Canada is opening clearer immigration pathways for internationally trained medical doctors at a time when the country needs more physicians across hospitals, clinics, rural communities and regional health systems.

In 2024, Canada had approximately 99,555 physicians. Around 27% of all practising physicians – and approximately 32% of family medicine physicians – were internationally trained. These figures show that doctors educated outside Canada already play an important role in the country’s healthcare system.

Recent federal measures have made the immigration side of the journey more favourable. Canada has introduced a dedicated Express Entry category for certain doctors with Canadian work experience, reserved 5,000 additional federal admission spaces for provincially nominated physicians and announced expedited work-permit processing for eligible nominated doctors.

However, international doctors must understand one important fact before beginning the process: immigration eligibility and medical licensing are not the same thing.

Being eligible to immigrate to Canada does not automatically mean being licensed to practise medicine in Canada.

A doctor may qualify for permanent residence but still need examinations, credential verification, postgraduate training, supervised assessment or provincial registration before treating patients independently. The opportunity is real, but successful applicants need to plan both pathways together.

Key fact	Current picture
Physicians practising in Canada in 2024	99,555
Share of physicians trained internationally	27%
Share of family physicians trained internationally	Approximately 32%
Federal PNP spaces reserved for nominated doctors	Up to 5,000
Expedited work-permit processing for eligible nominees	Targeted at 14 days

Why Canada Is Actively Looking for International Doctors

Canada’s population is growing and ageing, increasing the need for family physicians, specialists, surgeons and healthcare professionals. The distribution of physicians also remains uneven.

Although most Canadian doctors practise in urban areas, many smaller cities, rural communities and northern regions face more serious recruitment challenges. According to CIHI, only around 7% of Canada’s physicians were located in rural areas in 2024, despite the continuing need for medical services outside major urban centres.

Internationally trained physicians have helped Canada respond to these shortages for many years. The federal government reports that one in four healthcare workers in Canada is an immigrant, while more than 11,000 healthcare workers arrived through economic immigration programs in 2024.

Demand does not mean automatic admission or licensing. It does, however, explain why Canada is creating more targeted pathways for doctors who meet immigration, professional and provincial requirements.

Earning potential can also be attractive, although physician income varies significantly according to province, specialty, payment model, workload and practice expenses. Canada’s Job Bank currently reports national annual earnings for general practitioners and family physicians ranging from approximately $90,826 at the lower level to $435,240 at the higher level, with a median of about $232,227.

These figures should not be interpreted as guaranteed salaries. Many physicians are paid through fee-for-service or alternative payment arrangements and may have to pay clinic, staffing, insurance and other professional expenses.

Immigration and Medical Licensing Are Two Different Journeys

This distinction is the most important part of planning a medical career in Canada.

Immigration authorities decide whether someone may enter, work or become a permanent resident of Canada. Medical regulatory authorities decide whether that person is qualified and authorized to practise medicine in a particular province or territory.

A permanent resident who holds an international medical degree cannot begin practising independently simply because permanent residence has been approved. Similarly, a physician who appears professionally eligible for a provincial assessment program may still require the appropriate immigration or work authorization.

International doctors therefore need to build two connected plans.

Two plans, one coordinated strategy The immigration plan considers Express Entry eligibility, Comprehensive Ranking System points, provincial nomination, job offers, language test results, work permits, permanent residence and accompanying family members. The licensing plan considers source verification of credentials, medical examinations, postgraduate training, certification, provincial eligibility and registration with the appropriate medical regulatory authority. These processes can overlap, but they are not interchangeable.

The Medical Licensing Pathway for International Doctors

There is no single licensing pathway that applies to every internationally trained doctor. Requirements depend on where the doctor studied, whether postgraduate training has been completed, the medical specialty, recent clinical experience and the province or territory in which the doctor intends to practise.

An international medical graduate may need to complete some or all of the following stages:

1. Select a province or territory and review the requirements of its medical regulatory authority before making major immigration or relocation decisions.
2. Create a physiciansapply.ca account to access credential-verification services, examinations and medical-registration services. Candidates interested in Ontario should confirm the applicable source-verification process directly with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario.
3. Have the medical degree and any required postgraduate credentials source-verified. The medical school must generally be acceptable and listed appropriately in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
4. Obtain an Educational Credential Assessment for immigration purposes when required. If the primary occupation is specialist physician, surgeon, general practitioner or family physician under NOC 31100, 31101 or 31102, the ECA for the primary medical diploma must come from the Medical Council of Canada.
5. Demonstrate English or French proficiency where required. Immigration language testing and medical licensing language requirements may use different accepted tests, scores and validity periods.
6. Complete the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination, commonly called the MCCQE, when required for the chosen pathway. It assesses medical knowledge and clinical decision-making at the level expected of a graduating Canadian medical student.
7. Complete the National Assessment Collaboration Examination when required. The NAC Examination assesses readiness to enter supervised postgraduate training and is generally required for international medical graduates applying to Canadian residency through CaRMS. Certain Practice-Ready Assessment programs may also use it.
8. Complete Canadian postgraduate training, a Practice-Ready Assessment or another approved certification pathway, depending on the applicant’s qualifications.
9. Obtain certification through the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the Collège des médecins du Québec, where applicable.
10. Apply for registration with the medical regulatory authority in the province or territory where the doctor intends to practise.

