Physician Express Entry: Turn Your Canadian Practice Into Permanent Residence
Canada’s physicians category lets family doctors, specialists and surgeons who already work in Canada compete in their own Express Entry draws, and its cut-offs have been the lowest of any category. You need 12 months of work in Canada as a physician in the last 3 years. See every recent cut-off in our Express Entry draw tracker.
since 1991
What is the Express Entry physicians category?
The Physicians with Canadian Work Experience category is a set of targeted Express Entry draws for doctors who already practise in Canada. IRCC created it in December 2025 to keep physicians who are already caring for Canadian patients.
It is separate from the broader healthcare category. Because the pool is small, its cut-offs have been far lower than any other round. A physician with Canadian experience is also eligible for healthcare draws and is invited by whichever round comes first.
What happens if you wait to apply?
Your work permit has an end date, and every renewal brings risk and paperwork. Your patients and clinic depend on you staying, and IRCC publishes no draw schedule, so every physicians round you miss is one you cannot get back.
Why doctors use this category
- Lowest cut-offs: physician rounds have invited far below every other draw
- A tiny pool: you compete only with physicians who have Canadian experience
- Two chances: you also qualify for healthcare rounds
- No job offer required to receive an invitation
- Security: no more work permit renewals once you are a permanent resident
- Family included: bring your spouse and children
- Provincial support: extra nomination spaces for licensed physicians
Is the physicians category right for you?
An honest answer before you spend money on tests and fees.
A good fit if you have
- 12 months of paid work in Canada as a physician (NOC 31100, 31101 or 31102) in the last 3 years
- Canadian experience that adds up, even if it was not continuous
- Authorization to practise medicine in Canada during that work
- English or French at CLB 7 or higher, or you are ready to test
- Eligibility for an Express Entry program, usually the Canadian Experience Class
Consider another route if
- All of your medical experience is outside Canada
- You are an international medical graduate not yet practising in Canada
- You work in Canada in a health role other than physician
The healthcare category, which accepts foreign experience, a practice-ready assessment or a provincial physician stream may be a better first step.
Physicians category eligibility requirements
You must qualify for one Express Entry program, then meet the Canadian physician experience rule. Here is what IRCC checks.
Language proficiency
Take IELTS General, CELPIP General or PTE Core for English, or TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French. The Canadian Experience Class needs CLB 7 for TEER 0 and 1 jobs, which includes physicians.
Education
The Canadian Experience Class does not require an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), but an ECA for your medical degree earns CRS points. The Federal Skilled Worker Program requires one.
Canadian physician experience
At least 12 months of full-time paid work, or the same amount part-time, in Canada as a physician within the last 3 years. It does not need to be continuous. Experience outside Canada does not count for this category.
Proof of funds
Federal Skilled Worker candidates must show settlement funds, from $15,263 CAD for one person. You are exempt if you are invited under the Canadian Experience Class or hold a valid job offer.
Admissibility
A medical exam with an IRCC panel physician for you and your dependants, and police certificates from every country you have lived in for 6+ months since age 18.
Not sure your occupation qualifies?
Answer 7 questions for an assessment based on IRCC’s recent draw data.
The 3 eligible physician occupations
Family physicians
General practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102), in clinics, hospitals and community practice.
Medical specialists
Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (NOC 31100), such as internists, psychiatrists, pediatricians, radiologists and pathologists.
Surgeons
Specialists in surgery (NOC 31101), such as general, orthopedic, cardiac and neurosurgeons.
Common roles we file
Your experience must be paid work in Canada in one of these three codes. Physician assistants and other health roles belong to the healthcare category instead.
How to apply through the physicians category, step by step
Six stages from checking your NOC code to landing in Canada.
Confirm your NOC code and Canadian months
We check your practice history in Canada against the NOC codes and count your 12 months before you pay for tests.
Get your language test
Book IELTS, CELPIP, PTE Core or TEF, and gather your licence, contracts and payroll or billing records.
Create your profile and enter the pool
We review your profile line by line. You are then eligible for physicians, healthcare, CEC, PNP and general rounds, and the first one you qualify for invites you.
Receive an Invitation to Apply
Our team manages your 60-day countdown so no deadline is missed.
Submit your PR application
Reference letters or contracts that list your clinical duties and hours, police certificates, a medical exam and government fees of $1,590 CAD per adult.
Become a permanent resident
You receive your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and confirm your status, so you can keep caring for your patients without work permit renewals.
CRS scores in physician draws
Physician cut-offs have been the lowest of any Express Entry category because the pool is small. They still move with every round, so check the latest scores in our Express Entry draw tracker.
CRS points at a glance (without spouse)
Ways to raise your score
Costs and timelines
Typical costs for a single applicant, confirmed during your consultation because IRCC fees change periodically.
Can you get Canadian PR this year?
Answer 7 questions and get a strategy-level Express Entry assessment based on IRCC’s recent draw data, including the new category-based draws.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
35+ years of hands-on immigration experience and 25,000+ successful cases, from offices in Toronto, Dubai and Karachi. Our team includes Rijah Amir, also a licensed RCIC, so every file gets a second expert review.
Licensed expert guidance
Advice from CICC-licensed RCICs, not sales staff or unlicensed agents.
A strategy built for your profile
We identify the fastest realistic pathway for you, not a template.
Application accuracy
Documentation review that prevents costly errors and refusals.
Timely updates
We track every draw, policy shift and IRCC announcement for you.
End-to-end support
From eligibility checks to landing, we guide every step.
Proven track record
2026 Canadian Choice Award winner, trusted since 1991.
What our clients say
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Physician Express Entry FAQs
Which physicians qualify for the Express Entry physicians category?
Family physicians and general practitioners (NOC 31102), specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (31100) and specialists in surgery (31101). You need 12 months of paid work in Canada in one of these codes within the last 3 years.
Can I use medical experience from outside Canada?
Not for this category. Your 12 months must be in Canada. Foreign experience can still count in the broader healthcare category, which accepts experience from abroad.
I am an international medical graduate not yet practising in Canada. What are my options?
You cannot use this category yet. A practice-ready assessment, a provincial physician stream or the healthcare category may be your first step, and we can map the fastest route for your specialty.
Can a physician be invited through both physician and healthcare draws?
Yes. A physician with Canadian experience is eligible for both, and is invited by whichever round reaches their score first. You can only be invited once.
Does my Canadian experience need to be continuous?
No. You need a total of 12 months, full-time or the same amount part-time, within the last 3 years. Gaps are allowed.
What CRS score do I need for a physicians draw?
There is no fixed score. Physician cut-offs have been the lowest of any category, but they change every round, so check the latest result in our Express Entry draw tracker.
How often are physician draws held?
IRCC publishes no schedule for category draws, and the gap between rounds can be several months. Keep your profile active and your test results valid so you are ready for any round.
Which Express Entry program do physicians usually use?
Most physicians already working in Canada qualify through the Canadian Experience Class. It needs CLB 7 for physician roles and does not require an ECA.
Do I need a job offer for the physicians category?
No. A job offer is not required to receive an invitation, and since March 2025 a job offer no longer adds CRS points. See how the CRS works and how to improve your CRS score.
How long does it take to get PR through the physicians category?
It depends mostly on how long you wait in the pool for an invitation. After an Invitation to Apply, you have 60 days to submit, and IRCC aims to process most complete applications within 6 months.
