Residency in Canada through CaRMS: how the R-1 match works

Check which routes fit you

CaRMS runs the national match that fills residency positions in Canada. Internationally trained physicians apply through it like everyone else, usually into a separate IMG stream, and the rules come in two layers: national criteria from CaRMS, and additional criteria from each province.

At a glance

What it is
The R-1 Main Residency Match, run in two iterations.
Who runs it
CaRMS, the Canadian Resident Matching Service.
Streams
First iteration positions are generally split into a CMG stream and an IMG stream.
Exams CaRMS names
The NAC Examination and the MCCQE, written and passed. Some provinces may allow exceptions to either.
Status
Canadian citizen or permanent resident, with some exceptions.
Before you apply, in three provinces
British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec require a provincial assessment first.
Next deadline
References 25 November 2026, applications 26 November 2026.

The six stages

These are the stages CaRMS itself uses to describe an applicant's journey.

Check you are eligible

CaRMS sets national criteria and each province adds its own. British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec require a provincial assessment before you apply through CaRMS.

Register and build your file

You register on CaRMS Online, then assemble the documents each program asks for. Program descriptions say what each one wants.

Apply and assign documents

You choose programs and assign the right documents to each. An application to a program can be withdrawn until file review opens.

File review and interviews

Programs read the files they received and invite the applicants they want to interview.

Rank your programs

You submit a rank order list and programs submit theirs. You can withdraw from the match until the rank order list deadline.

Match day

The algorithm matches the two lists and results are released. Anyone unmatched can apply in the second iteration.

The 2027 first iteration, in order

Read on the CaRMS applicant timeline on 29 October 2026. CaRMS notes that its dates are subject to change. The two deadlines in red are the next ones.

  • 9 September 2026, 12:00 noon ETProgram descriptions published and CaRMS Online opens
  • 25 November 2026, 21:00 ETReference submission deadline
  • 26 November 2026, 12:00 noon ETApplication and document submission deadline
  • 21 January 2027, 12:00 noon ETRanking period begins
  • 18 February 2027, 15:00 ETApplicant rank order list deadline
  • 2 March 2027, 12:00 noon ETMatch day

Every exam and application date, on the Deadline Radar

Why there are two iterations

The two iterations of the R-1 match Applicants with no prior Canadian or United States accredited postgraduate training enter the first iteration, where positions are split into a CMG stream and an IMG stream. Those who match reach match day. Those who do not, and applicants who already hold prior Canadian or US postgraduate training, go to the second iteration, where in some provinces the two streams compete for the same positions. No prior Canadian or US accredited training First iteration CMG stream IMG stream Matched? yes no Match day Second iteration Remaining positions. In some provinces the streams compete. Prior Canadian or US training starts here
Where you enter the match depends on whether you already hold accredited postgraduate training in Canada or the United States. CaRMS counts United States preliminary training as accredited for this purpose.

What the programs ask you to write

Stage 2 above is where most of the work sits. All 875 program descriptions in the 2027 first iteration were read and counted, and the picture is consistent across the country.

Ask for a personal letter
862 of 875. Required at 828, optional at 34, not listed at 13. All 208 IMG streams list one.
Hand you a set of questions rather than asking for an essay
47% of programs, and 65% in family medicine.
Most common word cap
500 words. The median cap is 750. 192 programs set no cap at all.
Mention artificial intelligence in the prompt
122 programs. About 30 forbid it, about 84 want it disclosed.

The full census: all 875 programs, prompt by prompt

Common questions

Can an IMG apply to residency in Canada through CaRMS?

Yes. First iteration positions are generally split into a CMG stream and an IMG stream, and all 208 IMG streams in the 2027 first iteration list a personal letter. CaRMS sets national criteria and each province adds its own.

What does CaRMS require of international medical graduates?

The CaRMS eligibility page read on 29 October 2026 is still labelled for the 2026 R-1 match. It states that an applicant must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, with some exceptions; must have obtained, or be in the process of obtaining, a medical degree by July 1 of the match year from a qualifying school; and must have written and passed the NAC Examination and the MCCQE, while noting that some provinces may allow exceptions to either exam. Confirm the current text on carms.ca before you rely on it.

Can I apply in the first iteration if I already trained in Canada or the United States?

No. CaRMS says that if you have any prior postgraduate training in Canada or the US you can only participate in the second iteration. It also says preliminary training in the United States counts as accredited postgraduate training for this purpose.

What is the difference between the first and second iteration?

The second iteration uses the same structure on a shorter timeline and offers the positions left after the first. CaRMS notes that in some provinces positions become competitive in the second iteration, so CMGs and IMGs compete for the same positions. It is open to applicants who went unmatched in the first iteration and is sometimes used as a transfer mechanism for residents already in training.

Do I need a provincial assessment before applying?

In three provinces, yes. CaRMS states that for British Columbia, Alberta or Quebec, IMGs must complete a provincial assessment before applying through CaRMS. Quebec's is recognition of the equivalence of an M.D. degree.

When are the 2027 CaRMS deadlines?

References are due 25 November 2026 at 21:00 ET and applications and documents 26 November 2026 at noon ET. Ranking opens 21 January 2027, the applicant rank order list is due 18 February 2027 at 15:00 ET, and match day is 2 March 2027. CaRMS notes that its dates are subject to change.

Sources, and one thing to watch

Every fact on this page was read on carms.ca on 29 October 2026: the R-1 applicant timeline, the match overview and the eligibility criteria.

The eligibility criteria page was still labelled for the 2026 R-1 match when it was read, although the 2027 first iteration had already opened. So the criteria quoted here are the ones CaRMS was publishing on that date, not a confirmed 2027 text. Provincial criteria sit on separate pages and CaRMS says they can vary significantly. Confirm anything that affects your application on carms.ca and with the province before you act on it.

Independent explainer, not affiliated with or endorsed by CaRMS. Read the disclaimer.