New Express Entry Category for Physicians in Canada

IRCC Introduces Dedicated Express Entry Category for Physicians

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently unveiled a specialized Express Entry category tailored for physicians with a minimum of twelve months of continuous, full-time Canadian work experience acquired within the last three years. This initiative was officially announced on December 8, with the initial category-based draws anticipated to commence in early 2026.

By focusing on category-based selections, which typically result in invitations being issued at lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoffs compared to general draws, eligible physicians employed in Canada stand to benefit from a competitive edge when applying for an Invitation to Apply.

The new category specifically caters to three medical occupations:

  • General practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102): This includes professionals with titles such as family physician, GP, and medical doctor. Candidates are required to carry out core responsibilities like conducting examinations, making diagnoses, prescribing treatments, coordinating primary care, and related tasks.
  • Specialists in surgery (NOC 31101): Encompassing roles such as cardiac surgeons, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, OB-GYN surgeons, ophthalmologists, pediatric surgeons, urologists, thoracic surgeons, vascular surgeons, and others. Their duties involve patient assessments, surgical planning, and performing or overseeing surgeries.
  • Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (NOC 31100): Covering various fields like anesthesiology, cardiology, dermatology, radiology, pediatrics, psychiatry, oncology, neurology, pathology, respirology, rheumatology, and more. Responsibilities include diagnosis, treatment planning, test ordering, therapy prescription, and laboratory-based disease investigation.

To be eligible, candidates must:

  • Meet the specific requirements of the respective occupation.
  • Accumulate 12 months of continuous Canadian work experience within the past 3 years.
  • Qualify for at least one Express Entry program and be in the pool at the time of the draw.