The federal government has announced a new set of immigration measures aimed at helping foreign-trained doctors enter Canada’s workforce more quickly, in a bid to address persistent shortages across hospitals, clinics, and rural health centres. The move is part of a broader strategy to streamline credential recognition and reduce bureaucratic hurdles that have long kept internationally educated physicians from practising in Canada despite growing demand.
Under the updated measures, foreign-trained doctors applying for permanent residency or work authorization will see faster processing timelines, simplified documentation requirements, and priority pathways tied to provincial healthcare needs. Ottawa is also working with provinces and medical licensing bodies to align immigration streams with licensing processes, so doctors can begin supervised practice sooner while completing certification requirements.
Immigration officials say the changes respond directly to concerns raised by both healthcare administrators and newcomers who faced delays of several months — sometimes years — before being allowed to work in their fields. Many physicians arriving in Canada have been forced into unrelated jobs while waiting for approvals or facing fragmented rules across provinces.
The government also plans to expand targeted draws under the Express Entry system, selecting candidates with medical backgrounds more frequently and ensuring that regions struggling with physician shortages receive priority allocations.
Health-sector leaders have welcomed the reforms, calling them a “much-needed correction” to a system that left qualified doctors underutilized while communities struggled with long wait times, emergency-room closures, and limited family-medicine availability. Rural and northern areas, where shortages are most severe, are expected to benefit significantly once the measures take effect.
Ottawa says further reforms are coming, including funding to support assessment programs, mentorship for newcomers, and incentives for provinces that streamline their licensing systems.
For thousands of internationally trained physicians already in Canada — and many more hoping to immigrate — the announcement marks one of the most meaningful steps toward integrating global medical talent into Canada’s overstretched healthcare network.