Canada has a high demand for Doctors, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Job Bank, there will be approximately 48,900 job opportunities for General Practitioners and Family Physicians between 2022 and 2031. If you are from the healthcare sector and want to immigrate to Canada as a doctor then Canada provides various pathways such as Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program.
Fastest Ways for Doctors to Immigrate to Canada
Canada has various immigration programs for doctors to work and live in the country. Listed below are the best and simplest immigration programs.
1. Express Entry
Express Entry is one of the best and simplest ways to get Canada PR. Under the Express Entry system, healthcare professionals can immigrate through the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
In 2023, IRCC announced Category-based Express Entry draws. This draw focuses on 6 main categories, the healthcare occupation being one of them. If you are a doctor and want to immigrate to Canada, then your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) increase under a category-based draw. This is because IRCC has been focusing on conducting category-based draws often and inviting candidates from particular occupations.
Eligibility Requirements:
To be eligible in the healthcare occupation category, you must have at least 6 months of continuous work experience (abroad/Canada) within the last 3 years in one of the targeted NOC Codes.
Targeted NOC Code for Doctors in Healthcare Occupations Category
Some high-demand jobs for doctors in Canada are given below.
| S. No. | Job Title | NOC Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 |
| 2. | Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| 3. | General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
| 4. | Veterinarians | 31103 |
| 5. | Dentists | 31110 |
| 6. | Optometrists | 31111 |
| 7. | Pharmacists | 31120 |
| 8. | Physicians assistants, midwives, and allied health professionals | 31303 |
| 9. | Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists | 32200 |
| 10. | Chiropractors | 31201 |
| 11. | Dieticians and nutritionists | 31121 |
| 12. | Nurse Practitioners | 31302 |
| 13. | Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 31300 |
| 14. | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 |
| 15. | Psychologists | 31200 |
| 16. | Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 |
| 17. | Physiotherapists | 31202 |
| 18. | Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 31112 |
| 19. | Educational counsellors | 41320 |
| 20. | Instructors of persons with disabilities | 42203 |
| 21. | Kinesiologists and other professional occupation in therapy and assessment | 31204 |
| 22. | Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
| 23. | Massage therapists | 32201 |
| 24. | Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 |
| 25. | Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 |
| 26. | Medical radiation technologists | 32121 |
| 27. | Medical sonographers | 32122 |
| 28. | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 |
| 29. | Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors | 31300 |
| 30. | Occupational therapists | 31203 |
| 31. | Other assisting occupations in support of health services | 33109 |
| 32. | Other practitioners of natural healing | 32209 |
| 33. | Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 |
| 34. | Paramedical occupations | 32102 |
| 35. | Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 |
| 36. | Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists, and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 |
| 37 | Therapists in counseling and related specialized therapies | 41301 |
2. Provincial Nominee Program
After Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program is also one of the best and simplest ways to immigrate to Canada as a doctor. PNP is a Canadian immigration program that allows provinces and territories to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada and are interested in settling in a particular province or territory. Some PNPs have a special stream just for healthcare professionals.
PNP Streams for Doctors
The Provincial Nominee Program offers various PNP streams for Doctors. If you want to immigrate to Canada through the Provincial Nominee Program, you can select one of the programs below.
| Province | PNP Streams for Doctors |
|---|---|
| Nova Scotia | -Physician Stream -Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities -The Physician Stream -Skilled Worker Stream -Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry |
| Saskatchewan | -International Skilled Worker: Employment Offer -Saskatchewan Experience Health Professionals |
| Ontario | -Ontario’s Express Entry Human Capital Priorities stream -Ontario’s Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream |
| British Columbia | -British Columbia Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker -British Columbia Skills Immigration – Health Authority |
| Alberta | -Alberta Express Entry |
| Manitoba | -Skilled Worker in Manitoba -Skilled Worker Overseas |
| Prince Edward Island | -PEI Express Entry -Skilled Worker Outside Canada |
| Yukon | -Yukon Skilled Worker Stream -Yukon Skilled Express Entry Stream |
| New Brunswick | -New Brunswick Express Entry Stream -New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | -The NLPNP Express Entry – Skilled Worker Category -NLPNP Skilled Worker Category |
Requirements to Get a Job in Canada for Doctors
To get a job in Canada as a doctor, you must fulfill the basic requirements below.
1. Indian doctors must hold a license to practice in Canada.
1. You must possess a valid immigration status to work in Canada.
2. You need to have a legitimate medical education and qualify for the Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC).
3. Check if the province where you plan to work requires a provincial license.
4. You must have a valid medical degree from a university listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
5. Meeting Canada’s language requirements is essential for immigration. IELTS, CELPIP, or PTE (for English language proficiency) or TCF or TEF (for French language proficiency).
