TORONTO: On April 25, 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada introduced measures to facilitate the issuance of permanent resident visas for foreign national physicians providing publicly-funded medical services in Canada.

Under the Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate the Issuance of Permanent Resident Visas for Physicians Providing Publicly Funded Medical Services in Canada and related amendments to the Ministerial Instructions respecting the Express Entry system, there are now exemptions for certain job offer and work experience criteria to facilitate the eligibility of self-employed foreign national physicians (such as those working in a fee-for service model). Exemptions impact:

• the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker Program; and
• points in the Express Entry’s Comprehensive Ranking System for
  • Canadian work experience; and
  • arranged employment.

These measures will enable more foreign national physicians to qualify for federal economic permanent residence programs managed by Express Entry, and to qualify for more points in the Express Entry system, increasing their chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence.