Maple News reports that Ontario has introduced updated immigration rules that make it easier for self-employed internationally educated physicians to obtain permanent residence through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). These changes—effective January 1, 2026—expand eligibility under the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream.
While this stream typically requires a valid job offer from an Ontario employer, self-employed physicians will continue to be exempt from this requirement, provided they meet specific qualifications. The regulatory adjustments primarily redefine which medical certifications qualify an individual as a self-employed physician under the program.
To be eligible, applicants must fall under National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes 31100 (specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine), 31101 (specialists in surgery), or 31102 (general practitioners and family physicians). In addition, they must:
– Be eligible to provide insured health services under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), with a valid OHIP billing number
– Be registered and in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)
– Hold one of the following certifications: independent practice, academic practice, or the newly included provisional certificate of registration
This change replaces the previously accepted “postgraduate education” certification, which was removed because it does not satisfy the OHIP billing number requirement.
The newly introduced provisional certificate of registration, enabled by Ontario’s “As of Right” legislation, permits physicians to practice in Ontario under supervised or limited conditions while they work toward full licensure. Eligible applicants must already be authorized to write the required examinations. This measure is intended to reduce barriers for skilled professionals in high-demand, regulated fields.
According to Maple News, the streamlined criteria are part of Ontario’s broader efforts to strengthen the provincial healthcare system by addressing physician shortages and making immigration pathways more accessible to qualified international medical professionals.
These enhancements align with growing national strategies to attract skilled workers into vital sectors like healthcare, especially while Canada continues to face systemic gaps in medical service coverage across several provinces.