IRCC has announced targeted immigration measures aimed at increasing Canada’s supply of physicians, including the creation of a new Express Entry category for doctors, with invitations expected to begin in early 2026.

Key salient points:

A new occupation-specific Express Entry category focused on medical doctors.
Designed to address critical shortages in Canada’s healthcare system.
Applies to foreign-trained physicians meeting licensing and eligibility criteria.
Supports federal–provincial collaboration in healthcare workforce planning.
Part of Canada’s broader Economic Immigration Strategy 2025–2027.
Further operational details (NOC codes, CRS thresholds) to be released by IRCC.

IRCC Newsroom – Improving access to doctors through immigration