Career Planning Advice
For the most up-to-date information on the process of submitting proof of your Canadian citizenship or legal status in Canada, please refer to the CaRMS Help Desk articles on the topic.
Here is a press release from CaRMS (2021) explaining the process:
'Each year, all candidates applying for a CaRMS match must provide proof of valid current citizenship or permanent resident status. CaRMS collaborates with the Medical Council of Canada (MCC) to automate the citizenship verification for applicable Canadian Medical Graduates.'
As an R-1 Match applicant, you have two options for providing programs with valid current citizenship or valid permanent resident status:
Option 1: Self-verification through the MCC
The PhysicianApply.ca site provides essential information for students and graduates wishing to practice medicine in Canada. You can log in to the site to register for Medical Council of Canada exams, submit your credentials for source verifications, and take other steps to begin the process of becoming a medical practitioner in Canada.
- If you already have a physiciansapply.ca account, simply log in through your CaRMS Online account and share your Identity Validity Period (IVP) data with CaRMS.
- If you don't have this account yet, create your account. Answer the questions and follow the instructions on the site. You will have to complete a form, see an example and send your Canadian citizenship documents so that they can verify your identity. Once the MCC has verified your identity, the transfer of your PVI data from your account will be possible directly to CaRMS, which will automate the verification of your citizenship in your CaRMS applications.
For more information on registering for a physiciansapply.ca account, please contact the MCC.
Option 2: Upload the proof of citizenship document yourself
If you do not have your citizenship or permanent resident status automatically verified by the MCC, you must upload a certified or notarized copy of a citizenship document into your CaRMS Online account.
The types of citizenship documents acceptable may vary by province. Please review the provincial criteria to find out which documents are valid in the provinces where you wish to apply.
If needed, consult the list of people who can certify your citizenship documents for your CaRMS application.