Self-Employed Physicians: Ontario's New PR Pathway Without a Job Offer

Most applicants under Ontario's Workforce Priority stream need a job offer from an Ontario employer. Physicians are the exception. If you're a self-employed physician practicing in Ontario, you may be able to apply for permanent residence without an employer at all.

Who Qualifies as a Self-Employed Physician

To apply under this route, you need to meet both of the following:

1. You're eligible to receive payment for publicly funded health services under the Health Insurance Act, 1990 — meaning you hold an OHIP billing number
2. You hold one of the following, and are a member in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario:
   • Certificate of registration authorizing independent practice
   • Certificate of registration authorizing academic practice
   • Provisional certificate of registration

If you meet both, you're exempt from the standard applicant requirements — no work experience, education, or language test requirements apply, and none of the employer requirements apply either.

One Important Exception

If you hold a postgraduate education licence, you don't qualify under the self-employed physician route. You may still be eligible under the Workforce Priority stream, but only if you have a job offer from an Ontario employer like any other applicant.

How to Apply

Unlike the job offer route, self-employed physicians don't register an EOI through the standard portal. Instead:

1. Contact the OINP directly to begin registering your Expression of Interest
2. If invited to apply, you have 17 calendar days from the invitation date to submit your application and pay the fee

Scoring as a Physician

You're still scored on a points system, though several factors work differently for physicians:

• Ontario work experience is measured in cumulative months of medical practice in Ontario (up to 18 points for 24+ months)
• Hourly wage does not apply to you as a scoring factor
• Education — a doctorate or degree in medicine earns the maximum 10 points
• Regionalization points are based on your practice address as registered with your OHIP billing number, not a job offer location

Practicing in Northern Ontario scores highest (15 points); Toronto scores lowest (0 points).

Express Entry Option

If you're nominated, you can choose to be nominated through the IRCC Express Entry system rather than applying for permanent residence directly. If you choose this route and are approved:

• You receive an additional 600 points in the Express Entry pool
• You have 30 days to accept the nomination
• You then have 60 days to submit your PR application to IRCC

This route requires you to already have (and maintain) a valid Express Entry profile, so it's worth setting one up early if you're considering it.