Canada's Landmark Express Entry Draw for Physicians Issues 391 Permanent Residency Invitations
In a significant move to address critical healthcare workforce shortages, Canada conducted its first-ever dedicated Express Entry round specifically for physicians with Canadian work experience on February 19. This historic draw resulted in the issuance of 391 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency, with a remarkably low Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) cut-off of just 169 points.
New Stream Targets Foreign-Trained Doctors Already Working in Canada
The newly introduced "Physicians with Canadian Work Experience" stream represents a strategic shift in Canada's immigration policy, specifically designed to prioritize foreign-trained medical professionals who have already demonstrated their value within the Canadian healthcare system. To qualify for this category, physicians must have accumulated at least 12 months of clinical work experience in Canada within the past three years.
"These doctors are already working in Canada on a temporary basis, helping patients and contributing to our health care system," stated Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). "We're giving these doctors a clear pathway to permanent residence in Canada to fill critical health workforce gaps, while helping support reliable care and a stable health system for Canadians."
Important Distinction: Immigration vs. Medical Licensing
For Indian doctors and other international medical professionals hoping to leverage this new pathway to Canadian permanent residency, there is a crucial distinction that must be understood. Recognition of medical qualifications for immigration purposes does not equate to automatic licensure to practice medicine in Canada.
An Indian doctor currently practicing in Alberta explained this critical difference to media: "To practise as a medical doctor in Canada, foreign-trained physicians must have their foreign credentials assessed (say MBBS), and be licensed by a provincial or territorial regulatory authority and undergo retraining. The Express Entry draws are for those who already have Canada experience as doctors, acceptance of your medical degree for immigration does not translate into the automatic right to practise."
Comprehensive Measures to Attract Medical Professionals
This inaugural physician-specific Express Entry draw follows a comprehensive suite of measures announced by IRCC in December 2025, all designed to bolster Canada's strained healthcare workforce. Beyond the new Express Entry category, the government has implemented several additional initiatives:
- Reservation of 5,000 permanent residence admission spaces specifically for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with job offers
- Introduction of expedited work permit processing with a 14-day turnaround time
- Allowance for physicians to begin or continue working while their permanent residence applications undergo adjudication
Medical Association Welcomes Initiatives While Highlighting Licensing Challenges
Dr. Margot Burnell, President of The Canadian Medical Association (CMA), has publicly welcomed these immigration initiatives as positive steps toward addressing Canada's healthcare access crisis. However, the Association has also emphasized the persistent challenges surrounding the licensing of internationally trained physicians already residing in Canada.
In an official statement, the CMA highlighted a concerning statistic: "Currently, more than 13,000 internationally trained physicians in Canada are not working in their field. We must do more to recognize the medical talent already here – and to attract, welcome and retain more from around the world."
The Association further elaborated on the necessary approach: "If we can combine immigration policies like this with scaling up proven licensing pathways that help doctors enter practice quickly, we can make a real dent in the access-to-care crisis without compromising standards of care."
Strategic Response to Healthcare Workforce Pressures
Canada's healthcare system has been facing significant workforce pressures, with many regions experiencing doctor shortages and extended wait times for medical services. The new Express Entry category for physicians represents a targeted effort to retain medical talent that is already contributing to the Canadian healthcare system on a temporary basis.
By creating a streamlined pathway to permanent residency for foreign-trained doctors with Canadian work experience, the government aims to address two critical objectives simultaneously: filling immediate healthcare workforce gaps while providing stability for medical professionals who have already demonstrated their commitment to serving Canadian patients.
The exceptionally low CRS cut-off score of 169 points in this inaugural draw indicates the high priority Canada places on attracting and retaining qualified medical professionals, particularly those who have already integrated into the Canadian healthcare environment and understand its operational requirements.
