Some dermatologists, pediatricians, psychiatrists, and other doctors now have a more streamlined pathway to Canadian permanent residence (PR).
On December 8, Immigration Minister Lena Diab announced the creation of a new Express Entry category dedicated to physicians with Canadian work experience.
Because category-based selection draws typically feature some of the lowest Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-offs, this new stream is expected to offer qualified physicians with Canadian work experience a greater advantage in securing an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
According to the minister, the first draws under this category are expected to begin in early 2026. Eligible candidates can create or update their Express Entry profile now to ensure they are considered when draws commence.
This article will cover:
- Eligibility requirements for candidates;
- Which medical occupations are included in the new category;
- How to find the National Occupation Classification (NOC) code that corresponds to your work experience; and
- The difference between the new category and the existing healthcare occupations category.
Eligibility for the new Physicians with Canadian work experience category
To qualify for this category, a foreign national must have work experience in one of the occupations listed below (even if it is not a primary occupation).
Moreover, their work experience must be:
- 12 months of continuous full-time work (or equivalent part-time experience);
- Completed in Canada; and
- Accumulated within the past three years.
Candidates must also meet all requirements outlined in the ministerial instructions for the specific round of invitations.
Candidates must also be eligible for an Express Entry program, and be in the candidate pool, (in addition to meeting the above criteria) to be eligible to receive an ITA under a for category-based selection draw.
Those who do not meet these criteria may still be eligible under IRCC’s existing healthcare and social services occupations category, which also lists all three occupations (more on that below).
What occupations are included in the new Physicians with Canadian work experience category?
The newly introduced category only lists three occupations as of the time of writing.
General practitioners and family physicians
NOC Code: 31102
Eligible job titles include:
Family physician, general practice resident, general practitioner (GP), medical doctor.
Professionals should have experience performing some or all of the following duties:
- Prescribing and administering medications and treatments
- Performing or assisting in routine surgery
- Providing emergency and acute care
- Vaccinating patients
- Delivering babies and providing pre- and post-natal care
- Advising patients and families on health promotion, disease prevention, and lifestyle issues
- Offering counselling and support
- Acting as patient advocates
- Coordinating or managing primary care
- Providing continuous care and supervising home care services
- Reporting births, deaths, and communicable diseases to authorities
- Examining patients, ordering tests, and consulting with other practitioners
Specialists in surgery
NOC Code: 31101
Eligible job titles include:
Cardiac surgeon, general surgeon, neurosurgeon, obstetrician-gynecologist, ophthalmologist, orthopedic surgeon, otorhinolaryngologist, pediatric surgeon, plastic surgeon, thoracic surgeon, urologist, vascular surgeon.
Professionals should have experience performing some or all of the following duties:
- General surgeons: Treating diseases, injuries, and deformities using surgical methods
- Obstetricians/gynecologists: Providing care related to pregnancy and childbirth
- Ophthalmologists: Diagnosing and treating eye diseases and injuries
- Urologists: Treating medical and surgical disorders of the genitourinary system
- Other surgical specialists:
– Assessing conditions to determine surgical procedures
– Performing and supervising surgeries
– Consulting with other physicians on surgical care and treatment
Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
NOC Code: 31100
Eligible job titles include:
Anatomical pathologist, anesthetist, cardiologist, dermatologist, diagnostic radiologist, emergency physician, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, general pathologist, geriatrician, hematologist, medical biochemist, medical microbiologist, nephrologist, neurologist, oncologist, pediatrician, physiatrist, pneumologist, psychiatrist, radiation oncologist, respirologist, rheumatologist, and others.
Professionals should have experience performing some or all of the following duties:
- Anesthesiologists: Administering anesthesia before, during, and after procedures
- General internists: Diagnosing and treating internal organ diseases
- Pediatricians: Treating infants, children, and adolescents
- Psychiatrists: Treating mental and psychiatric disorders
- Allergists/immunologists: Treating immune system and allergic conditions
- Hospitalists: Coordinating inpatient hospital care
- Neurologists: Diagnosing and treating brain, spinal cord, and nerve disorders
- Nuclear medicine physicians: Using radioactive materials to diagnose and treat disease
- Dermatologists: Treating skin diseases and conditions
- Physiatrists: Treating conditions requiring rehabilitation and physiotherapy
- Preventive medicine physicians: Applying public health and preventive medicine principles
- Radiologists: Diagnosing conditions using imaging techniques
- Other clinical specialists: Diagnosing and treating diseases, prescribing treatments, ordering tests, referring for surgery, and conducting research
- Laboratory specialists (including pathologists): Diagnosing diseases using laboratory techniques, consulting with physicians, and performing autopsies
How can I check if my work experience matches one of these occupations?
To get the best idea of each occupation, including a full list of main duties, exclusions, and alternate job titles, visit Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC’s) official webpage for the NOC system, and search the occupation you are interested in by job title or NOC code.
Once you at the relevant occupation page, you can tell if your work experience meets the criteria for the occupation if
- Your occupation broadly conforms to the description in the lead of the National Occupational Category page; and
- You do most of the “main duties” outlined on that page.
For more details on how to match your work experience to an occupation in the NOC system, visit our dedicated article on the topic.
How does this new category differ from the existing healthcare and social services occupations category?
IRCC’s new physicians category differs from the existing healthcare and social services occupations category when it comes to the location and duration of the work experience required to qualify.
| Criteria | Physicians with Canadian Work Experience Category | Healthcare and Social Services Occupations Category |
| Required work experience | 12 months of continuous Canadian work experience (full-time or equivalent part-time) | 6 months of continuous work experience (full-time or equivalent part-time) |
| Location of work experience | Must be gained in Canada | Can be gained in Canada or abroad |
| Number of eligible occupations | 3 occupations | 37 occupations (including many social services roles) |
See your eligibility for all Express Entry streams