Key Details:
- In 2025, Canada held 4 Healthcare & Social Services Express Entry draws, issuing 7,500 ITAs with CRS cut-offs ranging from 470 (lowest) to 510 (highest).
- In 2025, Ontario held multiple healthcare-focused OINP draws under Employer Job Offer streams, issuing over 7,000 ITAs with score cut-offs ranging from 33 (lowest) to 63+ (highest).
- Projected shortage 2024–2033: 47,800 new physician jobs, only 25,800 job seekers.
- Backlog (Jun 2025): 842,800 applications pending across PR, TR, study, and work permits.
1. TEER Categories & NOC Codes for Healthcare
| Occupation | NOC Code (2021) | TEER Level |
|---|---|---|
| General Practitioners & Family Physicians | 31102 | TEER 1 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 | TEER 1 |
| Medical Radiation Technologists | 32121 | TEER 2 |
| Physician Assistants / Midwives / Allied Health Professionals | 31303 | TEER 1 |
| Early Childhood Educators (ECE) | 42202 | TEER 2 |
| Registered Nurses & Registered Psychiatric Nurses | 31301 | TEER 1 |
| Licensed Practical Nurses | 32101 | TEER 2 |
| Nurse Practitioners | 31302 | TEER 1 |
| Medical Sonographers | 32122 | TEER 2 |
| Medical Laboratory Technologists | 32120 | TEER 2 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 | TEER 1 |
| Pharmacy Technicians | 32124 | TEER 2 |
| Social Workers | 41300 | TEER 1 |
| Social & Community Service Workers | 42201 | TEER 2 |
| Occupational Therapists | 31203 | TEER 1 |
| Optometrists | 31111 | TEER 1 |
| Psychologists | 31200 | TEER 1 |
| Respiratory Therapists, Clinical Perfusionists, Cardiopulmonary Technologists | 32103 | TEER 2 |
| Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists | 32111 | TEER 2 |
| Medical Laboratory Assistants | 33101 | TEER 3 |
| Nurse Aides, Orderlies & Patient Service Associates | 33102 | TEER 3 |
2. Express Entry Draws for Healthcare Workers
- Eligible streams: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Trades (for support occupations).
- Healthcare category-based draws started in 2023, giving healthcare professionals priority invitations.
Recent Immigration Draws For Healthcare Workers
| Draw Date | Category | ITAs | CRS Cut-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2025 | Healthcare & Social Services | 4,000 | 475 |
| Aug 8, 2025 | French Language | 2,500 | 481 |
| Jun 26, 2025 | PNP Only | 3,000 | 739 |
3. PNP Options for Healthcare Workers
| Province | Stream | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Employer Job Offer – Foreign Worker / International Student | Frequent priority health draws |
| BC | Skills Immigration – Health Authority | Dedicated stream for HA hires |
| Saskatchewan | Health Talent Pathway | Employer-driven nomination |
| Manitoba | Skilled Worker | Regular EOI draws including health |
| New Brunswick | Skilled Worker & EE-linked | Healthcare-targeted invitations |
| Alberta | AAIP Express Entry | Sector-prioritized selections |
4. TR To PR Pathways For Healthcare Workers
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) + Healthcare Draws: If you’ve worked in Canada on a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) or another valid work permit, you can apply for PR through CEC. Healthcare category-based draws often give you an extra advantage.
- Employer-Backed Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): If your Canadian employer supports you, provinces can nominate you for PR. A PNP nomination adds 600 points to your Express Entry score, almost guaranteeing an invitation.
- Francophone Pathway: If you also speak French, you can benefit from special French-language draws, which usually have lower score requirements.
5. Salaries for Healthcare Occupations
| Occupation | Median Salary (CAD/year) | High Salary Potential |
|---|---|---|
| General Practitioner | $216,000 | $350,000+ |
| Physiotherapist | $82,000 | $105,000 |
| MRT | $75,000 | $95,000 |
| ECE | $41,600 | $58,000 |
(Source: Job Bank & provincial wage profiles)
6. Documents & Fees – Healthcare PR Checklist
- Mandatory: Passport, ECA, IELTS/CELPIP, TEF (for French), proof of funds, police clearance, medical exam.
- Occupation-specific: Provincial licensing proof (GP, physiotherapist, MRT, PA).
-
Fees (IRCC 2025):
- PR application fee: $1,365/adult
- Biometrics: $85/person
- ECA: $200–$250
- IELTS: $300 approx.
7. Future Demand For Healthcare In Canada
- By 2035, Canada will need over 500,000 new healthcare workers.
- There are already high job vacancies in nursing , family doctors, radiology, and physiotherapy.
- Government forecasts (2024–2033) show serious shortages in many healthcare jobs, meaning demand will stay very strong.
8. Related Immigration Updates
Study Visa Changes (2025): Most applicants must include a Provincial/Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL) with their study-permit application; IRCC kept intake caps and published 2025 allocations to provinces (now also covering most in-Canada and graduate applicants).
Work Permit Rules (Healthcare): There isn’t a blanket “shortage-occupation” exemption, but LMIA-exempt routes do exist for many health workers—e.g., Mobilité Francophone (code C16) and certain physician policies—otherwise an LMIA is usually required.
Backlog Update (June 2025) : IRCC’s dashboard shows the study-permit backlog at 18% in June 2025 (down from earlier months); program backlogs vary (e.g., Express Entry ~20% in June 2025).
Immigration Levels Plan 2025–27: Ottawa reduced PR admissions targets to 395,000 (2025), 380,000 (2026), 365,000 (2027), while keeping the economic class (incl. healthcare) as the largest share.
9. Final Thoughts
Healthcare professionals are Canada’s most in-demand immigrants in 2025. Whether you’re a student finishing your PGWP, a foreign-trained doctor, or a visitor exploring PR, multiple federal and provincial options exist.
