𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀, 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺

A fact-based look at Canada’s healthcare workforce crisis, and a step-by-step guide for Pakistani doctors and nurses who want to apply

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟭: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗜𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹, 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮

Canada’s healthcare system is facing one of the most severe workforce shortages in its history. This is not a claim from immigration consultants, it comes from the Government of Canada, the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), and the Canadian Medical Association (CMA).

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀

𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀. According to the federal government’s landmark study Caring for Canadians: Canada’s Future Health Workforce (approved by health ministers in January 2025), Canada’s labour market is short nearly 23,000 family doctors.

Closing this gap would require a 49% increase in the current number of family physicians. In 2024, roughly 5.7 million adults (17%) and 765,000 children in Canada did not have a regular healthcare provider. In Ontario alone, about 2.5 million people, 15% of the province, have no family doctor.

𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀. Statistics Canada recorded 42,045 nursing vacancies in Q2 2024, a 147% increase over five years. Federal projections say Canada needs roughly 28,000 more registered nurses (RNs), 14,000 more licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and 2,700 more nurse practitioners. Pre-pandemic forecasting models already projected a national nursing shortage exceeding 117,000 by 2030, and COVID-19 made it worse through burnout, early retirements, and attrition. The Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions estimated over 30,000 nursing positions remained vacant in 2025, many unfilled for 90 days or more.

𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀. The same federal study projects widening supply-demand gaps for pharmacists through 2034, and thousands of additional occupational therapists and physiotherapists are needed.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴

Four structural forces are at work:

An ageing population. Canada’s 85+ population is projected to grow from about 912,000 in 2024 to as many as 4.1 million within 30 years, the group that needs the most complex care.

An ageing workforce. A large share of family physicians are nearing retirement, while fewer new graduates choose family medicine.

Domestic training can’t keep up. Canada has underproduced medical graduates for decades due to limited teaching capacity, clinical placements, and funding. Graduation cohorts in most health professions grew only 0–2% per year between 2018–19 and 2022–23.

Burnout and attrition. Recent research puts burnout prevalence in the Canadian health workforce at nearly 79%, with 94% of nurses reporting burnout symptoms. Emergency rooms have closed repeatedly in rural areas due to staffing gaps.

𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗱𝗮’𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿: 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

Immigration now accounts for almost all of Canada’s labour force growth, and Ottawa has made healthcare workers an explicit priority:
December 8, 2025: The federal government announced a new Express Entry category exclusively for physicians with at least 12 months of Canadian work experience (NOC 31100, 31101, 31102), plus 5,000 reserved permanent residence spaces for provinces to nominate licensed doctors with job offers, and 14-day work permit processing for nominated physicians.

February 19, 2026: The first physicians-category draw issued 391 invitations at a CRS cut-off of just 169 — the lowest in Express Entry history (the general pool average is around 500).

The existing Healthcare and Social Services Express Entry category remains open to doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and other professionals, and it requires only six months of work experience, which can be gained in Canada or abroad. This is the category most relevant to applicants still in Pakistan.

Provinces run their own fast-track licensing and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams for healthcare workers, and CIHI reports continued support for streamlined licensing and targeted international recruitment.

The honest caveat: Canada’s system is provincial. Immigration (federal) and medical licensing (provincial) are two separate journeys. The CMA notes more than 13,000 internationally trained physicians in Canada are not yet working in their field, mainly due to licensing bottlenecks — though reforms are actively underway. Plan both tracks together.

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟮: 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽-𝗯𝘆-𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 — 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻 (𝗜𝗻 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀)

There are two parallel tracks: (A) getting your professional licence recognised and (B) getting immigration status (PR or work permit). You should run both at the same time.

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗔𝟭: 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 (𝗠𝗕𝗕𝗦 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻)

Step 1 — Create your physiciansapply.ca account.

This is the official portal of the Medical Council of Canada (MCC). Almost every licensing pathway starts here. You upload your identity documents (notarised passport copy, photo, signature page) and pay the one-time account fee.

