Are you a regulated foreign professional looking to expedite your employment process in Canada? In Ontario, you can legally achieve this in less than two weeks. What used to take months of bureaucratic procedures has now become an advantage thanks to theAs of Right principle.

Starting January 1, 2026, regulated professionals who are already certified in any other Canadian province will be able to start working in Ontario within a maximum of 10 business days. Read to the end to find out if this right applies to your profession.

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What is As of Right and who benefits from it?

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The As of Right is the automatic right that allows professionals already certified in other Canadian provinces to obtain their license in Ontario without undergoing new evaluations or endless waits, as regulatory bodies are required to provide an official response within a maximum of 10 business days (or only 2 business days for doctors and nurses).

While it is not an immigration process, it is a measure that benefits foreign professionals with a prior Canadian license, allowing them to move to Ontario and start working immediately. 

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Key benefits

Until recently, the interprovincial registration process could take more than six months. Starting in 2026, professionals with a prior Canadian license will be able to :

• Get a quick response with an official decision within 10 business days. (For doctors and nurses, the maximum is 2 business days if they are in good legal standing in their province of origin).
• Practice immediately for a period of six months while formally completing their administrative registration with the appropriate college in Ontario.

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Who does the measure apply to? 

The measure covers more than 50 regulatory bodies and hundreds of certifications. Unlike the initial phases of the reform, the following professions have been included for 2026:

• Medicine, Nursing, Respiratory Therapy and Medical Laboratory Technology, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Psychology and Midwifery, Engineering, Architecture, Electrical Engineering, and other specialized trades.

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What are regulated professions?

These are professions that require an official license or registration to be practiced legally in the province. Their practice is subject to strict ethical and educational standards.

For example, doctors, lawyers, certified public accountants (CPAs), elementary/secondary school teachers, and social workers.

To practice in these areas, it is not enough to have permanent residency; you must also have your studies recognized, demonstrate work experience, pass professional exams, and, in many cases, meet language requirements.

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Professions that fall outside this regulation

Unregulated occupations (such as software developers, data analysts, marketing or administration specialists) do not require a license. In these cases, professionals can enter the labor market immediately after obtaining their work or residence permit, as it is the employer who defines the requirements. 

Further information can be found at this link: Press release.

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Recommendations for 2026

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1. Use the CICIC portal or Canada's Job Bank to confirm whether your profile is on the list of 300+ accepted certifications.
2. If the certification process is faster in a smaller province, consider getting certified there first and then entering Ontario via As of Right.
3. Ensure that you do not have any disciplinary proceedings pending in your province of origin, as this would invalidate the speed of the process.

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Are you looking for work in Ontario and have questions about the process? At Immiland Canada, we can help you. 

Our team of CICC consultants and Canadian lawyers is ready to manage your initial certification in a province more quickly and then bring you to Ontario almost immediately through the As of Right. 

If you want to design your professional plan in Ontario this year, request an assessment of your work profile or schedule an immigration appointment.

I hope this topic is useful and that you will soon be able to work and live in Ontario. Thank you very much for reading. 

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With love, 

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Immiland Canada