The Best Ways for Doctors to Move to Canada in 2026
How to Migrate to Canada as a Doctor in 2026?
Immigration Pathways, Licensing Process, and PR Options There is still a nationwide shortage of qualified medical professionals in Canada, which makes doctors one of the most in-demand jobs in the country. There is a huge need for family doctors, general practitioners, and medical specialists in all provinces, but especially in rural and underserved areas. Canada has made it easier for foreign-trained doctors to get permanent residency and build long-term careers to fix this problem.
Canada is a great place for international doctors because it has a stable healthcare system, high earning potential, and clear paths to permanent residency. But moving as a doctor is not a simple one-step process. It includes getting a medical license, checking credentials, taking tests, and choosing the best immigration path based on your work history.
This guide tells you how to move to Canada as a doctor in 2026. It goes over who can do it, what licenses you need, what immigration programs are available, and a step-by-step plan made just for international medical graduates.
Why Is Canada Actively Looking for Doctors from Other Countries?
For doctors from other countries, this means that their applications will be processed more quickly, the CRS score thresholds will be lower, and there will be more immigration streams that are specifically for medical professionals.
Can Doctors Who Were Trained Outside of Canada Work in Canada?
After getting their license, doctors can work in hospitals, clinics, community health centres, or private practices. Where they can work depends on the rules in their province and their area of expertise.
In-Demand Occupations Eligible for Two-Week Processing (Category B)
| Occupation Title | NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Computer and information systems managers | 20012 |
| Civil engineers | 21300 |
| Electrical and electronics engineers | 21310 |
| Mining engineers | 21330 |
| Aerospace engineers | 21390 |
| Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) | 21311 |
| Mathematicians and statisticians (subset) | 21210 |
| Data scientists | 21211 |
| Cybersecurity specialists | 21220 |
| Business systems specialists | 21221 |
| Information systems specialists | 21222 |
| Web designers | 21233 |
| Database analysts and data administrators | 21223 |
| Software engineers and designers | 21231 |
| Computer systems developers and programmers | 21230 |
| Software developers and programmers | 21232 |
| Web developers and programmers | 21234 |
| Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians | 22310 |
| Computer network and web technicians | 22220 |
| Information systems testing technicians | 22222 |
| Visual effects and video game project managers (subset) | 51120 |
| Digital media and design professionals (subset) | 52120 |
Many of these roles are also aligned with Canada’s STEM immigration priorities, making them highly valuable for long-term settlement.
The Best Ways for Doctors to Move to Canada in 2026
Canada has a number of immigration programs that are specifically for skilled healthcare workers. Each path has its own requirements for who can use it, how long it takes to process, and what benefits it offers. Your work experience, language skills, job offer status, and preferred province of settlement all play a role in choosing the right program.
Express Entry for Doctors
Why Express Entry works well for doctors:
- No mandatory job offer requirement in many cases
- Selection based on skills, education, and work experience
- Faster PR processing compared to most programs
- Regular category-based draws targeting healthcare occupations
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for Doctors
Each year, provinces get thousands of nomination spaces to hire doctors and fix healthcare shortages in their areas. A provincial nomination greatly increases your chances of obtaining permanent residency by adding points to your profile or allowing you to apply directly for PR. This makes PNP a great option for doctors who may not meet the high Express Entry CRS cut-offs but have good job prospects in their province.
Why doctors choose Canada PNP:
- Lower CRS score requirements
- Priority processing for healthcare professionals
- Strong demand across provinces and territories
- Direct PR pathways with provincial support
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
The goal of the Atlantic Immigration Program is to bring skilled workers to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. These provinces have serious shortages of family doctors and specialists, so hiring doctors from other countries is a top priority.
Key benefits of AIP for doctors:
- No LMIA requirement
- Employer-driven PR pathway
- Community-based settlement support
- High demand for medical professionals
Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
For doctors to apply through RCIP, they must possess a valid job offer from a designated employer and satisfy the necessary language and work experience requirements. There are usually fewer applicants than in federal programs, which makes it more likely that you will be chosen. The program also has a lot of community support, such as help with finding a place to live and getting used to living in the area.
Why RCIP is attractive for doctors:
- Lower competition compared to federal programs
- Faster approvals in many cases
- Strong community support for newcomers
- Better work-life balance in rural settings
Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP)
Advantages of FCIP for doctors:
- Direct permanent residence pathway
- Lower CRS score thresholds
- No LMIA requirement
- High demand for French-speaking healthcare professionals
Why Entrepreneurs Make Good Candidates for Immigration
Entrepreneurs add a unique type of person to Canada’s immigration system. Your impact, not just your job title, is what makes you valuable.
Some of the most important skills that immigration officers look for are:
- Experience in business ownership and leadership: Running or managing a business shows that you can make decisions, plan your money, and keep things running smoothly.
- New ideas and staying relevant in the market: People really like new products, services, or business models, especially in the tech, clean energy, healthcare, or digital sectors.
- Risk Appetite and Capital Commitment: A willingness to put in time, money, and expertise shows a long-term commitment to Canada.
- Potential to Create Jobs: Most entrepreneur visas require or strongly reward Canadians or permanent residents who create jobs.
You need to make it clear in your application how these strengths relate to Canada’s economic goals.
Step-by-Step Process to Migrate to Canada as a Doctor
Migrating to Canada as a doctor requires completing both the licensing and immigration processes in the correct order. Below is a clear step-by-step guide.
Step 1
Obtain a recognised medical degree from a university listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
Step 2
Create a profile on physiciansapply.ca and submit your medical credentials for verification by the Medical Council of Canada.
Step 3
Step 4
Complete the required postgraduate medical training or residency in Canada or an approved equivalent pathway.
Step 5
Obtain national certification from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the College of Family Physicians of Canada, depending on your speciality.
Step 6
Apply for a medical licence from the provincial or territorial College of Physicians and Surgeons where you plan to work.
Step 7
Select and apply through the most suitable immigration pathway, such as Express Entry, PNP, AIP, RCIP, or FCIP.
Step 8
Submit your permanent residence application with all supporting documents and wait for approval.
Step 9
Once licensed and granted legal status, begin practising medicine in Canada.
Average Salary of Doctors in Canada
In Canada, doctors make good money, but the amount varies by province, speciality, and level of experience. Family doctors usually make between CAD 200,000 and CAD 300,000 a year. Specialists, on the other hand, can make a lot more. Rural and remote placements often come with extra money, moving costs, and flexible work hours.
Step 2: Apply for Your Canada Work Permit
Once the LMIA is approved, you can submit your work permit application from outside Canada. During the application, you must clearly indicate that your LMIA was issued under the Global Talent Stream. Most eligible applicants receive a decision within two weeks, allowing them to start working in Canada much sooner than usual.
Why Nova Scotia Is Growing in Popularity
- High demand for healthcare professionals, IT workers, educators, and trades
- Accessible immigration streams under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
- Lower housing costs compared to large metropolitan cities
- Strong community integration and settlement support
Last Thoughts: Starting a Business and a Future in Canada
Business-focused immigration lets you start a business and get permanent residency at the same time, either through the Canada Start-Up Visa or a provincial entrepreneurial program. Canada provides more than just opportunities for entrepreneurs who are ready to invest, come up with new ideas, and create value. It also offers a future.
Frequently Asked Questions
