BREAKING -Ottawa announces new immigration measures for foreign-trained doctors

Canada has taken another step toward stabilizing its health-care system with a series of new immigration measures aimed at supporting internationally trained doctors. These changes are designed to remove long-standing barriers, streamline the path to permanent residence, and help communities across the country retain the medical talent they urgently need.

The new measures target internationally trained doctors with at least one year of Canadian work experience gained within the last three years.

“We’re giving these doctors a clear pathway to permanent residence in Canada to fill critical health workforce gaps, while helping support reliable care and a stable health system for Canadians,” a press release from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said.

Foreign-trained doctors who are nominated for this program will receive expedited 14-day work permit processing. Additionally, 5,000 federal admission spots – in addition to the Provincial Nominee Program allocations – will be reserved for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with job offers.

At Foothills Immigration, we welcome these updates — and we’re here to help physicians understand exactly how these changes may benefit their long-term plans in Canada.

A New Pathway for Physicians Working in LMIA-Exempt Roles

Traditionally, many foreign-trained doctors have been hired under LMIA-exempt agreements, especially when working in rural or underserved regions. While this helped communities recruit urgently needed physicians, it created a problem:
....these doctors couldn’t always count their Canadian work experience for federal immigration programs.

The federal government has now corrected this gap.

Under the new measures, foreign-trained doctors working in LMIA-exempt positions will be able to use their Canadian work experience as part of their permanent residence applications. This brings immigration policy in line with how medical recruitment actually operates across Canada.

Why This Matters for Physicians and Communities

Canada continues to face serious shortages of family doctors and specialists. Many provinces depend heavily on internationally trained physicians to keep clinics open, reduce wait times, and ensure patients can access care.

These changes will help:

• Increase retention of foreign-trained doctors
• Reduce administrative barriers to permanent residence
• Support long-term stability in rural and underserved areas
• Make Canada a more attractive destination for internationally trained medical professionals

In short, this is a meaningful step forward — both for health-care professionals and the communities they serve.

Faster, Clearer Pathways to PR for Physicians

Alongside this policy update, Ottawa has signaled a broader commitment to improving immigration processes for health-care workers. The goal is to make it easier for provinces and medical facilities to recruit and retain physicians without long-term uncertainty around their immigration status.

For physicians who have been contributing to Canadian health care but struggling with unclear pathways to permanent residence, this announcement provides reassurance and a clearer roadmap.

How Foothills Immigration Can Help

At Foothills Immigration, we specialize in guiding skilled professionals — including physicians — through Canada’s immigration system with clarity and confidence.

Whether you are:

• A foreign-trained doctor working under an LMIA-exempt agreement
• A medical facility seeking support for recruitment and immigration compliance
• A physician planning to transition from temporary to permanent status

Our team can assess your eligibility, explain the new measures in detail, and prepare a strong, strategic pathway toward permanent residence.

Reach us today.