The Ontario government recently made an important update to its provincial nominee program (OINP), relaxing immigration application requirements for self-employed physicians. Through this change, Ontario hopes to address the growing physician shortage and strengthen the recruitment of talent in the healthcare industry.

New Immigration Opportunities for Self-Employed Physicians

Under the updated immigration requirements, self-employed physicians can now apply for permanent residency through several immigration categories of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) without needing to provide a job offer. Specifically, the following categories will allow self-employed physicians to meet immigration requirements based on their self-employed work experience:

• Express Entry: Human Capital Priorities
• Express Entry: French-Speaking Skilled Worker
• Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker

This change presents a significant opportunity for many self-employed physicians, as most physicians in Ontario are self-employed, and under previous immigration requirements, self-employed physicians were typically unable to apply through these categories.

Recognition of Self-Employed Work Experience

OINP has amended relevant regulations to allow applicants who meet the requirements of the “Human Capital Priorities” and “French-Speaking Skilled Worker” categories to have their self-employed work experience as a physician considered to fulfill work experience requirements. To qualify, applicants must have self-employment experience under the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes:

• NOC 31100 - Clinical and Experimental Medicine Specialists
• NOC 31101 - Surgeons
• NOC 31102 - General Practitioners and Family Physicians

Previously, many self-employed physicians in Ontario did not meet the eligibility criteria due to the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) requiring applicants to have employed work experience.

No Job Offer Required for Application

Additionally, self-employed physicians can now apply directly through the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker category without needing a job offer. Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• The applicant’s work must fall under NOC codes 31100, 31101, or 31102.
• The applicant must be registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and be in good standing, with one of the following certifications: Independent Practice, Academic Practice, or Postgraduate Education.
• The applicant must be eligible to receive public funding for healthcare services.

Support from Federal Policies

Ontario’s adjustment aligns with federal policies introduced earlier. To support the smooth immigration of self-employed physicians, the Canadian federal government has launched a temporary public policy that allows self-employed physicians to count their self-employed work experience toward the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Federal Skilled Worker Program application requirements. This policy eliminates the requirement for self-employed physicians to have at least one year of continuous work experience after obtaining permanent residency, further simplifying the immigration process for self-employed physicians.

Canada’s Demand for Healthcare Talent

The backdrop of Ontario’s policy adjustment is Canada’s ongoing physician shortage. With an aging population and rising demand for healthcare services, Canadian provinces have been implementing measures to attract skilled immigrants to the healthcare sector. Provinces such as Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Manitoba have introduced corresponding incentive policies for healthcare positions.

In 2023, the Canadian Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched a category-based selection draw for specific high-demand occupations, including healthcare. In the Immigration Levels Plan released in October 2024, healthcare, skilled trades, and French language proficiency were identified as priority categories for 2025, further demonstrating the high demand for healthcare professionals.

Enhanced Provincial Nominee Program

These updates to Ontario’s program belong to the “Enhanced Provincial Nominee Program (Enhanced PNP)” category, meaning they are integrated with the federal government’s Express Entry system. In this model, provincial governments can issue provincial nominations to eligible Express Entry candidates. After receiving a provincial nomination, applicants will receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, significantly increasing their chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residency.

Ontario’s policy change will not only help address the healthcare talent shortage but also provide self-employed physicians with more immigration options, injecting new vitality into Canada’s healthcare system.