Ontario Opens a Clearer PR Pathway for Self-Employed Physicians Under Updated OINP Rules

Ontario has introduced important regulatory updates that make it easier for self-employed physicians to qualify for permanent residence through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). These changes came into effect on January 1, 2026, and are designed to reduce barriers for internationally trained doctors working in the province.

The updates apply to the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream, a pathway that typically requires a valid job offer from an Ontario employer. However, qualifying physicians are exempt from this requirement if they meet specific professional and licensing conditions.

Who Can Apply Without a Job Offer?

Self-employed physicians can apply under this stream without an employer job offer if they are working in one of the following occupations:

• Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
• Specialists in surgery
• General practitioners and family physicians

To qualify, physicians must:

• Be eligible to bill Ontario’s public healthcare system through an OHIP billing number
• Be registered and in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
• Hold an approved class of medical registration

What Has Changed Under the New Rules?

Before January 1, 2026, physicians could qualify under several licensing categories, including postgraduate education. However, this category has now been removed because physicians holding postgraduate licences cannot obtain OHIP billing numbers.

In its place, Ontario has added the provisional certificate of registration as a qualifying licence class. This change aligns with Ontario’s new “As of Right” framework, which aims to speed up workforce entry for regulated professionals.

A provisional certificate allows internationally trained physicians to:

• Practice medicine in Ontario under specific conditions
• Work while completing remaining licensing exams
• Operate under supervision until full independent licensure is achieved

Only physicians officially eligible to sit required exams can obtain this certificate.

Impact on Physicians With Postgraduate Licences

Physicians holding only a postgraduate education licence are no longer eligible to apply as self-employed professionals under this stream. They must now secure a valid job offer from an Ontario employer to qualify for nomination.

About the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream

This OINP stream offers a provincial nomination pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers with job offers, as well as qualifying physicians without job offers.

Key features include:

• Open to applicants inside and outside Canada
• Job offers must be full-time, permanent, and fall under TEER 0–3 occupations
• Employers must first register through Ontario’s employer portal

Eligible self-employed physicians follow a separate process by contacting Ontario directly to register an Expression of Interest.

Physicians applying without a job offer are exempt from the points-based ranking system, making this pathway faster and more predictable.

Why This Matters

Ontario continues to face physician shortages, particularly in family medicine and specialized care. These changes make it easier for internationally trained doctors to remain in Ontario long-term, strengthening the healthcare system while offering physicians a more stable immigration future.

For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!