Express Entry draws for doctors are welcome, but the license to practice remains a challenge

On Feb 19, Canada held its first dedicated Express Entry round for physicians with Canadian work experience, issuing 391 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency with a remarkably low Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS cut-off of 169. This category draw, under the newly introduced “Physicians with Canadian Work Experience” stream prioritises foreign-trained doctors who have already worked clinically in Canada for at least 12 months.For Indian doctors hoping to gain permanent residency in Canada there is an important caveat: recognition of your medical qualification for immigration is not the same as being licensed to practise medicine in Canada.The country has been taking various steps to make Canada more attractive for medical professionals. In December 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a suite of measures designed to bolster Canada’s strained healthcare workforce.A new Express Entry category for international doctors with at least one year of Canadian work experience in an eligible occupation, gained within the last three years was announced. “These doctors are already working in Canada on a temporary basis, helping patients and contributing to our health care system. 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,” said IRCC. On the lines of this announcement, the first Express Entry draw was held recently.The government also reserved 5,000 permanent residence admission spaces for provinces and territories to nominate licensed doctors with job offers and introduced expedited work permit processing (of 14 days), allowing them to begin or continue working while their permanent residence applications are adjudicated.Dr. Margot Burnell, president of The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) had welcomed these initiatives. However, in an official statement, the Association also pointed out the challenge relating to licensing of the foreign doctors. It stated: “Currently, more than 13,000 internationally trained physicians in Canada are not working in their field. We must do more to recognize the medical talent already here – and to attract, welcome and retain more from around the world.”“If we can combine immigration policies like this with scaling up proven licensing pathways that help doctors enter practice quickly, we can make a real dent in the access-to-care crisis without compromising standards of care.”An Indian doctor now practising in Alberta, told TOI, “To practise as a medical doctor in Canada, foreign-trained physicians must have their foreign credentials assessed (say MBBS), and be licensed by a provincial or territorial regulatory authority and undergo retraining.”“The Express Entry draws are for those who already have Canada experience as doctors, acceptance of your medical degree for immigration does not translate into the automatic right to practise,” he added.