Question: Dear Miss Powell,

I am a 45-year-old medical doctor practising in Jamaica and considering immigrating to Canada. I am concerned that my age may count against me under the points-based system. Am I too old to qualify? What options realistically exist for foreign-trained physicians in 2026, and what should I be doing now to prepare?

At 45, you are not too old. Canada continues to face shortages in family medicine, emergency medicine, psychiatry, and specialist services, and several pathways are designed specifically to attract foreign-trained doctors.