Canada’s Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, has implemented new temporary public policies to simplify the permanent residency process for doctors applying through the Express Entry Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Worker Program.
These exemptions, effective from April 25, 2023, and indefinitely until revoked, aim to facilitate the eligibility of foreign national physicians who provide publicly-funded medical services in Canada.
The exemptions waive certain job offers and work experience criteria for self-employed physicians, including those working in a fee-for-service model, allowing them to qualify for the Express Entry system.
Both the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker Program are covered by these exemptions, enabling more foreign national physicians to meet the requirements and earn additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points.
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Why are these exemptions important for physicians?
To gain arranged employment points in the Express Entry system, a job offer must typically entail continuous work in Canada for at least one year after receiving a permanent residency visa.
However, some physicians do not fulfill this condition due to the nature of their work arrangements, which may not require continuous employment for a year.
Consequently, these physicians may be disqualified from the program, failing to meet the minimum requirements to enter the Express Entry pool.
Additionally, many physicians in Canada work as independent contractors, providing publicly financed medical services reimbursed by provincial/territorial public health authorities. This self-employed status previously made them ineligible for the Express Entry system.
With the new exemptions, qualified physicians have a greater chance of meeting the requirements of the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class, making them eligible for the Express Entry pool.
Moreover, the adjustments made to the Express Entry Ministerial Instructions increase the likelihood of foreign national physicians receiving an Invitation to Apply for Permanent Residence.
This temporary policy aims to address the ongoing shortage of healthcare professionals in Canada by attracting more permanent physicians.
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Occupations/NOCs Eligible for Exemption
| Occupation (NOC 2021) | Counterpart (NOC 2016) |
|---|---|
| Specialist in clinical and laboratory medicine – NOC 31100 | Specialist physician – NOC 3111 |
| Specialist in surgery – NOC 31101 | Specialist physician – NOC 3111 |
| General practitioner and family physician – NOC 31102 | General practitioner – NOC 3112 |
What are the new exemptions for physicians in Express Entry?
The following five physician occupations are exempt from the job offer requirement and the ineligibility of self-employed applicants in the Express Entry system:
- Specialist in clinical and laboratory medicine – NOC 31100
- Specialist in surgery – NOC 31101
- General practitioner and family physician – NOC 31102
Physicians in these occupations no longer need to demonstrate that their job offer must be ongoing and last for at least a year after receiving their permanent residency visa.
However, the job offer must be issued by a province or territorial government, a government entity, a government-appointed body, or a healthcare provider organization delivering publicly financed medical services.
Furthermore, physicians can now claim points for self-employed work experience under the occupations listed above. Typically, self-employment experience is not eligible for the Express Entry system.
What are the eligible physician occupations for exemption in Express Entry?
The eligible physician occupations under the Express Entry exemption are as follows:
NOC 2021:
- Specialist in clinical and laboratory medicine – NOC 31100
- Specialist in surgery – NOC 31101
- General practitioner and family physician – NOC 31102
NOC 2016:
- Specialist physician – NOC 3111
- General practitioner – NOC 3112
What are the new exemptions for physicians in Canada’s Express Entry system?
Foreign-trained physicians can now claim CRS points for self-employed or independent contractor work experience in Canada.
Physicians in Canada no longer need to prove that their agreed-upon employment must be ongoing and last for at least a year after receiving their permanent residency visa.
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