Internationally Sponsored (Visa) Trainees

Applicants for residency training who are not Canadian citizens or do not hold Canadian permanent resident status must have appropriate sponsorship support.

The Postgraduate Medical Education (PGME) Office at Dalhousie University can process applications from international applicants only when submitted by a sponsoring agency that has an active postgraduate training agreement with Dalhousie University.

Acceptable sources of funding for non-Canadian residency trainees include:

• Foreign governments
• Foreign government-funded agencies

Unacceptable sources of funding:

• Charitable foundations
• Private corporations
• Self-funding

Current Sponsorship Agreements

Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine currently has postgraduate training agreements with sponsoring agencies from:

• Kuwait (Kuwait Instgitute of Medical Specialties)
• Embassy of the State of Kuwait (Washington DC)
• Embassy of the State of Kuwait (Ottawa ON)
• Oman (Oman Medical Specialty Board)
• Oman Embassy (Vienna, VA)
• Qatar (Hamad Medical Corp.)
• Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau (Ottawa, ON)
• United Arab Emirates Embassy (Ottawa, ON)
• United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defense

Prospective sponsoring agencies should contact Charles Hsuen via email or phone at 902-494-7038.

Application Process

Applications for residency training from international applicants must be sent directly from the sponsoring agency to the PGME Office after the signing of a postgraduate training agreement. The PGME Office will forward the application to the appropriate Dalhousie University Programme Director with verification of sponsorship authority.

The application package must include:

• A letter from the sponsoring agency confirming full financial support for the entire residency programme
• Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination (MCCQE1) results (only applcable to PGY 1 core direct entry applicants)
• An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV) including date of birth, citizenship, and email address
• A copy of the medical degree (with English translation if applicable)
• A copy of the medical school transcript (with English translation if applicable)
• Three letters of reference on official letterhead, signed and dated within two years of the application date
• A brief personal statement explaining the applicant’s interest in the Dalhousie University residency programme of choice

Successful applicants will receive documentation from the PGME Office to enable them to apply for the appropriate work permit through Citizenship and Immigration Canada.