Approximately 1,000 Canadian international medical graduates (IMGs) are unable to secure residencies each year. Meanwhile, Canadian medical schools accept foreign “visa trainees” from countries like Oman, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. IMGs are medical graduates who obtained their degree/certification outside Canada and wish to practice medicine in Canada. However, IMGs must complete their medical residency in Canada to be licensed. This process becomes complicated when they are informed that returning to work in Canada is not possible due to limited resources and residency positions. According to data from the Canadian Resident Matching Service (CRMS), 1,810 Canadian IMGs who studied in countries such as Australia, Ireland, and the UK applied for a residency this year, but only 370 were successful.
Canadian international medical graduates losing residency spots to foreign nationals
