Canada announced a major immigration update on December 8, 2025, to strengthen its healthcare workforce and give international doctors a faster route to permanent residency. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab and Maggie Chi shared three important measures that aim to help hospitals and clinics dealing with staff shortages and growing demand for medical services.

Check Your Skilled Assessment & Eligibility

New Fast-Track PR Pathway for Physicians

The government introduced a new Express Entry stream called “Physicians with Canadian Work Experience.” It gives doctors who already work in Canada a clearer and quicker path to PR.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, applicants must:

  • Complete 12 months of full-time Canadian work experience (or equal part-time)

  • Gain this experience within the last three years

  • Work under one of these eligible NOC codes:

    • 31102 – General Practitioners & Family Physicians

    • 31101 – Specialists in Surgery

    • 31100 – Specialists in Clinical & Laboratory Medicine

IRCC plans to start issuing invitations under this category in early 2026. With this stream, Canada wants to reward doctors who already support Canadian patients and help them settle faster.

5,000 Extra PR Seats for Doctors

The federal government also set aside 5,000 additional PR admissions for provinces to nominate licensed doctors. This move gives provinces more room to invite physicians who meet local healthcare needs. Because many internationally trained doctors—especially from India—already work across Canada, this update opens more doors for long-term settlement.

Faster Work Permits for Practice-Ready Doctors

In addition, the government introduced a 14-day work permit processing system for provincially nominated, practice-ready doctors. With this change, nominated physicians can move into their roles much sooner. Hospitals can fill urgent vacancies more quickly, and doctors avoid long waiting periods that often delay their start dates.

How This New Stream Differs From the Existing Healthcare Category

Canada still runs the broader Healthcare category under Express Entry, which accepts medical professionals from various backgrounds. However, the new category works differently in a key way.

Main Difference

  • The existing Healthcare category allows foreign work experience.

  • The new Physicians category requires at least one year of Canadian work experience.

Both options will continue. This gives doctors more flexibility, although IRCC may adjust priorities again in early 2026.

What the Update Means for Indian Doctors

India remains one of the largest contributors of internationally trained doctors to Canada. Because of that, these changes offer several advantages for Indian physicians already in Canada or planning to move.

Key Benefits

  • A faster PR route through the new physician-focused stream

  • More PR seats for doctors, improving selection chances

  • A rapid 14-day work permit for nominated physicians

  • Strong national demand for medical professionals

  • Multiple PR pathways running at the same time

Doctors already working in Canada can now move from temporary roles to permanent residency with more certainty. Meanwhile, doctors abroad still have options through the existing Healthcare category while Canada expands medical immigration opportunities.

Planning to move to Canada as a doctor? Connect with expert advisors and begin your PR process today.