If you’re an international doctor working in Canada right now, the new Express Entry for doctors pathway could change everything.
On December 8, 2025, Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced this dedicated category starting in early 2026. Express Entry is Canada’s main online system for managing permanent residence applications from skilled workers.
You’ve been helping Canadian patients while living with temporary status. Canada has finally recognized that the healthcare system needs you to stay.
What the New Express Entry for Doctors Means (And Why Now)
Canada faces a major doctor shortage. According to the Government of Canada, 5.7 million Canadian adults (17%) and 765,000 children and youth (11%) do not have regular access to a healthcare provider.
Starting early 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will hold Express Entry draws (selection rounds) only for physicians. You can read the full announcement on the IRCC website.
If you’ve worked as a doctor in Canada for at least one year, you’ll compete only against other healthcare workers, not tens of thousands of candidates from all professions. This means lower score requirements and better chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
Who Qualifies for Express Entry as a Doctor in Canada
The new category selects three medical groups based on Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.
Which Doctors Are Eligible for Express Entry
- General Practitioners and Family Physicians (NOC 31102): Family doctors, GPs, and medical doctors providing primary care.
- Specialists in Surgery (NOC 31101): General surgeons, cardiac surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, and obstetricians-gynecologists.
- Specialists in Clinical and Laboratory Medicine (NOC 31100): Cardiologists, dermatologists, anesthesiologists, radiologists, pathologists, and other clinical specialists.
Your actual work in Canada must match one of these NOC codes. You can verify your occupation matches the official description on the Government of Canada NOC website. Meeting the right occupation category is just the first step.
Work Experience Requirements
- You need 12 months of full-time work experience in Canada within the last three years.
- This experience must be continuous in your physician role. Part-time hours can count if they total 1,560 hours (the standard full-time equivalent for one year).
- If you started working at a clinic in January 2024, you’ll hit your 12-month mark in January 2025 and can apply once draws begin.
What Counts as Qualifying Experience
- Keep detailed records, including reference letters, pay stubs, and employment contracts.
- If you’re working while completing licensing requirements, verify that your role matches the eligible NOC categories.
- Confirm your NOC code match before invitation rounds begin. Small classification errors can delay your application or result in refusal.
Beyond Express Entry: 5000 Reserved Provincial Nomination Spots
Beyond the new Express Entry category, the federal government reserved 5,000 permanent residence spaces for provinces and territories. These spots are only for licensed doctors with job offers. They come in addition to regular Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) quotas.
The 14-Day Work Permit Advantage
Doctors nominated through provincial spots receive work permit processing in just 14 days. This allows you to continue working while your permanent residence application is finalized. Compare this to typical processing times of several months.
If you’re a family doctor with a job offer in rural Nova Scotia, the province can nominate you and process your work permit in 14 days instead of months.
How Express Entry Draws Work for Doctors
- Your chances improve because you’re scored against other doctors, not all applicants.
- The system awards points for age, education, work experience, and language skills through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
- In draws that select only healthcare workers, you compete in a much smaller pool.
Lower Score Requirements
Healthcare draws in 2025 saw CRS cutoffs as low as 462 points. General draws typically required 500+ points. A doctor with 465 CRS points might not receive an invitation in a general draw but could get selected in a healthcare draw.
The physician category expected in early 2026 may have even lower requirements.
Immigration Status vs. Medical Licensing
Getting permanent residence won’t automatically let you practice medicine. You still need provincial licensing.
You must obtain licensing from the provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons (the regulatory body governing medical practice) where you plan to work.
Why This Matters
Many doctors navigate both processes at the same time. You can work in healthcare roles while completing licensing requirements, and this Canadian work experience counts toward the 12-month requirement.
The new physician category streamlines the immigration piece, giving you certainty while you complete provincial licensing.
How Doctors Should Prepare for Express Entry Now
Invitations begin in early 2026. Act now to position yourself.
- Verify Your NOC Code: Confirm your current work matches NOC 31100, 31101, or 31102.
- Calculate Your Experience: Determine whether you have 12 months of continuous work in an eligible physician role.
- Create Your Express Entry Profile: If you’re not in the pool, create your profile now. You must be in the pool when invitations are issued.
- Take Language Tests: Complete IELTS, CELPIP, or another approved test. Higher scores increase your ranking.
- Gather Documentation: Collect reference letters, licensing proof, and job descriptions.
Why Get Professional Help
This pathway is brand new. Even experienced applicants benefit from expert guidance.
Dr. Joe’s Immigration helps healthcare professionals build stronger Express Entry applications. Learn more about our Express Entry consulting services and how we can help you navigate this new physician category.
Your Two Pathways to Permanent Residence
This announcement creates two opportunities for physicians working in Canada:
- The New Physician Category: Express Entry draws only for doctors with 12 months of Canadian experience (NOC 31100, 31101, 31102).
- 5,000 Provincial Spots: Provinces can nominate licensed doctors with job offers, with 14-day work permit processing.
Invitations begin in early 2026. If you’re working as a physician in Canada now, verify your eligibility and build your profile before draws start.
Schedule Your Consultation Today with Dr. Joe’s Immigration
Book your consultation now if you’re a physician working in Canada. Our team can assess your eligibility, verify your NOC code classification, review your work experience documentation, and build a complete Express Entry profile that positions you for the first physician draws.
Early 2026 is approaching fast. Waiting until draws begin puts you at risk of missing the first rounds when competition is lowest. Contact us now to avoid NOC misclassification and incomplete applications that lead to refusals.
