Where the world is hiring GPs in 2026 — New Zealand, Canada and Australia lead

A global shortage of family doctors has turned general practice into one of the most portable careers in medicine. Three markets stand out in 2026 for internationally-trained GPs: New Zealand, Canada and Australia — each with a genuine shortage, a defined registration route, and an immigration pathway that rewards GPs specifically.

New Zealand may be the fastest. General practice sits on the Green List at Tier 1, which means a vocationally-registered GP with a job offer can apply for a Straight to Residence visa — residency from the outset rather than years of temporary visas. GPs trained in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, the USA or South Africa also benefit from a comparable-health-system route that speeds up Medical Council registration.

Canada offers the highest earnings and an acute shortage: family physicians (NOC 31102) earn a median around C$216,000 and considerably more in some regions, with provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan actively recruiting through Practice-Ready Assessment programmes and healthcare-targeted Express Entry draws.

Australia has a large shortage too — Western Australia alone is estimated to be around 1,000 GPs short — and a fast fellowship route for MRCGP/CCT holders. The catch to understand early is the 19AB moratorium: new internationally-trained GPs generally need to work in a Distribution Priority Area (typically rural or regional) to access Medicare billing, which is where most of the opportunities and incentives sit.

The UK and Ireland complete the picture with a shared, well-documented GP crisis and strong salaried and assistant-with-view routes. Wherever you are looking, Ava Medical maps the exact registration, visa and relocation steps for your situation — free of charge.