On December 8, 2025, Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Lena Metlege Diab, alongside Maggie Chi, introduced three major immigration measures designed to help international doctors become permanent residents more easily. 

The goal is to address Canada’s ongoing healthcare labour shortages while supporting foreign-trained physicians already contributing to the system. 

Key Changes Announced by IRCC 

IRCC confirmed the introduction of three major policy measures: 

These measures are expected to roll out gradually, with more details to come as IRCC finalizes its operational policies. 

New Express Entry Category for Physicians 

A new Express Entry category will specifically target international doctors who: 

Invitations under this new category are expected to begin in early 2026. 

IRCC has not yet released the full list of eligible physician occupations. This is different from the existing healthcare occupations category, which includes doctors, nurses, dentists, and other professionals and does not require Canadian work experience or in-Canada residency. 

This new category creates a more tailored pathway for physicians who are already working in Canada and filling essential roles. 

Special Allocation of 5,000 Permanent Residence Admissions 

To help provinces recruit and retain more doctors, the Government of Canada will reserve 5,000 additional permanent residence admission spaces exclusively for provincial nominations of licensed physicians with job offers. 

These 5,000 spaces are in addition to existing annual allocations under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Provinces and territories will therefore be able to nominate significantly more doctors for Canadian permanent residence. 

The federal government has not yet clarified which part of the Immigration Levels Plan these 5,000 admissions will come from. 

Faster Work Permit Processing for Nominated Doctors 

International doctors nominated by a province will also receive expedited work permit processing, with decisions expected in as little as 14 days. 

This change represents a major improvement. Currently, in-Canada work permit applications can take several months to be approved. Faster processing will allow nominated doctors to continue their work without long delays while their permanent residence applications are being finalized. 

What This Means for International Doctors 

These measures collectively create one of the most supportive pathways yet for foreign-trained doctors seeking to build long-term careers in Canada. Key benefits include: 

More updates are expected as IRCC releases further details on eligibility criteria and implementation timelines.