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Physicians who are already in Canada as temporary residents will now be able to obtain permanent residency through Express Entry programs.
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) are aiming to attract and retain physicians and other healthcare workers with the latest measure.
Until now, physicians who practice in Canada could not qualify for Express Entry programs since their nature of work is different from the traditional employee-employer relationship. On paper, this means many physicians or doctors who are currently in Canada as temporary residents are considered self-employed.
Being self-employed in Canada for the purpose of gaining work experience did not make them eligible for most economic immigration pathways, including Express Entry. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says removing this barrier will act as a signal to physicians that they are welcome to stay in Canada.
However, it is important to note that being self-employed with at least one year of work experience abroad does not stop the candidates to apply for permanent residency through the Express Entry program.
Healthcare Workers in Canada
As of June 2022, approximately 4,300 permanent residents were admitted under the health care streams of the time-limited Temporary Residence to Permanent Residence pathway.
Further, one in every four healthcare professionals in Canada is an immigrant. We find that 23% of registered nurses and 36% of physicians in Canada are immigrants. Other healthcare occupations in Canada also make up a substantial percentage of immigrants:
- 54% of dental technologists and related occupations
- 39% of dentists
- 37% of pharmacists
- 35% of nurse aides and related occupations
Take this free assessment online to determine your eligibility to qualify for Canadian immigration.
Canada Immigration Through Express Entry
The new changes that are expected to take place from 2023 will allow IRCC to target Express Entry candidates who have specific work experience, education, or language abilities, rather than issuing invitations to apply to a wider range of candidates based solely on their CRS scores, as is currently the norm.
Express Entry is an immigrant application management system that is based on a points-based system, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), to invite eligible candidates from a pool.
The database manages applications for Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. The top-scoring candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and can then apply for permanent residence.
IRCC has a processing standard of six months for new Express Entry applications.
Also, read>> The Costs of Creating an Express Entry Profile.
If you’re planning to apply for Canadian immigration, we recommend scheduling a free appointment with us to determine your best chances of qualifying for Canadian immigration.
