Immigrate to Canada as an Oncologist from Pakistan

Canada’s Cancer Care Demand

Canada needs more oncologists because its specialists carry heavier caseloads than their peers abroad, and many are nearing retirement. According to projections published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, Canada expects 254,100 new cancer cases and 87,900 cancer deaths in 2026, and 42% of people in Canada will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.

A 2025 study in Current Oncology counted 642 medical oncologists in Canada in 2020, or 352 new cancer cases per oncologist. That ratio is higher than in the United States, Australia and most of Europe, and it reached 447 cases per oncologist in Atlantic Canada compared with 261 in British Columbia. The study also found that 40% of medical oncologists were aged 50 or older.

The Canadian Institute for Health Information reports that 94% of patients received radiation therapy within 28 days in 2024, compared with 97% in 2019. Provinces are also recruiting, and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency announced nine new physicians in gynecologic oncology, hematology and medical oncology in November 2024.

Licensing Routes for Oncologists Trained in Pakistan

Pakistan is not on the Royal College list of approved jurisdictions, so oncologists trained in Pakistan usually start with a supervised license and then work toward full certification.

Royal College Practice Eligibility Route

The Practice Eligibility Route allows specialists trained outside Canada to earn Royal College certification without repeating residency. Your training must be substantially equivalent to Canadian standards. You must also pass the Royal College specialty exam and complete two years of supervised practice at one location in Canada. The review of a complete application usually takes 3 to 6 months.

Medical oncologists working in Canada who are not certified in Internal Medicine can use a related route that leads to the title of Royal College Subspecialist Affiliate.

Practice Ready Assessments

Two provinces assess specialists in a clinical setting before issuing a license to practice:

• Nova Scotia: the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia offers an 8 to 12 week supervised assessment for specialists endorsed by Nova Scotia Health. Candidates complete it on a short-term clinical assessment license, and those who succeed move to a defined license.
  
  
• Alberta: doctors from outside approved jurisdictions must pass a practice readiness assessment, and a sponsoring employer pays its cost. The full process takes about 37 weeks on average.
  
  

Supervised Licenses in Ontario and BC

Specialists who pass the Royal College written exam through the Practice Eligibility Route can apply for a supervised license in Ontario or British Columbia. In Ontario, this restricted certificate requires at least two years of supervised practice. It expires within three years.

Express Entry and PNP Routes to Immigrate to Canada as an Oncologist

Healthcare category draws are the most direct federal route for oncologists. IRCC held three healthcare draws in 2026:

CRS Case Study

The example below is based on a single 33-year-old oncologist with an MBBS and FCPS, three years of specialist work and CLB 9 English in every skill. An MBBS earns the same CRS education points as a master’s degree, because medicine is a licensed profession:

French at NCLC 7 lifts this profile above every 2026 healthcare cut-off. With the same qualifications, a single applicant aged 30 or younger can reach the latest cut-off of 475 with CLB 10 English alone.

Provinces Recruiting Physicians

Several provinces run nominee streams for physicians, and most require a job offer from a public health employer. A nomination through a stream linked to Express Entry adds 600 CRS points to your score.

• Nova Scotia Physician stream: an approved job offer from Nova Scotia Health or the IWK Health Centre and a two-year return for service agreement
  
  
• Saskatchewan Health Talent Pathway: a permanent full-time health job offer, eligibility for a Saskatchewan license and one year of experience in the last five years
  
  
• BC PNP Health Authority stream: support from a BC health authority, with direct applications and no registration or draw
  
  
• Alberta Dedicated Health Care Pathway: NOC 31100, 31101 and 31102, for physicians who are practice-ready
  
  
• Ontario self-employed physician pathway: no job offer, but registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and eligibility to bill OHIP
  
  

Step-by-Step Plan from Pakistan

1. Get your Educational Credential Assessment: apply through physiciansapply.ca, because IRCC accepts assessments for physicians only from the Medical Council of Canada, not from WES.
   
   
2. Take your language test: aim for CLB 9 or higher on IELTS General Training or CELPIP-General. Adding French at NCLC 7 can raise your score above the 2026 healthcare cut-offs.
   
   
3. Get oncology-specific reference letters: ask the head of your oncology department for a letter that states your job title, dates, weekly hours and salary, and describes duties such as planning radiotherapy, prescribing systemic treatment and presenting cases at tumor boards.
   
   
4. Create your Express Entry profile: list your experience under NOC 31100, or NOC 31101 for surgical oncologists, to become eligible for healthcare draws.
   
   
5. Start your Royal College application: you can apply through the Practice Eligibility Route from Pakistan without a Canadian license, so gather your FCPS logbook, rotation records and training certificates now.
   
   
6. Apply for oncology positions: a job offer from an employer such as Nova Scotia Health or the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency can lead to a provincial nomination.
   
   

FAQs

Can I work as an oncologist in Canada with FCPS?

Yes, but you will start with a supervised license. Most FCPS holders first complete a practice ready assessment or take a sponsored position, then work toward Royal College certification.

Do I need a job offer to immigrate to Canada as an oncologist?

No, a job offer is not required for Express Entry healthcare draws. However, most provincial physician streams require a job offer from a public health employer.

Is there an age limit for oncologists applying for Canada PR?

No, there is no maximum age. CRS age points decrease each year after age 30 and reach zero at 45, but a provincial nomination adds 600 points and can still lead to an invitation.

How long does the Canada PR process take for oncologists?

Applicants have 60 days to submit their application after receiving an invitation, and IRCC aims to process 80% of complete applications within six months. Licensing follows a separate timeline, and Nova Scotia’s specialist practice ready assessment takes 8 to 12 weeks.

How much do oncologists earn in Canada?

Specialists in NOC 31100, which includes oncologists, earn a median salary of CAD 317,845 per year in British Columbia, according to WorkBC. BC also projects 3,490 job openings for these specialists between 2025 and 2035.

Not Sure Which Canada Pathway Fits Your Oncology Profile?

AIRCS reviews your NOC classification, FCPS training and CRS score, then maps the route that fits your specialty, whether that’s a healthcare draw, a provincial physician stream or the Royal College pathway. We support Canada immigration for oncologists across Pakistan.

Message AIRCS on WhatsApp or book your profile assessment.