The Canadian government has published a dedicated immigration pathway specifically designed for medical doctors seeking to work in the country, offering a work permit processed within 14 days for those nominated by a province or territory. This fast-tracked permit allows doctors to begin working in Canada while their permanent residence application is still being processed.
How Canada's 14-Day Work Permit for Doctors Works
According to details published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the key requirement is a nomination from a Canadian province or territory. Doctors who secure that provincial or territorial nomination become eligible for the expedited work permit, which is processed in as little as 14 days.
The arrangement, according to the Canadian government, is designed to bridge the gap between arriving in Canada and receiving permanent residence. Rather than waiting through the often lengthy immigration process before they can start practising, nominated doctors can enter the workforce almost immediately. The work permit allows them to take up employment while their permanent residence application continues through the system.
Broader Immigration Programme for Healthcare Professionals
This pathway is part of a broader dedicated immigration programme Canada operates for medical doctors, recognising the country's ongoing demand for healthcare professionals across its provinces and territories. The 14-day processing timeline means that qualified doctors could find themselves working in Canadian healthcare facilities within weeks rather than months.
For Nigerian doctors considering relocation to Canada, provincial or territorial nomination is the critical first step. Each province and territory runs its own nomination streams, with specific eligibility criteria that applicants must meet before a nomination can be granted.
Canada's Immigration Offer to Medical Professionals
Canada's immigration authority, IRCC, has also shared key steps skilled professionals need to take before they can apply for permanent residence. The expedited work permit makes Canada's immigration offer to medical professionals one of the most competitive in the world for that category.
In a related development, Canada extended the open work permit application deadline to December 31, 2026, for certain permanent residence applicants. The extension targets foreigners who applied under the 2021 temporary resident-to-permanent resident pathway and are still awaiting a decision.
