Medical doctors with experience in Canada
You can apply for permanent residence in Canada through one of these programs, if you have experience working as a medical doctor in Canada.
You need to have your credentials assessed and a licence to work in Canada
To work as a medical doctor in Canada, first you must:
- have your foreign credentials assessed, and
- be licensed as a medical doctor in Canada through a provincial or territorial regulatory authority
Express Entry (including a new category for physicians)
Choose this pathway if you meet these requirements:
- you’re eligible for 1 of the 3 programs managed through Express Entry
- you have at least 1 year of full-time work experience as a medical doctor in Canada
- this work experience is in the last 3 years
You could be invited to apply through one of these round types:
- category-based selection rounds (under a new category for physicians) New in 2026
- general rounds of invitation
- program-specific rounds of invitation
Immigrate through Express Entry
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1
Check if you’re eligible and get your documents ready
Before you create a profile, make sure you’re eligible to apply for Express Entry. If you are eligible, you’ll need to gather some documents to create your profile.
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2
Create or update your Express Entry profile
Once you have your documents, you’re ready to create or update your profile and submit it to the Express Entry pool.
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3
Wait for an invitation to apply
If you’re currently working in Canada
Extend your existing work permit before it expires.
If you’re outside Canada
Apply for a work permit if you want to work in Canada while you wait. You must have a job offer.
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4
Apply for permanent residence
If you’re eligible, you’ll get an invitation to apply for permanent residence through an Express Entry round of invitations. You must submit your application within 60 days.
You can include these family members in your application:
- spouse or common-law partner
- dependent child (yours or your spouse or common-law partner’s)
- dependent grandchild (the dependent child of your dependent child)
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Choose this pathway if:
- you have a job, a job offer, or letter of support to work as a medical doctor in Canada
New Provinces and territories will have up to 5,000 federal immigration spaces reserved to nominate medical doctors with job offers or letters of support.
Immigrate through the Provincial Nominee Program
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1
Explore and get nominated by a province or territory
Each province or territory’s website will have more information about the streams that are available, based on where you want to live and work.
Select a province or territory to learn about their PNP program
Quebec does not have a provincial nominee program. Learn more about Quebec’s immigration programs
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2
Apply for permanent residence
First, you must apply for a nomination from the province or territory you’re interested in.
If the province or territory nominates you, you can then apply to us for permanent residence. You can choose one of the 2 processes we offer under the Provincial Nominee Program.
You can include these family members in your application:
- spouse or common-law partner
- dependent child (yours or your spouse or common-law partner’s)
- dependent grandchild (the dependent child of your dependent child)
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3
Work while we process your application Faster 14-day processing
Once nominated by a province or territory, you will be eligible for an expedited work permit. This work permit will let you start working in Canada, if you aren’t already, while you wait for us to process your permanent residence application.
No experience working as a medical doctor in Canada yet?
Or your Canadian work experience is more than 3 years old? You may be able to immigrate through another pathway. You must be able to get your credentials assessed and get licensed in Canada.