ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Canada has introduced significant new immigration measures for 2026 to facilitate permanent residency for international medical doctors, offering opportunities for Pakistani doctors to benefit based on their qualifications and experience.
Under Canada’s immigration system, Pakistani doctors can apply for permanent residency through Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), and certain regional immigration programs.
However, obtaining permanent residency or a work permit does not automatically grant a doctor authorization to practice medicine in Canada.
Doctors are required to have their foreign medical degrees and credentials assessed and must obtain a license from the medical regulatory authority of the relevant province or territory.
A new category for medical doctors has also been introduced under Express Entry for 2026, through which successful candidates will be invited to apply for permanent residency (PR).
To qualify, candidates must be eligible for one of the three programs managed under Express Entry and possess at least one year of full-time work experience as a doctor in Canada within the past three years.
Canada has also allocated up to 5,000 federal immigration spots for the nomination of medical doctors under Provincial Nominee Programs.
Doctors who hold a position, a confirmed job offer, or a letter of support from a relevant institution in a Canadian province or territory can utilize this pathway.
Pakistani doctors who lack medical work experience in Canada can also explore opportunities through Provincial Nominee Programs, Express Entry, the Atlantic Immigration Program, and specific immigration programs for rural and Francophone communities.
Before applying, doctors must meet the relevant province’s licensing criteria, including the verification of medical degrees and experience, mandatory examinations, and English or French language requirements.
Experts advise doctors wishing to relocate to Canada to view immigration and medical licensing as two separate processes, as immigration approval does not automatically grant a license to practice medicine.
Canadian authorities have warned doctors against paying money to unauthorized agents for job offers, licenses, or letters of support.
