What this category means
This category is limited to specified physician NOCs and qualifying work performed in Canada.
Category eligibility comes after Express Entry eligibility
You must first qualify for the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program or Federal Skilled Trades Program and have a valid Express Entry profile. A category does not replace those program rules.
Who may qualify
- Be eligible for at least one of the three federal programs managed by Express Entry.
- Have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool when IRCC holds the round.
- Meet every requirement in the ministerial instructions for that specific round.
- Within the 3 years before the round, have at least 12 months of full-time work experience—or an equal amount of part-time experience—in one listed occupation. The experience does not need to be continuous and may be gained in canada.
Eligible occupations
IRCC uses the 2021 NOC codes below. Match the lead statement and actual main duties—not only a similar job title.
| Official occupation title | 2021 NOC | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 | 1 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 | 1 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 | 1 |
The Canadian physician-experience requirement
This category is narrower than the general healthcare and social-services category. The qualifying 12 months must be in Canada and in one of only three physician NOCs.
Three eligible NOCs
Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (31100), specialists in surgery (31101), and general practitioners and family physicians (31102).
Canadian work must be provable
Evidence should establish authorized work in Canada, dates, hours, pay, location and medical duties that match the selected NOC. A physician title or foreign medical licence alone is not enough.
Category eligibility does not grant or replace a provincial licence to practise medicine. Licensing, hospital privileges, immigration-program eligibility and category membership are separate requirements.
Latest 2026 physician-category round
Round #421 was the first invitation round for Physicians with Canadian Work Experience, 2026-Version 1.
Date and time
June 24, 2026 · 14:00:30 UTC
Invitations
271
Lowest CRS
223
Tie-breaking rule
May 31, 2026 · 18:13:49 UTC
Physicians with Canadian Work Experience, 2026-Version 1 · round #421
Invitations could be issued to eligible Express Entry candidates under the federal programs identified in the round instructions.
CRS 223 was the lowest score in this very specific round. It is not a general Express Entry cut-off and does not predict another physician-category round.
Open official round #421How category-based selection works
- 01
Qualify for Express Entry
Meet the minimum rules of CEC, FSWP or FSTP and create an accurate profile.
- 02
IRCC identifies eligible profiles
IRCC checks the profile information against the requirements of the announced category.
- 03
Candidates are ranked by CRS
Eligible category candidates are still ranked against one another using their CRS scores.
- 04
Highest-ranking candidates may be invited
The number invited, cut-off, tie-breaker and exact category rules are set for the individual round.
- 05
Submit the permanent-residence application
An invited candidate must prove both program and category eligibility with documents and remain admissible to Canada.
Documents to prepare
- Canadian employer letters with detailed duties, dates, hours and pay
- Work authorization and evidence you were physically working in Canada
- T4 slips, Notices of Assessment, pay records or contracts where relevant
- Evidence matching the claimed 2021 NOC
- All documents required by the underlying Express Entry program
Important limits
- Meeting a category requirement does not add separate CRS points and does not guarantee that IRCC will hold a round for that category.
- The category occupation list, work-experience period and round instructions can change. The live IRCC page and the instructions for the exact round control.
- An invitation does not remove the need to prove the underlying Express Entry program, the CRS score claimed, category eligibility and admissibility.
- A job title alone is not enough for an occupation category. The evidence must support the correct NOC lead statement and main duties.
Frequently asked questions
Does foreign physician experience count for this category?
No. The qualifying 12 months for this specific category must be acquired in Canada. Foreign experience may still be relevant to the underlying Express Entry program or CRS.
Can I combine two physician NOCs?
The current rule requires 12 months in a single listed occupation. Non-continuous periods can be combined only when they relate to the same NOC.
Does residency, fellowship or supervised practice automatically count?
Not automatically. The work arrangement, authorization, dates, hours, remuneration and actual duties must be reviewed against the relevant NOC and the underlying Express Entry program.
Do I need a provincial medical licence?
The category rules and professional licensing are separate. Lawful Canadian physician work normally depends on the applicable provincial rules, but a licence by itself does not prove all immigration requirements.
Can part-time Canadian experience count?
Yes, an equal amount of qualifying part-time experience may count. The hours and duties must be supported by reliable documents.
Does unauthorized work count?
No. The ministerial instructions exclude unauthorized work in Canada from the qualifying calculation.
Does this category add CRS points?
No separate CRS points arise merely from category membership. Eligible candidates are ranked by their existing CRS score.
Why was the cut-off only 223?
It reflected the small, highly specific group and invitation total in round #421. It cannot be applied to general, CEC, healthcare or future physician rounds.
Official government sources
General information only. This page was reviewed on the date shown, but IRCC may change categories or instructions without notice. Verify the live government source before relying on any requirement.