The order and exact requirements can differ. Passing an examination does not, by itself, guarantee residency placement, entry into a Practice-Ready Assessment program or a medical licence.

Which Licensing Route May Apply to You?

Doctors should identify the route that best matches their training and experience rather than assuming that every internationally trained physician must repeat the same process.

Canadian Residency Through CaRMS

This pathway may be suitable for international medical graduates who have not completed acceptable postgraduate training or who are willing to retrain in Canada.

Applicants generally need to meet provincial eligibility requirements, pass the MCCQE and NAC Examination and participate in the Canadian Resident Matching Service process.

For the R-1 residency match, international medical graduates are generally required to be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, although limited exceptions may apply. Residency eligibility criteria can change by province and match cycle, so applicants must check the current requirements before planning examinations or immigration timelines.

Passing the required examinations does not guarantee a residency position. The match is competitive, and program requirements may include references, recent clinical experience, interviews and province-specific conditions.

Practice-Ready Assessment

A Practice-Ready Assessment, or PRA, may provide a more direct route for doctors who have completed postgraduate training and practised independently outside Canada.

According to the Medical Council of Canada, provincial PRA programs generally use a clinical workplace-based assessment lasting approximately 12 weeks. The assessment evaluates whether a physician can practise safely and independently within the Canadian healthcare environment.

Eligibility varies significantly by province and program. Requirements may include recent independent practice, a specified amount of postgraduate training, language proficiency, examination results and an offer or sponsorship from a provincial health authority.

PRA programs are selective. A physician may be an experienced practitioner internationally but still not meet the requirements of a particular provincial program.

Approved Jurisdiction Routes

Doctors trained and certified in certain jurisdictions may qualify for pathways recognizing that their postgraduate education is substantially comparable to Canadian training.

For family medicine, the College of Family Physicians of Canada recognizes specific training and certification arrangements from approved jurisdictions. For specialists, the Royal College has an Approved Jurisdiction Route, although eligibility depends on the specialty, jurisdiction, accreditation and length and content of training.

Recognition is not automatic. The appropriate Canadian certification body and provincial regulator must assess the applicant’s credentials.

Practice Eligibility Route for Specialists

The Royal College’s Practice Eligibility Route may be available to internationally trained specialists whose postgraduate training was completed outside Canada, the United States and Royal College-approved jurisdictions.

This pathway evaluates whether the physician’s training and practice experience are substantially equivalent to Canadian specialty standards. Candidates may need a formal credentials assessment, certification examination and a required period of supervised or approved practice in Canada.

Immigration Options for Medical Doctors

Canada’s immigration system now offers doctors several possible pathways. The right option depends on Canadian experience, overseas experience, age, language ability, education, job offers, provincial support and family circumstances.

The New Express Entry Category for Doctors With Canadian Experience

In 2026, Canada introduced a dedicated Express Entry category for medical doctors with Canadian work experience.

A candidate must be eligible for at least one of the three immigration programs managed through Express Entry and must have accumulated at least one year of full-time work experience, or an equivalent amount of part-time experience, as an eligible medical doctor in Canada during the previous three years.

Eligible occupations include specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine under NOC 31100, specialists in surgery under NOC 31101, and general practitioners and family physicians under NOC 31102.

Candidates may be invited through the physicians category, a general Express Entry round or a program-specific round. Meeting the category requirements does not guarantee an invitation. The applicant must have a valid Express Entry profile and satisfy all requirements stated in the invitation round.

Canada also recognizes certain publicly funded fee-for-service medical work when assessing Canadian work experience. This is important because many doctors are technically considered self-employed because of how they bill for their services. Eligible fee-for-service experience may count under the Canadian Experience Class when the government’s conditions are met.

Healthcare and Social Services Category-Based Selection

Doctors who do not yet have Canadian medical work experience may still qualify for Express Entry through the broader healthcare and social services category.

This category includes NOC 31100, 31101 and 31102. Candidates generally need at least 12 months of eligible full-time work experience, or an equivalent amount of part-time experience, in a single listed occupation during the previous three years. For this category, the experience may have been gained in Canada or abroad.

The candidate must also be eligible for an Express Entry program and meet the requirements of the particular invitation round. This creates a possible immigration opportunity for qualified doctors outside Canada, but it does not remove the Canadian licensing requirements they will face before practising.

Provincial Nominee Program

The Provincial Nominee Program may be particularly important for doctors who have a job, job offer or formal letter of support from a Canadian province, territory, health authority or eligible employer.

Canada has reserved up to 5,000 additional federal immigration admission spaces for provinces and territories to nominate medical doctors with job offers or letters of support. These spaces are in addition to regular provincial nomination allocations.

