Canada introduces 14-day fast-track work permits for foreign doctors

Canada aims to attract more foreign doctors with new measure, say ministers Diab and Chi

In a major push to tackle nationwide healthcare shortages, Canada has rolled out a fast-track immigration pathway that will grant eligible foreign doctors a work permit in as little as 14 days, according to UAE's Gulf News.

The measure, announced by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab and Parliamentary Secretary to the Health Minister Maggie Chi, aims to draw more international medical professionals into the country’s strained healthcare system.

Under the new policy, physicians who secure a provincial or territorial nomination along with a job offer will qualify for the accelerated processing. The streamlined permit will allow them to begin — or continue — working while their permanent residence applications are reviewed.

The federal government has also set aside 5,000 additional permanent residency slots for licensed doctors, supplementing existing allocations under the Provincial Nominee Program. Officials say the move is designed to retain “practice-ready” physicians already contributing to hospitals and clinics across Canada.

A separate Express Entry category, dedicated to doctors with at least one year of recent Canadian work experience, is set to launch in early 2026, further expanding opportunities for foreign-trained professionals. “Canada’s new government has a mandate to build a strong economy by attracting top global talent,” Diab said, adding that the new pathways will help stabilize the country’s overburdened health sector.

The initiative is expected to ease long-standing bottlenecks that have kept internationally trained doctors sidelined despite acute staffing shortages, particularly in rural and underserved communities.