Canada makes it easier for physicians to access permanent residency
From: IRCC
Image credit: Usman Yousaf on Unsplash
As provinces and territories seek to attract and retain more foreign-trained doctors to help address shortages, the government of Canada is making it easier for these doctors to call Canada home permanently.
Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC), announced changes to make it easier for foreign-trained physicians to remain in Canada, so they can continue to practice in Canada and bolster the health care system.
Some physicians have faced barriers in accessing permanent residence through Canada’s flagship programs for skilled workers managed under the Express Entry system, as the “fee-for-service” model used in Canada for health care professionals is outside of the traditional employer-employee relationship. As a result, some physicians are currently considered self-employed, leaving them unable to meet the eligibility criteria of the economic pathways for permanent residency.
To address this challenge, Fraser announced that IRCC is exempting physicians, who work in a fee-for-service model with public health authorities, from current requirements. This change recognizes the unique employment model used in Canada’s health care system, and will provide physicians with access to Canada’s economic permanent residence programs. This will mean that a greater number of those physicians already here and filling crucial vacancies in the healthcare sector can remain in Canada permanently.
“In my home province in particular, foreign-trained physicians have been helping to keep families healthy and to take care of our aging population,” said Fraser. “Their skills are critical resources in our community, and it does not take long before they become our neighbours, friends, and fellow community leaders. Physicians resettling in Nova Scotia or in other parts across the country is a win-win situation. These measures signal to these physicians that we want them to stay by making it easier for them to choose Canada as their permanent home.”
A few quick facts:
In 2022, IRCC has accepted over 8,600 temporary and permanent resident applications from foreign nationals intending to work in the health sector.
In 2021, IRCC approved work permit and work permit extension applications for over 2,500 specialized physicians, 620 nurses, and 550 nurses’ aides and orderlies.
Since 2015, over 22,400 people, including nearly just over 3,600 physicians and 8,600 nurses, became permanent residents through Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program.
Economic programs under Express Entry for physicians include the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian experience class.