“Physicians with work experience in Canada”: the new Express Entry category

"We cannot afford to lose them." That is how Canadian authorities described international doctors.

On December 8, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a new Express Entry category exclusively for international doctors already working in the country. It is called: Doctors with Canadian Work Experience.

This measure recognizes the efforts of professionals who have sustained the healthcare system in the face of the staffing crisis in recent years and offers them an expedited path to permanent residency (PR).

At Immiland Canada, we celebrate this great news and share valuable information so that interested parties can learn about the eligibility requirements and steps to benefit from this new pathway. Read along with me to the end and secure your ITA for 2026.

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From temporary to permanent residents: Who qualifies for the new category?

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To qualify for the new pathway, physicians must meet the following requirements:

• Have at least 12 months of continuous work experience in Canada (or the equivalent in part-time work) within the last 3 years.
• Work in an occupation eligible for this pathway. For example: General practitioner/family physician (NOC 31102); Surgical specialist (NOC 31101); Clinical and laboratory medicine specialists (NOC 31100).

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Benefits of the new category

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Eligible physicians will have exclusive benefits in terms of speed and availability of immigration quotas.

• The first Invitations to Apply (ITAs) are expected in early 2026.
• The government reserved 5,000 federal spots exclusively for provinces/territories that nominate doctors with job offers and licenses.
• Processing will be expedited if they are nominated by a province or territory, as their work permit will take only 14 days to process so that they can continue working while they wait for their permanent residence.
• The implementation of these changes is imminent; the first Express Entry draw is expected to begin as early as January 2026.

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Recommendations for benefiting from the new category

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It is important to prepare the required documentation in advance. To do so:

• Check if you meet the NOC requirements for your profession.
• Ensure you have at least three years of work experience or complete it before applying.
• Check the expiration date and validity of your work permit and language test.

The opportunity to take advantage of this good news is there. However, with such a high volume of professionals looking to apply, accuracy in the Express Entry profile and preparation of documentation are the keys to success. 

Do you have questions about your chances of receiving an ITA for this new category?

If so, you can consult with our team of experts at Immiland Canada.

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I hope this information is useful to you and that you apply before the spots for permanent residency run out!

Thank you for reading. We look forward to seeing you on our next blog.

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With love,

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Immiland Canada