New IRCC physicians category: which medical occupations qualify and what clinicians must do now
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced a focused Express Entry selection category for physicians who have recent Canadian clinical experience. Announced in December 2025, the new “Physicians with Canadian work experience” category is designed to fast-track practicing doctors into permanent residence by prioritizing clinicians who have already integrated into Canadian care settings.
The first invitation rounds under this category are expected to begin in early 2026. Because IRCC’s category-based draws often have lower cut-offs than general draws, physicians who meet the new in-Canada experience requirement could see a clear advantage in securing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
Who this stream targets — the core eligibility rule
To be considered under the new physicians category, an applicant must demonstrate:
- At least 12 months of continuous full-time clinical work in Canada (or the part-time equivalent); and
- That the qualifying work experience was completed within the last three years; and
- Employment that falls into one of the eligible physician occupation codes listed below.
Candidates must also meet any additional criteria set out in the ministerial instructions for a given round of invitations (for example, language thresholds or documentation standards). Physicians who do not meet these in-Canada experience requirements may still qualify via IRCC’s existing healthcare and social services draws, or through provincial nominee streams.
The eligible physician occupations (with typical job titles)
IRCC has limited the new category to three physician occupation groups. Below are the occupations and representative titles, plus a short summary of typical duties that align with the occupational definitions clinicians must meet.
General practitioners and family physicians — NOC 31102
Typical titles: Family physician, general practitioner, primary care physician, general practice resident.
Typical duties: diagnosing and treating common illnesses, providing preventive care and vaccinations, managing chronic conditions, offering maternity and newborn care where applicable, referring patients to specialists, prescribing treatment and medications, and coordinating continuous primary care.
Specialists in surgery — NOC 31101
Typical titles: General surgeon, cardiac surgeon, orthopedic surgeon, neurosurgeon, pediatric surgeon, obstetrician-gynecologist, plastic surgeon, ENT surgeon, urologist, vascular surgeon, thoracic surgeon, ophthalmic surgeon.
Typical duties: assessing surgical conditions, performing operations, coordinating pre- and post-operative care, supervising surgical teams, consulting with other specialists about surgical management, and participating in emergency surgical interventions.
Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine — NOC 31100
Typical titles: Anesthesiologist, cardiologist, dermatologist, diagnostic radiologist, emergency physician, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, hematologist, infectious disease specialist, medical microbiologist, nephrologist, neurologist, oncologist, pediatrician, psychiatrist, pathologist, respirologist, rheumatologist, preventive medicine physician, nuclear medicine physician, hospitalist, physiatrist.
Typical duties: diagnosing and treating diseases of specific organ systems, providing inpatient and outpatient specialist care, performing clinical procedures tied to the specialty (e.g., endoscopy, biopsies), ordering and interpreting tests and imaging, consulting across services, supervising laboratory diagnostics, and contributing to clinical research and quality improvement.
How to confirm your experience matches a listed occupation
To ensure your clinical duties align with the selected NOC, review the occupation’s main duties and the lead statement in the official NOC description for that code. Your work experience should show that you performed most of the main duties and that your role corresponds to the occupation’s lead actions. In practice, selection officers will check employer letters, job descriptions, clinical schedules and supervision records to verify that the claimed experience is accurate and continuous.
How this category differs from the existing healthcare draws
Key distinctions between the new physicians category and IRCC’s broader healthcare and social services category:
- Work-experience length: Physicians category — 12 months continuous Canadian clinical experience required; Healthcare category — 6 months continuous work experience (in Canada or abroad).
- Location requirement: Physicians category — experience must be in Canada; Healthcare category — experience can be domestic or foreign.
- Scope: Physicians category — 3 physician-focused occupations only; Healthcare category — 37 healthcare and social-services occupations spanning nurses, therapists, technicians and allied professionals.
Because the physicians category requires longer in-Canada experience, it is specifically calibrated for clinicians who have already completed significant supervised practice or employment in Canadian settings.
Practical steps physicians should take now
- Document 12 months of clinical practice: compile employer letters that state start and end dates, weekly hours, duties performed, supervision arrangements and confirmation that duties align with the relevant NOC.
- Confirm NOC alignment: ensure your job title and daily duties match the NOC lead statement and main duties for the selected physician code. If you performed a mix of duties, pick the occupation that best represents your primary clinical practice.
- Get licensing and credential records in order: collect proof of medical licensure, provisional or full registration, supervised-practice agreements, exam results and any bridging program documentation.
- Prepare Express Entry documents: update or create your Express Entry profile, secure a current Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for foreign degrees (if required), and valid language test results (English or French).
- Collect supporting clinical evidence: maintain pay stubs, rota/schedule records, patient-care logs (de-identified), hospital appointment letters and performance evaluations to corroborate continuous clinical service.
- Check provincial nomination options: some provinces may offer faster nomination routes for physicians; a provincial nomination can add 600 CRS points and rapidly lead to an ITA.
- Monitor IRCC rounds: anticipate invitations in early 2026 — keep your profile live and update any change in status, experience, licensure or contact details immediately.
What applicants should watch for next
- IRCC will publish ministerial instructions for the physician category that define round-specific criteria; review those instructions carefully as they appear.
- Timing matters: only clinical experience completed in the three years before the draw is valid for this category. Plan documentation and timelines to ensure qualifying experience falls inside that window.
- Interaction with provincial requirements: provinces and medical regulatory authorities control licensure; some provinces may require additional supervised practice or exams before full clinical privileges are granted. Being “practice-ready” for provincial standards remains crucial even if you qualify under the federal category.
Bottom line
IRCC’s new Express Entry physicians category narrows selection to doctors with demonstrable, recent Canadian clinical experience and aims to accelerate the arrival of practice-ready physicians into the Canadian health system. If you are a doctor who has worked in Canada for 12 months within the last three years and your duties align with one of the three listed physician NOC codes, prepare your documentation now and ensure your Express Entry profile is accurate and current — invitations are expected to begin in early 2026 and thorough preparation will position you to benefit from the new stream.
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