As the health-care crisis worsens in the United States, a growing number of American doctors are considering relocating to Canada. Political tensions and widespread layoffs in the U.S. health-care system have led to an increased interest in Canadian opportunities, providing a potential solution to Canada’s ongoing doctor shortage.
According to the Medical Council of Canada (MCC), the number of U.S. medical graduates opening accounts on physiciansapply.ca—a crucial step in obtaining a medical licence in Canada—has surged by 583% between October 2024 and March 2025 compared to the same period last year.
“In addition, we have observed a slight increase in inquiries from U.S. medical graduates to our service desk. Over the past two months, our agents have received approximately 100 calls per month from U.S.-based locations, marking a 33% increase compared to September and October 2024,” an MCC spokesperson stated.
This growing interest from American physicians comes at a critical time for Canada’s health-care system, which is struggling with physician shortages, burnout among health-care workers, and long wait times in emergency rooms. By tapping into this influx of U.S. medical professionals, Canada hopes to alleviate some of these pressing issues and improve patient care across the country.
As provinces and health-care agencies work to streamline the licensing process and attract foreign-trained doctors, the migration of U.S. medical professionals to Canada could play a key role in addressing the nation’s health-care workforce crisis.