5 surprising facts about Canada's new "Express Lane" for doctors

In recent years, Canada has sought to attract international doctors to fill gaps in the country's healthcare system. Now more than ever, it will do so with a new Express Entry category: Doctors with Canadian work experience, an "Express Lane" to permanent residence. But while it may seem like easy access, the reality is that those interested must understand how it works in order to take advantage of it in a timely manner. 

If you are an international medical graduate (IMG) considering Canada, read on to the end and learn the five key facts about this new pathway. Let's get started.

Background of the "Express Lane" for doctors

By 2024, an estimated 5.7 million Canadian adults will lack a primary care physician, overburdening hospitals. In response, Immigration Minister Lena Diab announced on December 8, 2025, a new "Express Lane" to permanent residence (PR) designed specifically for physicians. 

It is crucial to understand this new policy in order to take advantage of it. Discover the 5 truths.

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The 5 surprising facts 

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1. It is not intended for doctors abroad!

The Express Lane is a retention tool for those who are already in Canada.

The most surprising rule in this new category is that you must have 12 continuous months of full-time work in Canada as a physician within the last three years.

To accumulate 12 months of work experience in Canada, a physician must already have met the following requirements : provincial licensure, validation and recognition of credentials, and evaluations and periods of supervised practice.

In other words, the most difficult part—obtaining the license and actually practicing—must be completed before this route is an option.

2. The greatest benefit of this new category is not speed, but more favorable competition in Express Entry.

Many qualified doctors, even those with Canadian experience, are left out because they are competing against younger candidates, people who have recently studied in Canada, and profiles with very high language scores.

This new category creates an exclusive lane, since

• Only physicians with the required Canadian work experience may use it.
• Your CRS score is compared only to other eligible physicians, making the minimum cutoff score much more realistic.

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3. There is a parallel "VIP" route managed by the provinces.

In addition to the new pathway, Ottawa has reserved 5,000 permanent residence spots for doctors nominated by a province or territory who have a job offer.

For doctors nominated by a province, work permits are processed within 14 days. Therefore, you can start working very quickly while your permanent residence application is being processed.

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4. This new route is stricter than the existing healthcare category.

This new category exclusively for doctors should not be confused with the existing, broader category of "health and social services occupations" within Express Entry. The latter requires six months of work experience, applies to Canada or abroad, and includes 37 occupations (the new category has three).

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5. The biggest obstacle is not immigration, but professional licensing.

Currently, Canada has around 13,000 internationally trained physicians (ITPs) who already live in the country but do not practice medicine because they are blocked by a lack of licensure/registration.

So this is the main challenge, followed by immigration.

Do you need to know if your specialty fits Canadian needs? A regulated immigration consultant in Canada can guide you.

In practice, this new pathway may mean better opportunities for doctors willing to work in small towns, rural or remote areas, and specialties in high demand.

If you are not yet licensed or practicing in Canada, you should start improving your professional profile.

You can request a free evaluation of your profile with our regulated consultants at Immiland Canada.

For more information about our immigration services, contact us at: https://www.immilandcanada.com/contacto 

I hope this topic helps you understand more clearly the essentials of the new pathway for international physicians and that you can successfully apply in 2026.

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

With love,

Immiland Canada