Healthcare Worker Visa for Canada from Pakistan
Important: “Healthcare worker visa” is a common search term, but Canada does not have one universal immigration product by that name. Depending on the occupation and the person’s facts, the relevant route may be Express Entry, a provincial nominee program, a work permit or another economic immigration pathway.
Table of Contents
High Demand for Healthcare Workers in Canada: Immigration for Pakistani Professionals
Canada has several immigration pathways that may be relevant to healthcare and social-services professionals, but a healthcare occupation does not create automatic eligibility for permanent residence. A person must qualify under a specific immigration program and meet that program’s selection, document and admissibility requirements. Occupation, work history, language results, education, licensing requirements, job-offer facts and intended province can all affect the available options. A province may nominate an eligible candidate, but IRCC makes the final permanent-residence decision.
Not sure which pathway fits your qualifications? Start with our free immigration assessment to explore the Canadian immigration options that may match your profile.
Which occupations are in IRCC's healthcare and social services category?
Being listed in this category does not by itself make someone eligible for permanent residence. The candidate must first qualify for one of the programs managed through Express Entry, enter the pool and meet the instructions for the category and the particular invitation round. The current healthcare and social services category requires at least 12 months of full-time work experience, or an equal amount of part-time experience, in one listed occupation during the previous three years. The experience may be in Canada or abroad and does not need to be continuous. The underlying Express Entry program still has its own eligibility rules.
IRCC also has a separate 2026 category for physicians with Canadian work experience. That category is narrower and requires at least 12 months of qualifying medical-doctor work experience in Canada during the previous three years in NOC 31100, 31101 or 31102.
| Occupation | NOC | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 | 1 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 | 1 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 | 1 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 | 1 |
| Dentists | 31110 | 1 |
| Optometrists | 31111 | 1 |
| Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 31112 | 1 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 | 1 |
| Dietitians and nutritionists | 31121 | 1 |
| Psychologists | 31200 | 1 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 | 1 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 | 1 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 | 1 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 | 1 |
| Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 31300 | 1 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 | 1 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 | 1 |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 | 1 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 | 2 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 | 2 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 | 2 |
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 32104 | 2 |
| Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 32109 | 2 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 | 2 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 | 2 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 | 2 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 | 2 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 | 2 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 | 2 |
| Other medical technologists and technicians | 32129 | 2 |
| Massage therapists | 32201 | 2 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 | 3 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 33102 | 3 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 | 3 |
| Social workers | 41300 | 1 |
| Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 41301 | 1 |
| Social and community service workers | 42201 | 2 |
Official source: IRCC’s live Express Entry category-based selection page. Occupation lists and instructions can change. Last checked 1 August 2026.
What can healthcare workers earn in Canada?
Earnings vary substantially by occupation, province or territory, licensing status, experience and employment model. A single national figure for all healthcare workers or all medical doctors would be misleading. Review current wage information for the specific occupation and location through the Government of Canada Job Bank wage search. Salary information does not establish immigration eligibility.
What are the requirements to immigrate as a doctor from Pakistan to Canada?
There is no single checklist or one set of requirements for every doctor outside Canada. For Express Entry, the person must first qualify for one of the programs managed through Express Entry. The healthcare and social services category requires at least 12 months of qualifying work experience in the previous three years in one listed occupation, in Canada or abroad, and that category experience does not need to be continuous. The underlying immigration program still has its own rules. For example, Federal Skilled Worker eligibility requires at least one year of continuous paid skilled work experience.
A separate 2026 physicians category requires at least 12 months of qualifying medical-doctor work experience in Canada during the previous three years in NOC 31100, 31101 or 31102. Language results, education assessment, settlement funds and other requirements depend on the underlying immigration program and the person’s facts. Professional licensing is a separate process.
In Canada, are healthcare workers eligible to apply under the federal express entry program?
Some healthcare and social-services occupations are included in current Express Entry category-based selection. Being in an eligible occupation does not itself create Express Entry eligibility and does not guarantee an invitation. The candidate must qualify for one of the Express Entry programs, enter the pool, meet the category requirements and rank high enough in a round. IRCC decides which categories to use and the cut-off for each round.
Which PNP is most suitable for healthcare workers?
No province can be identified as the best option for every healthcare professional. Provincial streams, occupation priorities, licensing requirements, job-offer rules and invitation patterns differ and may change. A province or territory may nominate an eligible candidate, but a nomination is not permanent residence. The candidate must then apply to IRCC, which makes the federal permanent-residence and admissibility decision. A provincial nominee must also intend to settle in the nominating province or territory.
Do healthcare workers require a job offer in order to immigrate to Canada?
A job offer is not a universal requirement for every Express Entry pathway. The answer depends on the underlying immigration program and the person’s facts. Some provincial nominee streams and work-permit routes require a job offer, employer support or provincial support. The separate 2026 measures for medical doctors include pathways connected to Canadian work experience and provincial support. A job offer, occupation or CRS score does not guarantee an invitation or permanent residence.
Will I need to convert my current academic credentials?
For immigration purposes, an educational credential assessment may be required by the underlying program. Physicians whose primary occupation is NOC 31100, 31101 or 31102 must use the Medical Council of Canada for the ECA of their primary medical diploma. Pharmacists in NOC 31120 who need a licence to practise use the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada. A person in another healthcare occupation normally uses the applicable IRCC-designated organization or professional body.
An immigration ECA does not authorize someone to practise a regulated health profession. Professional credential recognition and licensing are handled by the regulator in the province or territory where the person intends to work.
How do I identify the correct pathway and apply?
The first step is to identify the pathway that matches the person’s occupation, work history, language results, education, licensing position, job-offer facts and intended province. MAK’s immigration assessment is an initial screening tool. It is not an immigration application and does not guarantee eligibility, an invitation or approval.
Our professional fees are published openly so you know the cost before you commit.
