians (NOC 31102)

People who belong to this profession could be general practitioners (GPs), family physicians, or resident/medical doctors in general practice. Some of the typical responsibilities are prescribing medicines, giving emergency or acute care, performing or assisting with routine surgeries, providing prenatal/postnatal care, giving vaccinations, offering advice on the prevention of diseases, providing continuous and primary care, coordinating services for home care, and managing general health screening and reporting duties.

• Specialists in Surgery (NOC 31101)

A variety of surgical specialists make up this group, among them the following: cardiac surgeons, general surgeons, neurosurgeons, or obstetrician-gynecologists, ophthalmologists, orthopedic surgeons, ENT specialists, pediatric surgeons, plastic surgeons, thoracic surgeons, urologists, and vascular surgeons.

These specialists handle surgical treatments, manage pre- and post-operative care, collaborate with medical teams, and perform surgeries according to their expertise.

• Specialists in Clinical & Laboratory Medicine (NOC 31100)

Under this classification fall a broad variety of medical specialists, such as anesthetists, cardiologists, dermatologists, radiologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, neurologists, oncologists, pathologists, and many more.

They may work in diagnostics, treatment of internal and systemic illnesses, mental health, radiology/imaging, pathology labs, emergency care, public health, rehabilitation medicine, and other clinical specialties.

What Does It Take to Qualify

To qualify for the new physicians' stream, it is necessary to fulfill all of the following requirements:

• Must have 12-month continuous full-time work experience (or part-time equivalent) in Canada in one of the permitted occupations.

• The work experience should be acquired within the last three years.

• In addition, you must be part of the Express Entry pool and satisfy any extra conditions laid down by the forthcoming ministerial instructions. If you fall short of these requirements, for instance, if your experience is not in the country or does not add up to 12 months, you may still qualify under the existing wider healthcare and social services category.

· Why This Matters — And What It Could Mean for International Doctors

• Faster and clearer path to PR: Quicker and simpler way to PR: With a separate immigration channel for doctors, Canada confirms the necessity for such skilled professionals in the medical sector.

   It is, therefore, going to be easier and quicker for the doctors having the required qualifications to immigrate.

• Express Entry better chances: Those doctors who meet the qualifications will probably have the least contention when applying for an ITA as the CRS score limits set for category-based draws are usually lower than those set for the general economic streams.

• Real Canadian work experience is the main criterion: By including one year of Canadian medical work in the list of requirements, the stream will consider applicants who have already been active in the Canadian healthcare system as the first priority.

• Greater attraction for long-term settlement: For foreign doctors who are already in Canada or are planning to come to Canada eventually, this route can make the road to permanent residency less difficult, and they might be more motivated to come and stay in Canada with their families and careers.

IRCC's new doctors' category is a very lucrative chance for the foreign or internationally trained doctors who are already working in Canada. Through limiting eligibility to certain medical occupations and Canadian work experience, the stream is intended to draw in skilled workers who will be able to cover the healthcare needs of Canada.

If you are a doctor (GP, surgeon, or medical specialist) and have been doing at least a year of medical work in Canada or about to, now is the perfect time to refresh your Express Entry profile. It might facilitate your gaining Canadian permanent residency in the future draws.

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Article Credit: Usman Khalil 

Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC R709592)