Ottawa, 08/12/2025 — Canada.
On December 8, 2025, IRCC introduced a new Express Entry priority category called Physicians with Canadian work experience. Minister Lena Metlege Diab confirmed that draws for this category will begin in early 2026.
Criteria for the New Category
According to IRCC, the Physicians with Canadian work experience category applies to three NOC codes related to the physician profession. Candidates need at least 12 months of Canadian work experience within the past three years, in a single occupation on the list.
This new category is part of the category-based draws mechanism that IRCC has run since May 2023 to target skills and experience in short supply in key sectors.
Policy Objective
Adding the Physicians category to Express Entry is one of the measures targeting Canada’s healthcare workforce shortage. Healthcare and Social Services has been a priority category since 2024, but the Physicians category, with its Canadian experience requirement, is a distinct subcategory established in 2025.
This aligns with the overall direction of the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which prioritizes transitioning people who already have Canadian experience from temporary to permanent residence, rather than increasing the number of new arrivals.
Timeline
IRCC has not announced a specific schedule for draws or a CRS cutoff score for the Physicians category. Based on published information, the first draws are expected in early 2026.
The list of priority categories and specific criteria may be adjusted by IRCC according to labour market needs. Interested applicants should follow canada.ca for updates on current requirements and draw schedules.
References
This article is compiled from government sources. Immigration regulations and figures may change over time; you should check current information on the official website before making a decision.
