International graduates with Canadian legal status
To access an entry level (Postgraduate Year 1) residency position in a designated specialty program, International Medical Graduates (IMGs) with Canadian legal status must apply through CaRMS.
Visit this website to view programs offered at the University of Ottawa as well as eligibility criteria for each program.
If admitted, all IMG residents must undergo an Assessment Verification Period (AVP) of twelve (12) weeks prior to the commencement of their residency program.
Residents must also sign a Return of Service (ROS) agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Health. You can find more information about the ROS here.
International Medical Graduate (IMG) Residents must apply to CaRMS for the following:
Fall Subspecialty Residency Match (FSRM), previously the Medicine Subspecialty Match (MSM)
- Residents currently enrolled in Internal Medicine who wish to apply to a Medicine Subspecialty:
- Adult Cardiology
- Adult Critical Care (alternate entry pathway available, refer to the Royal College Training Requirements)
- Adult Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Adult Gastroenterology
- Adult Infectious Diseases
- Adult Nephrology
- Adult Palliative Medicine (alternate entry pathway available, refer to the Royal College Training Requirements)
- Adult Respirology
- Adult Rheumatology
- General Internal Medicine
- Geriatric Medicine
- Hematology
- Medical Oncology
- Pain Medicine (alternate entry pathway available, refer to the Royal College Training Requirements)
- Residents who wish to apply to the following subspecialties:
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Geriatric Psychiatry
- Thoracic Surgery
Spring Subspecialty Residency Match (SSRM), previously the Pediatric Subspecialty Match (PSM)
- Residents currently enrolled in Pediatrics who wish to apply to a Pediatric Subspecialty:
- Adolescent Medicine
- Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
- Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Pediatric Palliative Medicine
- Pediatric Respirology
- Residents who wish to apply to the following subspecialty:
- Colorectal Surgery
Family Medicine/Enhanced Skills Subspecialty Match (FM/ES match):
- Residents currently enrolled in Family Medicine who wish to apply for an Enhanced Skill.
Please visit the CaRMS website for programs accepting applications, eligibility criteria and timelines.
IMG residents must sign a Return of service (ROS) agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Health. You can find more information about the ROS here.
Candidates wishing to apply to another subspecialty program must submit their application between May 1 and September 30 for a start date of the following July.
Admission Requirements
In order to be admissible for a subspecialty position, international medical graduate (IMG) residents must meet the following criteria:
- have successfully completed a specialty program in Canada before the beginning of the subspecialty;
- be certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) or at a minimum, have completed a residency program in Canada and be admissible to take the Royal College, or CFPC certification exams.
IMG residents must sign a Return of service (ROS) agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Health. You can find more information about the ROS here.
Required Documents for Application
Documents required in the application for subspecialty training are:
- personal statement
- CV
- Proof of citizenship or permanent resident status
- Medical degree
- three (3) letters of recommendation
Non-CaRMS subspecialty programs accepting applications
Please select the program in order to apply:
Provincial regulations prevent International medical graduates from obtaining their own funding (hospital or other organization) to enter a residency program or transfer to another residency program, if already registered in a residency program.
Practicing physicians wishing to pursue a new specialty, please refer to the Re-Entry section for options.
Should you have any questions, please email [email protected].
Certified physicians may wish to pursue a clinical or research fellowship (6 months to 3 years) to learn a new skill or simply to obtain added competence to enhance their practice.
Note that clinical/research fellowship appointments do not lead to any type of national certification. Candidates applying to a subspecialty program recognized by the Royal College must apply for a residency position.
Applications must be submitted online by selecting the program of interest below. All required documents must be uploaded between May 1 and September 30 for a start date the following July, with the exception of the Anesthesiology fellowships. The Anesthesiology program accepts applications between January 1st and June 30th and Pediatric Anesthesiology, between January 1st and April 1st. Please note that applications received by mail, email or fax are no longer accepted.
Admission Requirements
In order to be admissible for a fellowship position, you must meet the following criteria:
- have a medical degree from an accredited institution listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools confirming school is recognized in Canada (Sponsor Notes tab);
- have successfully completed a specialty program before the beginning of the fellowship;
- be certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) or another recognized international certification board (organization outside of Canada that certifies medical specialists), or at a minimum, have completed a residency program and be admissible to take the Royal College or CFPC exams;
- have successfully completed an English proficiency test, if applicable. See requirements below.
*Language Requirements:
Must provide proof of English language proficiency through ONE of the following:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS)-Academic with a minimum score of 7 in each component, OR;
- TOEFL-iBT; passing score of 93, including a minimum score of 24 on the speaking section, OR;
- Occupational English Test (OET)-Medicine with a minimum grade of B in each component, OR;
- The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP General) with a minimum score of 9 in each of the four skills, OR;
- Candidates for whom their primary and secondary, medical school or specialty education was conducted in English, proof must be attached to application, OR;
- World Directory of Medical Schools Language Option – If the instruction and the language of patient care at the undergraduate medical school was conducted completely in English, then a candidate can submit a copy or printout of the World Directory of Medical Schools website (Program Details tab) listing the medical school which clearly states that the language of instruction is English.
Applicants must be able to communicate proficiently in the language of instruction and patient care of the training site.
Note that you may apply only to a Clinical Fellowship in the same discipline (or subdiscipline) in which you are recognized as a specialist.
