Updated August 7, 2020
2021 R-1 Main Residency Match
The 2021 R-1 match timeline is currently under review.
The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) Resident Matching Committee (ARMC) is developing a new timeline that will see some milestones and deadlines shifted later in the year to accommodate schedule changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. A revised timeline will be posted once approved.

June 2020
24 June 2020 at 12:00 (noon) ET
CaRMS Online opens for postgraduate offices, program directors, and administrators for the 2021 R-1 Main Residency Match.
- Provincial criteria updates – Review send any updates to provincial criteria for each of these matches. Provincial criteria can be found on CaRMS.ca.
- New program requests – Add programs in the Match Management – programs section of your CaRMS Online account.
- Review your list of CaRMS Online user account – Review your lists of PGME office accounts, match coordinators and program directors and modify or delete accounts that are no longer needed.
- Master program description updates – Enter your province’s return of service requirements as well as the citizenship and language documents that are required in your master program description.
- Update program participation – Review all programs that you have registered in the match participation section of your CaRMS Online account and ensure you check the programs that are participating this year and uncheck those that are not.
- Enter preliminary quota – Enter preliminary quota for all matches in the Quota Management section of your CaRMS Online account.
- Approve program descriptions – Programs can start updating their program descriptions and submitting them for approval. Approve program descriptions before November 23, 2020.
November 2020
2 November 2020 at 12:00 (noon) ET
CaRMS Online opens for applicants in the first iteration of the 2021 R-1 Main Residency Match. The following tasks must be completed by today.
- Provincial criteria updates
- New program requests
- Review your list of CaRMS Online user accounts
- Master program description updates
- Update program participation
- Enter preliminary quota
23 November 2020 at 12:00 (noon) ET
Approved program descriptions for all programs that are participating in the 2021 R-1 Main Residency Match are now available on carms.ca for applicants to review.
January 2021
5 January 2021 at 12:00 (noon) ET
Ensure quota is entered in the Quota Management section of your CaRMS Online account. If quota is not entered, applicants will not be able to apply.
12 January 2021 at 12:00 (noon) ET
Program directors and administrators may add or remove file reviewers for their program(s) in CaRMS Online and create filters in preparation for file review.
February 2021
8 February 2021 at 12:05 ET
All programs and file reviewers may access all applications that have been submitted to their program(s) through CaRMS Online.
March 2021
3 March 2021 at 08:00 ET
PGME office users will now be able to view applicant photos.
PGME office users do not have access prior to this date.
8 March 2021 - 28 March 2021
Programs are responsible for scheduling interviews with applicants during this period.
All 2021 R-1 match interviews will be in a virtual format, as per the decision of the AFMC Resident Matching Committee (ARMC).
15 March 2021
Q and A discussion regarding reversions, if required, to ensure final reversions are received and understood by CaRMS, by the PGME reversion deadline.
15 March 2021 at 12:00 (noon) ET
Programs may begin creating their rank order lists in CaRMS Online. Once a rank order list has been submitted, PGME office users can begin approving them in CaRMS Online. Postgraduate offices can also approve quota and submit any reversion instructions starting today.
April 2021
1 April 2021 at 14:00 ET
Programs must submit their rank order list through CaRMS Online by 14:00 ET. If programs do not submit by today, PGME offices can submit on their behalf.
8 April 2021 at 15:00 ET
Postgraduate office users must approve rank order lists, quota and submit any reversion instructions by today.
20 April 2021 at 12:00 (noon) ET
Match results for the first iteration of the 2021 R-1 Main Residency Match are available through CaRMS Online.
20 April 2021 at 12:00 (noon) ET
Match results reports are available for PGME offices. Save the reports for your records.