Canada is opening the door for thousands of international doctors already working here on temporary permits. The federal government says it will fast-track permanent residency for 5,000 foreign-trained physicians to help tackle the nationwide doctor shortage.
Immigration Minister Lena Diab announced the move in Toronto, saying many of these doctors are already caring for Canadians — and the country “can’t afford to lose them.”
Starting in 2026, a new Express Entry category will allow doctors with at least one year of recent Canadian experience and a current job offer to apply for PR more easily. The program covers family doctors as well as specialists in surgery, clinical medicine, and lab medicine.
Provinces will also be able to nominate licensed doctors directly into the Express Entry stream, with work permits processed in as little as 14 days so they can keep working while their PR is finalized.
The government says the goal is to improve access to care for the many Canadians — including 17% of adults — who don’t have a regular health-care provider.
The Canadian Medical Association welcomed the announcement, saying more than 13,000 internationally trained physicians in Canada aren’t working in their field and that this policy is a step in the right direction.
(Source: CanadaNews)
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