Required Documents for Application
Documents required in the application for fellowships are:
- personal statement
- CV
- copy of medical degree (including original and English translation)
- copy of specialty degree (including original and English translation) in the specialty or sub-specialty sought
- proof of English proficiency
- three (3) letters of recommendation
- proof of sponsorship, if applicable
Fellowship programs accepting applications
Below are fellowship programs accepting applications from International Medical Graduates.
Please select the program in order to apply.
Adult Cardiology
- AFC Adult Cardiac Electrophysiology
- AFC Adult Interventional Cardiology
- Adult Cardiac Imaging (Cardiac CT- Level 2)
- Adult Cardiac Imaging (Cardiac CT- Level 3)
- Adult Cardiac Imaging (Cardiac MRI- Level 2)
- Adult Cardiac Imaging (Cardiac MRI- Level 3)
- Adult Cardiac Imaging (Nuclear Cardiology/Cardiac PET- Level 2)
- Adult Cardiac Imaging (Nuclear Cardiology/Cardiac PET- Level 3)
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD)
- Advanced Adult Clinical Cardiology
- Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation
- Cardiac Imaging
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Rare Cardiac Conditions
- Valvular Heart Disease
Adult Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Bariatric Medicine
- Disorders of the Pituitary and Endocrine System, and Pituitary Tumors
- Thyroid Diseases and Thyroid Oncology
Adult Gastroenterology
- Advanced Luminal Therapeutic Endoscopy
- Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy
- Hepatology
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Nutrition
Adult Nephrology
- AFC Solid Organ Transplant
- Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease (MCK)
- Critical Care Nephrology
- General Nephrology
- Glomerular Disease and Pregnancy
- Home Dialysis
- Renal Hypertension
Adult Neurology
Adult Respirology
Adult Rheumatology
Anesthesiology (Deadline to apply is June 30, 2026)
- Acute Pain Management
- Advanced Airway and Oxygenation
- Advanced Clinical Practice
- Applied Pharmacology and Clinical Anesthesia
- Cardiac Anesthesiology
- Global Health
- Neurosurgical Anesthesia
- Obstetrical Anesthesia
- Perioperative Medicine
- Perioperative Point-of-Care Ultrasound
- Perioperative Research and Innovation
- Regional Anesthesia
- Simulation and Medical Education
- Thoracic Anesthesia
- Vascular Anesthesia and Perioperative Hemodynamic Echocardiography (PHE)
Cardiac Surgery
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Diagnostic Radiology
Emergency Medicine
- AFC Point of Care Ultrasound
- AFC Prehospital and Transport Medicine
- Clinical Emergency Medicine
- Emergency Medicine – Research
- Medical Education
- Simulation and Medical Education
Family Medicine Enhanced Skills
General Surgery
Gynecologic Oncology
Hematology
- AFC Adult Thrombosis Medicine
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma
- Plasma Cell Disorders
- Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Medical Oncology
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
- AFC Neonatal Hemodynamics and Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography
- Neonatal Follow-Up and Development
- Neonatal Transport
- Neonatology Clinical Fellowship
Neuroradiology
Neurosurgery
- Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery
- Complex Spine Surgery
- Endoscopic and Open Skull Base Surgery
- Endovascular Neurosurgery
- Functional Cranial and Spine Surgery
- General Neurosurgery
- Interventional Neuroradiology
- Neurosurgical Oncology
- Pediatric Neurosurgery
Nuclear Medicine
Obstetrics & Gynecology
- Minimally Invasive Gynecology
- Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
- Simulation and Medical Education
- Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery
Ophthalmology
Orthopedic Surgery
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
- Adult and Pediatric Otology, Neurotology, and Cochlear Implantation
- Advanced Head and Neck Oncology and Microvascular Reconstruction
- Advanced Rhinology and Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery
- Neurotology, Dizziness and Vestibular Disorders
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
Palliative Medicine
Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism
Pediatric Neurology
Pediatric Surgery
Psychiatry
- Early Intervention in First Episode Psychosis
- Eating Disorders
- Interventional Psychiatry
- Mood Disorders
- Schizophrenia
Urology
There is a three-year limit of licensure for all clinical fellowships. Please note that a clinical fellowship does not lead to any type of Canadian certification.
If admitted, all internationally trained Clinical Fellows must undergo a Pre-Entry Assessment Program of four (4) to twelve (12) weeks prior to the commencement of their fellowship program.
Should you have any questions, please email [email protected].
Physicians currently practicing in Canada who wish to change their area of specialty and undergo a new residency for eventual certification may be admissible to apply to the Ontario Ministry of Health & Long Term Care Re-entry Program (MOHLTC). This program is specifically designed for practicing physicians wishing to change specialties and willing to sign a return to service agreement in an under-serviced area with the MOHLTC. Candidates must communicate directly with the Ministry of Health for information.
Canadian, U.S. or international medical school graduates who have completed or partially completed a residency program outside Canada may qualify for the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care Repatriation program. This program is designed to attract medical graduates who have Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status in Canada to complete their residency program toward Royal College certification. The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care will fund six months to two years of specialty training if the candidate agrees to sign a return to service commitment to an under-serviced area. Please see the Ministry of Health and Long Term care website for more information. Please submit the documents listed below to [email protected].
In your application, please also include the following:
- letter of interest noting the Repatriation program and indicating the discipline for which you wish to be considered
- CV
- copy of medical degree (including a translated medical degree if the original is in a language other than English or French)
- A RCPSC (Royal College) assessment letter of the candidate’s postgraduate medical training outside Canada
- proof of Canadian Citizenship or permanent resident status with the date clearly indicated
- three (3) letters of recommendation.