Canada Simplifies Permanent Residency Pathway for Pakistani Doctors and Their Families

Canada has introduced a simplified pathway to permanent residency (PR) for foreign-trained medical doctors, including eligible Pakistani physicians, as part of efforts to strengthen its healthcare system and address doctor shortages across the country.

The new measures, announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), provide multiple immigration options for medical doctors seeking to settle in Canada permanently.

We’re making the path to permanent residence simpler for international medical doctors to support a stable health care system for Canadians by offering doctors:
•5 options to get permanent residence through Express Entry and regional, provincial and territorial programs
•faster…

— IRCC (@CitImmCanada) July 14, 2026

Under the updated policy, eligible doctors can now apply for permanent residence through five different immigration pathways, including Express Entry as well as regional, provincial, and territorial nominee programs.

To help doctors begin working sooner, IRCC will also process work permits within 14 days for physicians nominated by a Canadian province or territory. This allows them to start practicing while their permanent residency applications are being processed.

The changes are expected to benefit qualified Pakistani doctors looking to build their careers in Canada, where demand for healthcare professionals remains high.

IRCC has also confirmed that applicants can include their spouses, partners, and dependent children as part of their permanent residency applications, making the process easier for families planning to relocate together.

According to the Canadian government, the initiative is aimed at creating a more stable healthcare workforce by making it faster and simpler for internationally trained doctors to live and work in Canada.

Interested Pakistani doctors can explore eligibility requirements and available immigration streams through the official IRCC medical doctors immigration program.