Special Entry Routes

Applicants must meet all criteria at the time of application:

• Be a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident of Canada
• Hold a valid Independent Practice license (Restricted or Provisional certificates are not eligible)
• Have 12+ consecutive months of full-time clinical practice in Canada
• For physicians practicing out of province, must be eligible for an Independent Practice license from the CPSO

Applicants with an undischarged Return of Service (ROS) outside Ontario may be ineligible for Ministry-funded positions. Contact the Program Officer for more information ReEntry@Ontario.ca. 

Submit from the Ministry of Health. Review the Application Process Guide and complete the form per the instructions in the guide.

Download Application Form              Download Application Guide

Applicants submit a complete online application and all required documents to the Ministry by the deadline. The Ministry reviews applications for eligibility and completeness, then forwards eligible applications to the PGME offices at Ontario medical schools.

PGME offices assess available program capacity and funding to determine whether they can support Re-Entry candidates in each specialty. Only programs with available funding and training positions will review applications further.

Program directors then review eligible candidates and select applicants for available positions. Decisions are communicated through the PGME office and/or the Ministry. If no decision is received, applicants can assume they were not selected.

Successful applicants receive a confirmation of appointment from the university and must submit it to the Ministry. The Ministry then issues a Return of Service (ROS) Agreement package, which must be signed and returned before residency begins.

Return of Service (ROS) is a requirement tied to government-funded residency training aimed at supporting physician recruitment and retention across Ontario.

• Re-Entry participants must complete 2 years of full-time service (minimum 30 hours/week) in Ontario after residency
• Service must be completed in the same specialty as training
• Failure to complete ROS may result in breach of agreement and financial penalties
• Participants should contact the Ministry with any concerns about fulfilling ROS obligations

Once a training position is confirmed, the Ministry will issue a ROS package by mail or email for review and signature, which includes:

• ROS Agreement
• ROS Addendum

• Contact information changes
• Application updates or corrections

For questions regarding the ROS Agreement or Addendum: ReEntry@Ontario.ca 

Physician Repatriation allows internationally trained physicians who have completed or partially completed residency outside Canada to pursue up to 2 years of additional residency training in Ontario to meet Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) certification requirements.

Selection is made by residency Program Directors and the PGME office, based on capacity and funding available for the full training period.

Applicants may be eligible if they:

• Are a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident
• Hold a medical degree from a World Health Organization-listed accredited medical school
• Have completed or partially completed postgraduate medical training outside Canada
• Have a valid RCPSC Assessment Letter confirming required training duration

→ RCPSC assessment must be completed before applying.

Stream 1 – Fully Trained Outside Canada

Applicants who have fully completed a core residency program (e.g., Internal Medicine) and are applying for additional training in the same core specialty.

Requirements:

• RCPSC assessment letter
• A maximum requirement of 2 years of additional residency training

Return of Service (ROS) requirement: 1 year for each year of training in an eligible Ontario community

Applicants who have fully completed a core residency program and are applying for a subspecialty of the discipline in which training has been completed.

Requirements:

• RCPSC assessment letter confirming postgraduate medical training completed outside Canada

Return of Service (ROS) requirement: 5 years in an eligible Ontario community

Important Note – Medicine & Pediatrics (CaRMS Timing)

Applicants to Medicine or Pediatrics programs under this stream will only be considered after the second iteration of the CaRMS Fall or Spring Subspecialty Match.

Stream 2 – Partially Trained Outside Canada

This stream is for applicants who have partially completed postgraduate training outside Canada, and whose training has been assessed and recognized by the RCPSC. Applicants must apply to continue training in their original specialty or subspecialty.

Requirements:

• RCPSC assessment letter confirming postgraduate medical training completed outside Canada

Return of Service (ROS) requirement: 5 years in an eligible Ontario community

Important Note – Medicine & Pediatrics (CaRMS Timing)

Applicants to Medicine or Pediatrics programs under this stream will only be considered after the second iteration of the CaRMS Fall or Spring Subspecialty Match.

There is no application form for this program. If you meet all eligibility requirements, follow the steps below:

1. Contact the PGME office. Begin this process at the start of your final year of postgraduate training. The PGME office will guide your application for a residency position.
2. Submit required documents as requested by the PGME office. These may include your CV, transcripts, prior evaluations, and reference letters. Requirements vary by program.
   A mandatory RCPSC or CFPC training assessment letter confirming the length and type of required training must be included.
3. The PGME office will forward your complete application to the Program Director for review.
4. If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of a residency position from the university (subject to Ministry funding approval).
5. Once an offer is made, the PGME office will submit your package to the Ministry to finalize the process under the Repatriation Program.

• Mandatory agreement required before training begins
• Up to 5 years of service in Ontario communities outside:
  • Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga, Brampton, Markham, Vaughan, Pickering
• Training cannot start until the ROS agreement is signed and submitted
• Please refer to the streams for length of ROS

• Funding must come from existing Ministry-allocated funds
• Full funding must be available for the entire training period
• Residency training is full-time
• Start date is arranged between the candidate and the program