Step 2 — Get your MBBS degree source-verified.

Through your physiciansapply.ca account, submit a Source Verification Request (SVR) for your medical degree. The MCC verifies it directly with your university (via ECFMG channels). This takes anywhere from a few weeks to a few months — start early. This verification is also a prerequisite for the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) you’ll need for immigration, so one step feeds both tracks.

Step 3 — Prove your English.

Take IELTS Academic (or an accepted alternative). You’ll need strong scores both for licensing bodies and to maximise your immigration points (CLB 9+, roughly IELTS 8/7.5/7/7, gives the best Express Entry score).

Step 4 — Pass the MCCQE Part I.

This is Canada’s national qualifying exam (multiple-choice plus clinical cases). Good news: it’s offered internationally through test centres and remote proctoring, so you can sit it from Pakistan while continuing to work. Fee is roughly CAD $1,400.

Step 5 — Pass the NAC OSCE.

This clinical skills exam is only held inside Canada (twice a year). Many candidates travel on a visitor visa, sit the exam, and return home. Both MCCQE1 and NAC OSCE are required to enter the residency match.

Step 6 — Choose your route into practice.

There are two main routes:

1. Residency (CaRMS match): Apply through the Canadian Resident Matching Service for a postgraduate training position. This is the standard route for younger graduates.
2. Practice-Ready Assessment (PRA): If you are an experienced family physician (and in some provinces, certain specialists), several provinces offer PRA programs that assess you over a supervised period and licence you without repeating residency. This is often the fastest route for mid-career Pakistani doctors.

Step 7 — Register with the provincial regulator.

Each province’s medical regulatory authority (e.g., CPSO in Ontario, CPSA in Alberta) issues the actual licence. Requirements vary by province, so pick your target province early and read its rules.

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗔𝟮: 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 (𝗕𝗦𝗡/𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗥𝗡 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻)

Step 1 — Apply to NNAS (nnas.ca).

The National Nursing Assessment Service is the mandatory first step for internationally educated nurses (except Quebec). Create an account, pay the fee (around CAD $650), and have your nursing school send transcripts and your PNC (Pakistan Nursing Council) registration verification directly to NNAS in sealed/official form. NNAS issues an Advisory Report comparing your education to Canadian standards.

Step 2 — Apply to a provincial nursing college.

Choose a province (CNO for Ontario, BCCNM for BC, CRNA for Alberta, etc.) and have NNAS send your report there. The college may approve you directly, require a further competency assessment, or ask for a bridging course.

Step 3 — Prove your English.

Most provinces accept IELTS Academic (typically ~7.0 overall) or CELBAN.

Step 4 — Pass the NCLEX-RN.

Once the provincial college declares you eligible, register with Pearson VUE, receive your Authorization to Test, and sit the NCLEX-RN (it’s offered at international test centres too). Exam fee is about CAD $360 plus an international scheduling fee where applicable.

Step 5 — Complete final requirements.

Pass the province’s jurisprudence exam, submit a criminal record check, and obtain your licence. Realistic total timeline from NNAS application to NCLEX: 12–18 months — so start immediately.

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗕: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 (𝗕𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀)

Step 1 — Get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).

For doctors, the MCC itself is the designated ECA body (via physiciansapply.ca). Nurses and allied professionals typically use WES or another IRCC-designated agency.

Step 2 — Create your Express Entry profile.

Enter your age, education, IELTS scores, and work experience. You’ll get a CRS score.

Step 3 — Target the healthcare category draws.

Under the Healthcare and Social Services category, you need only six months of experience in your occupation within the last three years — gained in Canada or abroad — meaning your Pakistani hospital experience counts. Category draws have much lower CRS cut-offs than general draws.

Step 4 — Explore Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).

