Ottawa, Canada: Canada has introduced a special fast-track immigration route designed to retain foreign-trained doctors who are already contributing to the country’s healthcare sector. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab revealed on Monday that a dedicated Express Entry category will soon be launched for physicians who have completed at least one year of recent medical work experience within Canada.

Express Entry, the country’s points-based system for selecting skilled immigrants for permanent residency, will begin issuing invitations under this new medical category starting early 2026.

The federal government also plans to allocate 5,000 immigration spaces to provinces and territories so they can nominate licensed doctors who hold valid job offers. Physicians chosen through these slots will be eligible for accelerated work-permit processing, ensuring decisions within 14 days, allowing them to continue their practice while their permanent residency applications are finalized.

This initiative follows the International Migration Outlook 2025 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which recorded 3,900 India-trained doctors in Canada as of 2021. However, estimates indicate that the actual number of doctors of Indian origin is likely between 8,000 and 10,000.

The policy forms part of Ottawa’s wider effort to reduce healthcare labour shortages highlighted in Budget 2025, at a time when almost one in six adults reported lacking a regular primary care provider last year. The eligible professions under this category include family doctors, general practitioners, and a range of medical and surgical specialists.