Canada Launches Fast-Track Work Permit for Foreign Doctors

Canada has introduced a fast-track immigration pathway aimed at addressing nationwide healthcare staff shortages by allowing eligible foreign doctors to receive work permits within as little as 14 days, according to a report by Gulf News.

Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab announced the initiative alongside Parliamentary Secretary to the Health Minister Maggie Chi, saying the policy targets immediate gaps in the country’s overstretched healthcare system.

Under the new framework, foreign physicians who secure a job offer and receive a provincial or territorial nomination will qualify for accelerated work permit processing.

The expedited permits will allow doctors to begin or continue working in Canada while authorities review their permanent residency applications.

To further support the move, the federal government has allocated 5,000 additional permanent residency slots specifically for licensed doctors under the Provincial Nominee Program.

Officials said the policy aims to retain practice-ready physicians who already serve in Canadian hospitals and clinics. The government also plans to launch a dedicated Express Entry category for doctors with at least one year of recent Canadian work experience in early 2026.