By Yussif Silva, Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer at Heron Law Offices
On December 08, 2025, the Canadian government announced three immigration measures to facilitate permanent residence for doctors:
- The new Physicians with Canadian work experience Express Entry category;
- 5,000 spots under the Provincial Nominee Program for licensed doctors with job offers; and
- Expedited 14-day work permit processing for provincially nominated doctors.
These measures are intended to mitigate Canada’s severe shortage of doctors. Currently, approximately 5.9 million Canadians do not have regular access to a primary care provider. With growing and aging population, Canada’s demand for doctors is on the rise.
These new immigration measures may help retain internationally trained doctors who might otherwise leave the Canadian healthcare system due to the lack of a permanent residence pathway, while also attracting physicians trained in countries with streamlined Canadian re-accreditation processes, such as the United States.
The New Physicians with Canadian Work Experience Express Entry Category
As of the day of writing (16 December), to qualify under the Physicians with Canadian Work Experience (PCWE) Express Entry category, you must:
The PCWE-eligible occupations are also included under the Health and Social Services Occupations (HSSO) Express Entry category, which has been part of the Express Entry system since February 2025. However, the PCWE category significantly narrows scope of eligible candidates to three occupations, compared to thirty-seven under the HSSO category. The PCWE category also prioritizes professionals with greater experience, requiring a minimum of one year of Canadian experience, as opposed to six months of experience in any country under HSSO.
To qualify for the PCWE or HSSO categories, you must also meet the requirements of one of the existing Express Entry programs: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Program, or Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Eligibility under the PCWE or another Express Entry category does not guarantee permanent residence. To obtain permanent residence, your profile must be selected under Express Entry’s points-based system to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence (ITA), submit an application for permanent residence (PR application) with documentary evidence corroborating your Express Entry profile score (CRS score), and pass IRCC’s assessment of your eligibility and admissibility to Canada.
Common reasons for refusal of PR applications under a category-based selection include,
- a. selecting the wrong NOC;
- b. insufficient evidence corroborating your Express Entry profile;
- c. discrepancies between the PR application and previous temporary residence applications; d. omitting accompanying family members, and e. misrepresentation.
According to IRCC, invitations to apply for the PCWE category will be issued in early 2026. It is therefore important to ensure that your Express Entry profile is accurate and submitted to the pool before the first PCWE draw, in order to maximize your chances of receiving an ITA and to avoid issues with a future PR application.
5,000 spots under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for licensed doctors with job offers
The additional 5,000 PNP spots for licensed doctors with job offers should facilitate permanent residence for candidates who are not yet eligible for the PCWE or another category, or who are unlikely to receive an ITA due to low CRS score.
Generally, a provincial nomination significantly increases a candidate’s chances of receiving an ITA by adding 600 points to their CRS score, or it may allow the candidate to apply for permanent residence directly through a non–Express Entry process.
Many provinces offer nomination programs specifically targeting medical professionals. The requirements for a provincial nomination vary by province. British Columbia, for example, nominates physicians through the BC PNP Health Authority Stream, which has specific requirements such as a qualifying job offer, employer support, language proficiency, and wage criteria, among others. You should review the nomination requirements of the province where you intend to reside before pursuing this option.
Expedited 14-day work permit processing for provincially nominated doctors
This is a fast-track process for work permits available to doctors who have received a provincial nomination. Its purpose is to allow these physicians to work in Canada while applying for permanent residence as provincial nominees.
Professional assistance
IRCC’s assessment of immigration applications is strict. A mistake could lead to a significant delay or jeopardize your immigration plan. To mitigate these risks, it is important to consult a professional about you immigration matter.
If you would like to have a personalized professional assessment of your immigration options, or assistance with your Express Entry profile, permanent residence application, or Provincial Nominee Program application, book a consultation with one of our lawyers today.
