Canada’s New Pathway for International Doctors: Licensing, Work Permit, and PR Blueprint
Everything You Need to Know About Canada’s New Pathways for International Doctors
Licensing, Work Permit, and Permanent Residence Blueprint for 2025–2026
Canada made a major announcement on December 8, 2025. Minister Diab introduced a new federal pathway for doctors who are already contributing to Canada’s health care system. The message is clear. Canada needs physicians, and the immigration system is adjusting to keep the doctors who are here and practicing.
This guide explains exactly what this means for international doctors, what steps are required, and how to navigate the licensing, exams, work permits, provincial programs, and permanent residence options.
It is a complete blueprint, from work authorization to PR.
Canada’s New 2025 Update for International Doctors
On December 8, 2025, IRCC announced:
• A new Express Entry category for doctors with at least one year of recent Canadian clinical experience
• 5,000 new federal nomination spaces for provinces and territories to nominate licensed physicians with job offers
• 14-day work permit processing for nominated doctors
This is good news, but it does not automatically make the process simple.
To qualify, you still need:
• the ability to work legally as a physician in Canada,
• the required Canadian clinical experience, and
• a path to licensing through exams and provincial assessments.
New Express Entry Pathway for International Doctors (NOC 31100, 31101, 31102)
Canada has announced a new Express Entry category for internationally trained doctors who already have recent Canadian work experience. This category is called “Physicians with Canadian work experience” and is based on NOC 2021.
To be considered, you must:
Have at least 12 months of continuous full time (or equivalent part time) work in Canada in the last 3 years
Have that experience in one of these NOC 2021 occupations:
NOC 31100 – Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
NOC 31101 – Specialists in surgery
NOC 31102 – General practitioners and family physicians
Still meet all regular Express Entry requirements for eligibility and admissibility
This new stream is meant to make permanent residence more accessible for doctors who are already practicing in Canada, but it does not replace provincial licensing. You still need to meet the requirements of the provincial medical regulatory authority where you plan to work.
Your Blueprint: How International Doctors Actually Succeed in Canada
To benefit from the new pathway, you must follow this order:
Complete required medical exams
Remove restrictions on your work permit
Be allowed to work in health care (as a doctor)
Enter a PRA or provincial licensing pathway
Secure a job offer
Gain Canadian experience
Apply for permanent residence
Each step matters because immigration, licensing, and employment are connected.
Skipping one step slows everything down.
Step 1: Work Authorization and Upfront Medical Exam
Many temporary residents receive a work permit with a condition that prevents them from working in occupations involving public health protection. Doctors cannot begin clinical roles until this condition is removed.
To remove the restriction, you must complete:
Upfront Immigration Medical Exam
Examination with a Panel Physician
After completing the exam, you must request IRCC to remove the health-sector employment restriction from your work permit. Only then can you legally work in hospitals, clinics, laboratories, or any environment involving patients or biological materials.
This is essential for any doctor who plans to gain Canadian work experience.
Step 2: Licensing and National Medical Exams
Canada requires internationally trained physicians to complete specific national exams before licensing or assessment. Here are some usefull resources and regulatory bodies to go through.
MCCQE Part I
Computer-based exam testing medical knowledge and clinical decision-making.
NAC Examination (NAC OSCE)
Standardized clinical assessment required for PRA and many residency pathways.
CFPC Certification – Family Medicine
Royal College Certification – Specialists
These national requirements form the foundation for provincial licensure.
Step 3: Practice Ready Assessment (PRA)
Practice Ready Assessment programs evaluate whether internationally trained physicians are ready for independent practice in Canada. PRA is generally available for family physicians and, in some provinces, certain specialists.
You will find province-specific PRA links in the guide below.
Step 4: Immigration Pathways for International Doctors
Your immigration options include:
Express Entry Category for Physicians (2026 and beyond)
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)
Work Permit Options for Doctors
14-Day Work Permit Processing for Nominated Doctors
(General details at IRCC:
Province-by-Province Guide for International Doctors
Below is a complete list of provincial regulators, PRA programs, and recruitment platforms.
British Columbia
BC PNP Health Authority Stream
Alberta
Practice Ready Assessment Alberta
Saskatchewan
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan
IMG Support Program – University of Saskatchewan
Manitoba
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba
Physician Assessment Program (PRA MB)
University of Manitoba IMG Programs
Ontario
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)
Practice Ready Assessment Ontario
Quebec
Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ)
Nova Scotia
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia
Practice Ready Assessment Nova Scotia
New Brunswick
College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick
Practice Ready Assessment New Brunswick
Provincial Physician Recruitment
Prince Edward Island
College of Physicians and Surgeons of PEI
Hospitalist Fellowship Program
Newfoundland and Labrador
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Newfoundland and Labrador
Final Thoughts for International Doctors
Canada’s new pathway offers a real opportunity for physicians, but eligibility still depends on several key steps:
• completing an upfront medical exam
• removing any work permit restrictions
• passing national medical exams
• entering the provincial licensing process
• completing PRA or residency
• securing a job offer
• gaining Canadian clinical experience
Once all these pieces come together, the new immigration pathway becomes a realistic option. Immigration outcomes are never guaranteed, but a structured approach improves your readiness.
If you want help with immigration strategy, work permit extensions, PNP pathways, or PR preparation, ImmiGreen can support you with the process in a structured, realistic, and compliance-focused way.
Mehdi is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC-IRB), an immigrant himself who has lived most of his life in Canada. He carries a deep passion for helping others navigate the same system that once shaped his own journey.
With a background spanning IT, healthcare, and business, Mehdi brings a rare combination of analytical precision and human understanding to every case. Before founding Immigreen Consulting, he spent years working in the health sector and technology fields, developing the problem-solving skills and empathy that now define his approach to complex immigration cases.
As a father, advocate for dignity and fairness, and someone who believes in second chances, Mehdi specializes in challenging applications—from humanitarian and compassionate PR cases to residency obligation appeals, spousal sponsorships, and refused visa re-applications. His work is guided by one simple principle: every client deserves trusted, human-centered representation and a voice that’s heard.
Outside his practice, Mehdi is an aviation enthusiast, lifelong athlete, and former martial arts competitor. He has volunteered with youth programs, taught martial arts, and supported foster children in care homes. He has also tutored underprivileged students, continuing his lifelong mission of helping people grow, belong, and thrive.
I treat every case like it’s personal. Because for my clients, it is.
About the author, Mehdi Nafisi
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