August 10, 2026 9:31 am England, UK (GMT+1) 
Opportunities for UK Doctors in Canada
"I Lost My Identity in England as a Doctor" - Dr. Afra Rafique Speaks with Matt Farah on Leaving the NHS for Canada
Dr. Afra Rafique is a GP currently practising in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada having relocated from the UK in 2024 after more than a decade working in the NHS.
She trained in medicine in the UAE before building her career across London, Ipswich and Oxford.
In this conversation, she speaks candidly about her decision to move to Canada, what she found upon arrival, and the role that Canada Medical Careers played in making that transition possible.
Top Ten Reasons UK General Practitioners (GP’s) Move to Canada
1. Earn an income 2-3 times as much as in the UK
2. Lower taxes in most cases
3. Much less admin work than in the UK
4. Easy medical licensing for UK doctors with CCT
5. Autonomy – practice without over-management
6. Flexible schedules
7. No home visits, no hospital visits, no out of hours
8. Superior work-life balance
9. Larger homes for many
10. Great schools and universities for children
See What UK Physicians are Saying About the Move to Canada and How Practice Differs from the UK
Canada Physician Opportunities for UK Doctors
For more information, please contact John Livingstone, Senior Physician Recruiter, at [email protected] or call WhatsApp +12508858802 any day after 5 pm UK time (9 am local time).
Canada is currently experiencing a critical shortage of physicians. It is estimated the country will be short tens of thousands of physicians before the end of the decade, and unfilled positions in health occupations routinely exceed 78,600 nationally.
The Royal Bank of Canada issued a report titled, “The doctor is out: a severe shortage of physicians is fast approaching.”
“Finding a family doctor in Canada is getting harder. Roughly six million Canadian adults don’t have access to a family doctor—up from 4.6 million in 2019. The situation is particularly alarming in rural communities where only 8% of physicians are serving nearly one-fifth of Canada’s population. The pain of this shortfall is already being felt in the broader healthcare system. Family doctors are often the first stop for patients seeking medical attention. And without quick access to them, patients are turning to emergency departments already overwhelmed by the pandemic.”
The crisis is set to deepen. Canada is estimated to be short nearly 44,000 physicians, including over 30,000 family doctors and general practitioners, before the end of the decade.
The most acute needs are for General Practitioners/Family Physicians and specialists in psychiatry, emergency medicine, and anesthesiology.
The opportunities for UK GP’s have never been greater.
How UK Doctors Are Licensed in Canada
For more information, please contact John Livingstone, Senior Physician Recruiter, at [email protected] or call WhatsApp +12508858802 any day after 5 pm UK time (9 am local time).
General Practitioners from the United Kingdom have a distinct advantage over doctors from most other countries. Your CCT in Family Medicine and membership in the Royal College of General Practitioners are accepted since the United Kingdom is an approved jurisdiction route (AJR).
In the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta, you will be granted a full licence without the need for any exams, sponsorship or supervision of any kind. You might not even need a letter of eligibility from the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
See Detailed Licensing Information
Just as with general practitioners, in the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta, you will be granted a full licence in as little as 3 months, without the need for any exams, sponsorship or supervision. Your CCT in your specialty and membership in a British professional association in your specialty are accepted since the United Kingdom is an approved jurisdiction route (AJR).
Just as with general practitioners, in the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta, you will be granted a full licence in as little as 3 months, without the need for any exams, sponsorship or supervision. You might not even need a letter of eligibility from the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
In Ontario, you will receive a provisional licence with your CCT and professional membership. You will need to obtain a letter of eligibility from the College of Family Physicians of Canada and specialists will need to obtain a letter of eligibility from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).
In Manitoba, GPs will receive a provisional certificate of practice in as little as 3 months, without the need for any exams, sponsorship or supervision upon obtaining your CCT and providing a letter of eligibility from the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
Once you start practising, you may apply for Certification through the College of Family Physicians. After this certification is received, you will be issued full registration.
Specialists must obtain a letter of eligibility from the RCPSC to be issued provisional registration. To obtain full registration, a specialist must have written and passed the Royal College Certification Examination in their specialty within 5 years.
For the licensing process in Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador, it is best to contact the respective College of Physicians and Surgeons for the latest regulations.
“What I do is a Win – Win – Win! Doctors come to Canada and have a better professional and personal life. Clinic owners have well-educated and experienced doctors who join their team. Patients receive excellent medical treatment from their new doctors. I love what I do every day!”
For more information, please contact John Livingstone, Senior Physician Recruiter, at [email protected] or call WhatsApp +12508858802 any day after 5 pm UK time (9 am local time).