You need a work permit A medical resident needs a work permit

If you’re a medical (or dental) resident or fellow and have a medical degree equivalent to a Canadian medical doctorate (for example, MD, DDS, DDM), you need a work permit.

Based on your answer, you may be eligible for an employer-specific work permit. You must also meet the general eligibility requirements for a work permit.

If you’re a resident

You’ll be doing your residency for 2 to 7 years or more, depending on your specialization.

Residents are MDs who are completing their period of supervised work so they can

• be registered as physicians
• work unsupervised

If you’re a fellow

You’ll be studying for 1 to 2 years.

Fellowships are when MDs practise under a specialist after their residency to gain further expertise.

Before you apply

Before you submit your work permit application, your employer must

• submit an offer of employment
• pay a $230 employer compliance fee
• give you an offer of employment number

Find out if you’re eligible for priority processing

We’re prioritizing applications for certain people who perform or support essential services.

When you fill out the work permit application form

To get priority processing, follow these steps:

1. Get the National Occupational Classification (NOC) number your employer entered on the
• offer of employment or
• labour market Impact assessment (LMIA)
2. Enter that number in the Job title box.
• This is box 4 in the Details of intended work in Canada section.
• You must enter only the number.

Eligible health care occupations

NOC 2021 codes for health care occupations

• Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (NOC 31112)
• Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists (NOC 32123)
• Dietitians and nutritionists (NOC 31121)
• General practitioners and family physicians (NOC 31102)
• Home child care providers (NOC 44100)
• Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations (NOC 44101)
• Licensed practical nurses (NOC 32101)
• Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations (NOC 33101)
• Medical laboratory technologists (NOC 32120)
• Medical radiation technologists (NOC 32121)
• Medical sonographers (NOC 32122)
• Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 33102)
• Nurse practitioners (NOC 31302)
• Nursing coordinators and supervisors (NOC 31300)
• Occupational therapists (NOC 31203)
• Optometrists (NOC 31111)
• Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating (NOC 31209)
• Paramedical occupations (NOC 32102)
• Pharmacists (NOC 31120)
• Pharmacy technicians (NOC 32124)
• Physiotherapists (NOC 31202)
• Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals (NOC 31303)
• Police investigators and other investigative occupations (NOC 41310)
• Psychologists (NOC 31200)
• Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 31301)
• Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (NOC 32103)
• Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine (NOC 31100)
• Specialists in surgery (NOC 31101)

Faster processing

If you’re not eligible for priority processing, but your job is classified under Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category 0 or 1 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system, you’re still eligible for faster application processing under the Global Skills Strategy.

What you need to apply

You need

• a medical exam
• a letter of employment from the university you’ll be doing your residency or fellowship at. It should
  • be on university letterhead and signed by a senior administrator
  • say what the position that you’re being offered is, including your specialty (if applicable)
  • say what the length of your residency or fellowship is, including its beginning and end dates
  • say where you’ll be doing the residency or fellowship
  • show your income for the residency or fellowship; the letter should also state that
    • your income is comparable to what a Canadian would be paid for the same duties
    • your income isn’t being funded by the Canadian public
  • say if your position is under a collective agreement (unionized)
  • say if you need to be licensed by the provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons to complete the residency or fellowship

How to apply for a work permit