Ontario Makes It Easier for Self-Employed Doctors to Get Permanent Residency

Ontario has changed its immigration rules to make it easier for self-employed doctors to obtain permanent residency through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

Before, many doctors couldn’t qualify because they were self-employed and didn’t meet the job offer requirements. Now, they can count their self-employed work experience and apply under certain immigration streams without needing a job offer.

Which Immigration Streams Have Changed?

The updated rules apply to these three OINP streams:

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

Self-Employed Doctors Can Now Count Their Work Experience

Doctors applying for the Human Capital Priorities or French-speaking skilled Worker streams can now use their self-employed work experience to qualify.

To be eligible, they must have worked in one of these jobs:

• NOC 31100 – Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
• NOC 31101 – Specialists in surgery
• NOC 31102 – General practitioners and family physicians

Previously, doctors didn’t qualify for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) because it required employer-based work experience, which most doctors don’t have.

No More Job Offer Requirement for Some Doctors

Doctors can now apply for the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream without needing a job offer.

To qualify, they must:

• Apply under NOC 31100, 31101, or 31102
• Be registered with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario under one of these categories:

1. Independent Practice
2. Academic practice
3. Postgraduate education

• Be allowed to receive payment for publicly funded health services

Before this change, self-employed doctors couldn’t apply for this stream because it required a job offer from an Ontario employer.