Canadian Government Making access to Permanent Residence easy for Doctors

Foreign physicians, from across the globe who arrive in Canada and work play a key role in health sector ensuring local access to family doctors at a time when aging population in the maple leaf country require it the most.

Since different provinces and territories looking to lure and retain increased number of foreign-trained physicians to help address shortages, therefore, the Government of Canada is making it easier for these physicians to call Canada home permanently.

Immigration Minister Announced changes to benefit foreign-born physicians

In a recent meeting with family physicians and Healthy Pictou County at the Aberdeen Hospital, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced changes to make it easier for foreign-born physicians to remain in Canada, so they can continue to practice in Canada and bolster our health care system.

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Exempting physicians working in a fee-for-service model

Some doctors have faced obstacles in accessing PR (permanent residence) through, federal Express Entry system, as the “fee-for-service” model used in Canada for health care professionals is outside of the typical employer-employee relationship. Hence, some physicians are presently considered self-employed, leaving them ineligible to meet the eligibility requirement of the economic pathways for Canadian PR.

To address this issue, Canadian Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser has announced that Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is exempting physicians (i.e. who work in a fee-for-service model with public health authorities), from current requirements. Speaking about this latest change, the minister said, “In my home province in particular, foreign-born physicians have been helping to keep families healthy and to take care of our aging population.

Their skills are critical resources in our community, and it does not take long before they become our neighbours, friends, and fellow community leaders. Physicians resettling here in Nova Scotia or in other parts across the country is a win-win situation. The measures announced today signal to these physicians that we want them to stay, by making it easier for them to choose Canada as their permanent home.” 

This latest change identifies the unique employment model used in Canada’s health care system, and will offer physicians with access to Canada’s economic PR programs.  As a result, now, a greater number of those doctors already here and filling crucial vacancies in our health care sector can remain in Canada permanently.

IRCC constantly improving immigration system

To help address skill shortages issues across different provinces and territories, IRCC is refining its immigration system to allow overseas nationals (already in Canada) to live in Canada and work. Immigration is crucial to help employers thousands of vacant positions across the maple leaf country. Successful immigration system benefits the Canadian economy.

A few key facts about immigration of physicians in Canada

• IRCC continues to prioritize temporary resident work permit applications for essential workers in health care.
• In 2022, IRCC has accepted over 8,600 temporary and permanent resident applications from foreign nationals intending to work in the health sector.
• Since 2015, over 22,400 people, including nearly just over 3,600 physicians and 8,600 nurses, became permanent residents through Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program.
• Economic programs under Express Entry for physicians include, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian experience class.
• As of June 2022, approximately 4,300 permanent residents were admitted under the health care streams of the time-limited Temporary Residence to Permanent Residence Pathway. 

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To know more or apply for Canadian Permanent Residency (PR) Visa in 2022, you may get in touch with Visas Avenue qualified and trusted immigration advisors and experts. You may call VA immigration expert on Toll-Free No. 78-18-000-777 or you can drop us an e-mail at info@visasavenue.com.

- Rajneesh Kumar