Once an eligible doctor receives a provincial or territorial nomination, the doctor may also qualify for expedited work-permit processing targeted at 14 days. This is intended to help nominated doctors begin working while their permanent residence application is processed, provided they meet the applicable work-permit and licensing requirements.

A nomination is not simply a general invitation to live anywhere in Canada. The applicant must genuinely intend to live and work in the province or territory that issued the nomination.

Atlantic, Rural and Francophone Pathways

International doctors without Canadian experience may also consider regional programs.

The Atlantic Immigration Program may be relevant to doctors who receive a qualifying job offer from a designated employer in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island.

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot may be suitable for eligible doctors with a qualifying job offer from a designated employer in one of the participating rural communities.

French-speaking doctors may also consider the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot if they have the required experience, a qualifying job offer, French-language ability and an intention to live in a participating Francophone community outside Quebec.

Quebec operates its own immigration programs and medical registration system and is not part of the Provincial Nominee Program.

What Doctors Should Plan Before Applying

The strongest strategy is not necessarily to submit an Express Entry profile immediately. A doctor should first understand how immigration, licensing, employment and location affect one another.

A province with a promising immigration stream may not offer a suitable licensing route for a particular applicant. A doctor may qualify for a federal immigration program but still need Canadian residency training. Another physician may qualify for a Practice-Ready Assessment but require provincial sponsorship or a regional employment commitment.

Applicants should examine their complete profile: the primary medical degree; postgraduate education; specialty or family medicine certification; location and length of independent practice; recency of clinical work; English or French proficiency; examination history; preferred province; willingness to serve in a rural or regional community; immigration score; family requirements; and the time and cost associated with licensing.

Credential recognition can take time and involve examination, assessment, translation, verification, training and application fees. The Government of Canada states that eligible applicants may be able to access Foreign Credential Recognition Loans of between $15,000 and $30,000 to help cover licensing examinations, training and related expenses. Eligibility depends on immigration status, location and the participating service provider.

Doctors should also avoid leaving clinical practice unnecessarily while waiting. Long gaps in recent practice may affect eligibility for certain licensing or assessment programs. Where possible, applicants should begin verifying credentials and researching provincial requirements while continuing their current professional work.

How Career Abroad Can Help Medical Doctors

Planning beyond the immigration form For an internationally trained doctor, the Canadian journey involves much more than completing an immigration form. The applicant must understand how professional credentials, Canadian work authorization, permanent residence pathways, provincial recruitment and family plans fit together. Career Abroad can help applicants organize this journey, understand the immigration options that may match their profiles and avoid making expensive decisions based on incomplete information.

• Reviewing the doctor’s education, postgraduate training, work history, language ability and Canadian experience to identify potential immigration pathways.
• Comparing Express Entry, the Canadian-experience category for physicians, healthcare category-based selection, Provincial Nominee Programs and eligible regional options.
• Explaining the difference between an Educational Credential Assessment for immigration and source verification or certification required for medical licensing.
• Providing document-planning support for Express Entry, provincial nomination, work permits and permanent residence.
• Helping doctors and their families understand language tests, proof of funds, police certificates, medical examinations and other immigration documentation.
• Reviewing how a Canadian job offer or provincial letter of support may connect with an appropriate immigration pathway.
• Helping applicants build a realistic sequence for immigration, credential verification, licensing research and relocation instead of treating each decision separately.

Career Abroad does not replace the Medical Council of Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Royal College, CaRMS or a provincial medical regulatory authority. These organizations determine examination, certification, residency and licensing eligibility.

What Career Abroad can do is help applicants navigate the immigration side with greater clarity, organize the process and avoid making expensive decisions based on incomplete information.

This is particularly valuable for doctors and families applying from India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and other regions where medical education, postgraduate training and professional registration structures may differ from Canadian requirements.

The goal should not be to choose the fastest-looking route. It should be to identify the route that is realistic for the doctor’s professional background, immigration profile and long-term career.

A Genuine Opportunity That Requires Careful Preparation

Canada is not suggesting that every internationally trained doctor will immediately receive permanent residence or a medical licence. The country is creating more targeted opportunities for doctors whose qualifications, experience and employment plans match Canadian and provincial needs.

For doctors already practising in Canada, the new Express Entry category and recognition of eligible fee-for-service experience may create a stronger pathway to permanent residence.

For doctors outside Canada, healthcare category-based selection, provincial nomination, Atlantic immigration, rural programs and Francophone pathways may provide possible routes. At the same time, licensing options such as Canadian residency, Practice-Ready Assessment, approved-jurisdiction recognition and the Practice Eligibility Route can help qualified physicians work towards medical registration.

The process remains demanding. It can involve credential verification, language testing, medical examinations, certification, provincial assessment and immigration documentation. But the opportunity is not closed.

Internationally trained doctors already form a significant part of Canada’s healthcare workforce. With the right qualifications, realistic expectations and a coordinated immigration and licensing plan, medical professionals from around the world can still build meaningful careers and contribute to Canadian communities.

Career Abroad can help you understand where your journey should begin, which immigration options may match your profile and how to plan the next steps for yourself and your family.