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The Digest:

Canada is launching a new fast-track immigration pathway for internationally trained doctors already working in the country, aiming to address critical healthcare workforce shortages and retain “practice-ready” physicians. The express entry category, announced by Immigration Minister Lena Diab and Health Parliamentary Secretary Maggie Chi, will offer eligible doctors with at least one year of Canadian work experience a streamlined route to permanent residency starting in early 2026.

Key Points:
  • A new Express Entry category will launch in early 2026 for international doctors
  • Eligible doctors must have at least one year of Canadian work experience in the past three years
  • 5,000 admission spaces will be reserved for provinces to nominate licensed doctors with job offers
  • Nominated doctors will benefit from expedited 14-day work permit processing
  • The initiative is part of Canada’s International Talent Attraction Strategy
  • It aims to fill labour gaps, support healthcare systems, and diversify medical perspectives
  • Canadian Medical Association President Dr. Margot Burnell welcomed the move as vital for patient care
Nations, like institutions, must adapt to survive, opening doors where talent already knocks. Canada’s move reflects a pragmatic approach to systemic gaps: rooting solutions not just in recruitment, but in retention and recognition of those already weathering the storm within.

Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, PUNCH Online