Ontario eases PR process for self-employed physicians
Credit to Author: Canadian Immigrant| Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2025 16:17:57 +0000
Ontario has eased immigration requirements for self-employed physicians, making it simpler for them to qualify for permanent residency under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
Previously, many physicians struggled to qualify for key immigration streams because the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) requires work experience as an employee. However, under the new regulations, self-employed physicians can now count their work experience toward the eligibility requirements for certain OINP streams, including:
- Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities
- Express Entry: French-Speaking Skilled Worker
- Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker
Photo by Pexels: RDNE Stock Project
Physicians applying under these categories must have work experience in one of the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes:
- NOC 31100 – Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- NOC 31101 – Specialists in surgery
- NOC 31102 – General practitioners and family physicians
Additionally, self-employed doctors can now qualify for the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream without needing a formal job offer. To be eligible, applicants must be registered and in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario under one of the following certificate categories:
- Independent practice
- Academic practice
- Postgraduate education
They must also be eligible for payment through publicly funded health services.
Ontario’s updates align with earlier federal changes designed to make immigration easier for healthcare professionals. A temporary public policy introduced by the federal government now allows self-employed physicians to count their work experience toward the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and the Federal Skilled Worker Program. It also exempts physicians from the usual requirement of having continuous arranged employment for one year after receiving permanent residency.
With Canada facing a growing physician shortage due to an aging population and increased healthcare demands, these reforms aim to attract and retain skilled medical professionals. Other provinces, including Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Manitoba, have also introduced immigration incentives for healthcare workers.
These updates to Ontario’s enhanced Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) mean that physicians who receive a provincial nomination will gain 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, significantly increasing their chances of securing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency through the Express Entry system.
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