Hi, I am an IMG from Japan. I graduated from a "WHO listed" med school and worked as a doctor (internal medicine) in Japan for 8 months without any obligation of residency and quit for personal reasons.(That was 3 years ago.)My girlfriend (now my common-law partner in Canada) was/is Canadian citizen and we decided to move to Canada not knowing how difficult it was for an IMG to get licensure in Canada in medicine.(It was 2 years ago)

I contacted several people who knew about IMG stuation around that time and they all told me basically "get the (permanent resident) status first then think." So,I did and I probably will get permanent residency next spring.

Since things are almost settled about my status, I started to look into the Canadian Licensure system again and found that it's all confusing...It looked almost impossible for an IMG to practice in Canada a couple of years ago but now kind of changing in a better way but it's still dificult and also different from province to province blah blah blah....

I am really confused!
So I'd like to ask you a couple of things.

How impossible/possible is it to practice/get a residency position in Canada now?Is it worth trying considering my situation? Any clue?

I'd like to work in Ontario but really don't care where(in Canada) as long as I have any chance. I'd like to go to Family medicine(no speciality) or psychiatry (if speciality) but I'd like to know what if I don't even care about my speciality.

Since I am 31 years old and I have a family, I don't want to start going for it unless I am sure I can do it if I try(I mean, with a reasonable possibility).

I haven't taken MCCEE or MCCQE(I) yet. However as far as I can tell from the sample/practice questions on the website, they seem easy for me.
Now I live in Newfoundland with my gf.

Any advice is appreciated.
Thank you in advance.

In order for you to start to make any headway, you will have to start taking the Canadian exams. Strongly reccomend taking the US exams at the same time. It will be easier to get a family medicine residncy in the US than in Canada. At the end of the residency in the US, you can easily come to Canada and practice anywhere.

Thanks Blackman for your reply.

The thing is, I am not going to be a Canadian citizen, but "permanent resident". That means if I go to the US and stay there, I'll lose the status in Canada (There is the "residency obligations for permanent residents" in Canada).The chanses are slim that I can get the US "green card".

Of course if I am with my gf (who's a canadian citizen) , I can come back to Canada easily and I strongly hope we'll be together, but I don't want to risk anything. (It might sound funny but one of the strong reasons why I left Japan was political reasons and I don't want to go back to Japan)

My worry is, I decide to go ahead and then not to be able to get a position for many years even if I try hard...I need to settle....That's why I want to know if this worth trying...

Thanks again in advance.

You do not have to worry about the Permanent Residence status. If you get a residency in the US, you will need a Statement of Need from Health Canada for the US Visa. The requirement for this is to be a Canadian Citizen or a permanent resident.

Requirements for Obtaining a Statement of Need from the Government of Canada for Medical Graduates Seeking Postgraduate Training in the United States: For Postgraduate Training Programs in Family Medicine Commencing in 2006

This way you are legally permitted by Canada to go for the residency and return to Canada and you will not lose your permanent residence status.

It is certainly worth trying for Canada however it is much more better trying for both the US and Canada at the same time.

Thank you Blackman-san!!(San is like "Mr." in Japanese )
I didn't know about that and am very excited about it.

Though I haven't looked into the site you put here (I definitely will), my understanding at this point is even if I leave to the US for the (medical) residency for a long period of time, I won't be considered "out of Canada" and doesn't affect "residency obligations" in Canada.

Is it correct?

If the answer is "YES(it's correct)", you made my day!
(It may sound rediculous, but I'd appreciate it if you could post again just to say "Yes")

Thank you very much for your time.
I really can't thank you enough...

T-chan

Yes, you can go through the requirements. Phone numbers and emails contacts are provided for you to ask any question on them.

I went through the website and it looks very good. Especially since I live in NF now and want to go to Ontario.I'll prepare for both of the exams(Canada&US).

BTW, Blackman, It was my birthday and you gave me a very big "suprise" birthday present .

Thank you very much.

T-chan

You are welcome