🇨🇦 New Express Entry Category for Physicians with Canadian Work Experience (2026): What You Need to Know

Canada has just taken a major step to make permanent residence (PR) more accessible for doctors working in the country. On December 8, Immigration Minister Lena Diab announced a brand-new Express Entry category dedicated specifically to physicians with Canadian work experience. 🎉

Because category-based draws usually come with lower CRS cut-offs, this new stream could give many qualified physicians a significant advantage in securing an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

According to IRCC, the first draws are expected in early 2026, but eligible candidates can already update or create their Express Entry profiles to be considered once selections begin.

🩺 Who Is Eligible?

To qualify under the Physicians with Canadian Work Experience category, candidates must meet the following criteria:

✔️ Work Experience Requirements

• 12 months of continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time)

• Completed in Canada

• Within the last three years

• Work must be in one of the eligible occupations, even if it’s not your primary NOC.

Candidates must also:

• Meet all requirements outlined in the ministerial instructions for that draw, and

• Be eligible for one of the Express Entry programs (FSW, CEC, or FST).

Those who don’t qualify may still be eligible under the broader Healthcare and Social Services Occupations category.

🏥 Eligible Occupations Under the New Physician Category

As of now, the category includes three physician-related NOCs:

1. General Practitioners and Family Physicians (NOC 31102)

👨‍⚕️ Examples: family physician, GP, general practice resident, medical doctor.

Typical duties include:

• Prescribing medications and treatments

• Providing emergency and primary care

• Delivering babies

• Offering counselling and preventative care

• Conducting examinations and ordering tests

• Coordinating patient care and reporting public health data

2. Specialists in Surgery (NOC 31101)

🔪 Examples: cardiac surgeon, neurosurgeon, OB-GYN, ophthalmologist, orthopedic surgeon, urologist, pediatric surgeon, plastic surgeon.

Duties may include:

• Performing and supervising surgeries

• Assessing conditions for surgical treatment

• Providing perioperative care

• Consulting with other physicians

3. Specialists in Clinical and Laboratory Medicine (NOC 31100)

🧬 Examples: dermatologist, pediatrician, psychiatrist, cardiologist, radiologist, pathologist, anesthetist, neurologist, oncologist, and more.

Duties commonly include:

• Diagnosing and treating diseases

• Ordering and interpreting tests

• Administering anesthesia

• Providing inpatient care

• Conducting research

• Performing autopsies (for lab specialists)

🔍 How to Check If Your Experience Matches an Eligible NOC

To confirm whether your professional experience aligns with one of the listed NOCs:

1. Visit ESDC’s official NOC website.

2. Search by job title or NOC code.

3. Confirm that:

   • Your job aligns with the general description, and

   • You perform most of the “main duties” listed on the page.

If your duties match, you can confidently claim that NOC.

⚖️ How This New Category Differs From the Existing Healthcare Category

Criteria	Physicians with Canadian Work Experience	Healthcare & Social Services Category
Required experience	12 months continuous	6 months continuous
Location of experience	Must be in Canada 🇨🇦	In Canada or abroad 🌍
Eligible occupations	3	37 (includes many social services roles)

This new category is more targeted but offers a stronger advantage for physicians with Canadian experience.

✨ Final Thoughts

This new stream is a major opportunity for physicians already contributing to Canada’s healthcare system. If you fall under one of the eligible occupations, now is the perfect time to update your Express Entry profile so you’re ready when draws begin in 2026.

Have questions about NOC matching, Express Entry, or documentation? OPEN CANADA can help. 😊

🇨🇦 New Express Entry Category for Physicians with Canadian Work Experience (2026): What You Need to Know