6. You must have a work experience threshold.
7. An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is required (if the candidate’s education is from outside Canada)
Download Free Immigration and PR Guide PDF
In-Demand Jobs for Doctors in Canada
Canada has a huge demand for General practitioners and family physicians, which comes under the NOC 31102. They provide primary care to patients of all ages. They diagnose and treat a wide variety of illnesses and medical conditions.
Additionally, Canada offers high-paying salaries to medical doctors. According to IRCC, the salary of General practitioners and family physicians ranges from $88,755 to $450, 137 per year.
Jobs Description of General Practitioners and Family Physicians
General Practitioners and Family Physicians are responsible for the following tasks:
1. They examine patients’ health through history-taking, diagnostic tests, and consultations with colleagues.
2. Manage acute medical conditions.
3. Assist in routine surgeries.
4. Offer emergency medical care.
5. Prescribe and administer medications and treatments.
6. Conduct vaccinations for disease prevention.
7. Deliver and care for newborns, along with prenatal and postnatal care.
8. Educate patients and families on health topics and prevention strategies.
9. Provide counseling and support for health and lifestyle matters.
10. Advocate for patients’ needs.
11. Ensure continuous patient care.
12. Supervise home healthcare services.
13. Report births, deaths, and diseases to authorities.
Requirements for General Practitioners and Family Physicians (NOC 31102)
To get the job under NOC 31102, you must have the following employment requirements.
1. You need a bachelor’s degree or, finishing a college program plus one year of pre-med studies in Quebec.
2. You must graduate from an authorized medical school and complete 2-3 years of family medicine residency training.
3. You need to pass the qualifying exams of the Medical Council of Canada or the Collège des médecins du Québec and get licensed by the provincial or territorial authority.
Salary for Doctor in Canada
According to Job Bank, the average salary of doctors in Canada ranges from $88,755 to $450,137 per year.
| Job Title | Average Salary (CAD) | Average Salary (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Family Physician | $233,726 | Around Rs. 1,43,19,400 |
| Surgeons | $739,388 | Around Rs. 4,52,99,200 |
| Ophthalmologist | $379,319 | Around Rs. 2,32,40,100 |
| Dermatologist, Pediatrician, Physiatrist, Anesthetist | $250,012 | Around Rs. 1,53,25,900 |
| General Surgeon | $466,000 | Around Rs 2,84,76,497 |
| Orthopedic surgeon | $438,000 | Around Rs 2,67,65,463 |
| Otolaryngologist | $444,000 | Around Rs 2,71,32,113 |
| Ophthalmologist | $791,000 | Around Rs 4,83,36,715 |
| Urologist | $588,000 | Around Rs 3,59,31,717 |
| Neurosurgeon | $558,000 | Around Rs 3,40,98,466 |
Reasons to Immigrate to Canada as a Doctor
Canada has a high demand for doctors in many provinces. Now IRCC is also focusing on the healthcare sector in category-based draws so that the shortage of physicians in Canada can be reduced.
About 40% of the jobs in the healthcare industry in Canada may remain vacant between 2021 and 2031, which will lead to Canada immigrating more doctors.
Additionally, doctors and healthcare workers in Canada are offered very high salaries. The median salary of a doctor is $233,726 per year and those with more experience are offered salaries of $450,137 and above.
Contact TCWW for Canada Immigration
Talent Connected Worldwide is a government-approved consultancy that recently won the best immigration company award. Our company name is listed on the CICC portal. Our experts will:
- Assist in completing and submitting PR applications accurately.
- Optimize your profiles to increase your chances of receiving invitations for PR.
- Help to gather and organize required paperwork and suggest alternatives (if required).
- Provide personalized immigration strategies as per your needs.
- Keep our clients informed about application progress and policy changes.
- Provide continuous support and guidance throughout the immigration process.
- Evaluate qualifications and determine eligibility for PR programs like Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, Family Sponsorship, etc.
Are doctors in demand in Canada?
Yes, there is a shortage of healthcare workers in Canada, for which many skilled physicians and doctors are being immigrated to Canada.
What are Canada’s PR pathways?
The following are the Canada’s PR pathways:
- Express Entry
- Provincial Nominee Program
- Quebec Selected Skilled Workers
- Atlantic Immigration Program
- Family Sponsorship
- Caregivers program
- Self-Employed
- Start-up Visa
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
- Agri-Food Pilot
What kind of doctors are in demand in Canada?
Family physicians and General practitioners are in high demand in Canada.
How can I get a job as a doctor in Canada?
If you want to get a job as a doctor in Canada follow these steps:
1. Submit your medical degree from a recognized medical school
2. Prepare for your exam
3. Submit your education credentials
4. Give the Medical Council of Canada Evaluating Examination (MCCEE)