Provinces like Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick actively recruit international healthcare workers. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points — effectively guaranteeing an invitation. With the new 5,000 reserved spaces for physicians, PNPs are now the single most powerful tool for doctors with Canadian job offers.

Step 5 — Receive your Invitation to Apply (ITA) and submit for PR.

After an ITA you have 60 days to submit your complete application: police certificates (Pakistani police character certificate), medical exam by an IRCC panel physician (available in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad), proof of funds, and biometrics.

Step 6 — Alternative: come on a work permit first.

If a Canadian employer or health authority offers you a job (some provinces recruit directly overseas), you can enter on a work permit. After 6–12 months of Canadian experience, you become eligible for the strongest PR categories — including the new physicians-only stream, where invitations have gone out at CRS scores as low as 169.

𝗦𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻

• Book IELTS Academic now (needed for everything).
• Doctors: open physiciansapply.ca and start degree verification. Nurses: open your NNAS file the same week.
• While verification runs, prepare for MCCQE1 (doctors) or NCLEX-RN (nurses).
• Simultaneously create your Express Entry profile once your ECA and IELTS are done.
• Research 2–3 target provinces and their PRA/bridging/PNP options.
• Apply to jobs and provincial recruitment programs, a job offer transforms your timeline.

Realistic budget: roughly CAD $5,000–8,000 for exams, verifications, language tests, and application fees (excluding travel and settlement funds). Realistic timeline: 18 months to 3 years from first step to practising in Canada, depending on profession and route.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How long does it take a Pakistani doctor or nurse to immigrate to Canada?

The complete process typically takes 18 months to 3 years. It involves credential verification, passing the required exams (MCCQE or NCLEX-RN), and applying for Permanent Residency.

Do Pakistani nurses need to take the NCLEX for Canada?

Yes. After receiving an advisory report from the NNAS, internationally educated nurses from Pakistan must pass the NCLEX-RN to practice in most Canadian provinces.

Can I use my work experience in Pakistan for Canada Express Entry?

Yes. Under the Healthcare and Social Services category, you only need six months of continuous work experience in an eligible occupation within the last three years, which can be gained in Pakistan.

How much does it cost to apply for Canadian medical licensing from Pakistan?

Budget approximately CAD $5,000 to $8,000. This covers credential verifications, language tests (IELTS), licensing exams (MCCQE/NCLEX), and immigration application fees, excluding travel and settlement funds.

𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀
Government of Canada / Health Canada — Caring for Canadians: Canada’s Future Health Workforce (Health Workforce Education, Training and Distribution Study), 2025. canada.ca

Health Canada — Health Workforce overview page (Dec 2025 physician immigration measures). canada.ca

IRCC News Release — Targeted immigration measures to boost Canada’s supply of doctors, December 8, 2025. canada.ca

Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) — The State of the Health Workforce in Canada, 2024. cihi.ca

CIHI — Taking the Pulse: Balancing the needs of Canadians and our health workforce. cihi.ca

Institute for Canadian Citizenship — Canada’s Healthcare Crisis: The Growing Gap Between Need and Supply, 2025. forcitizenship.ca

Canadian Medical Association — statement on the federal health workforce report and December 2025 announcement. cma.ca

CBC News — Liberals to open new fast track to permanent residency for 5,000 foreign doctors, December 8, 2025. cbc.ca

CIC News — coverage of the new physicians Express Entry category and eligible NOC codes, December 2025. cicnews.com

Medical Council of Canada — Pathways for International Medical Graduates; NAC Examination eligibility; support for internationally trained physicians before arrival. mcc.ca

National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) — application process for internationally educated nurses. nnas.ca

World Education Services (WES) — Navigating Nurse Licensing Requirements in Canada. wes.org

NCBI/PMC — The Crisis in the Nursing Labour Market: Canadian Policy Perspectives. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Figures current as of mid-2026. Immigration rules and draw cut-offs change frequently, always confirm on canada.ca and the relevant provincial regulator’s website before paying any fee.