Canada has launched a major new immigration initiative to address critical healthcare shortages. The government has rolled out a fast-track pathway for eligible foreign doctors. This new policy can grant qualified physicians a work permit within 14 days. The move aims to rapidly increase the number of medical professionals in the country’s strained healthcare system.
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced the measure alongside Health Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Maggie Chi. To qualify, physicians must secure a provincial or territorial nomination. They also need a valid job offer from a Canadian healthcare employer. The streamlined permit allows them to begin working immediately while their permanent residency application is processed.
Watch live: Minister Diab announces new measures to facilitate permanent residence for international doctors https://t.co/ZzmoZ6zXMz
— IRCC (@CitImmCanada) December 8, 2025The federal government has also allocated an additional 5,000 permanent residency slots specifically for licensed doctors. These supplements exist under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Officials state the goal is to retain “practice-ready” physicians already contributing to Canadian hospitals and clinics.
A separate Express Entry category for doctors will launch in early 2026. This category will target physicians with at least one year of recent Canadian work experience. It aims to expand further opportunities for foreign-trained medical professionals seeking permanent status.
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“Canada’s new government has a mandate to build a strong economy by attracting top global talent,” Minister Diab stated. She added that these new pathways will help stabilise the country’s overburdened health sector. The initiative directly targets long-standing bottlenecks in credential recognition.
These bottlenecks have kept many internationally trained doctors from practising. This persists despite acute staffing shortages, especially in rural and underserved communities. The new policy is a significant step toward utilising the skilled workforce already present in Canada.
