There are a number of occupations in demand in Canada and registered nurses are among the top in-demand jobs here. Because Canada needs nurses, the government has developed a number of work permits and immigration programs to allow foreign workers to obtain their Canada permanent residency status in Canada.
If you want to immigrate to Canada as a nurse in 2022, you can apply through one of these programs. But first, let’s have a look at the Canadian provinces where nurses are most in demand.
Which Canadian Provinces Need Nurses?
These are the top four Canadian provinces where qualified nurses are most in-demand:
Manitoba
Manitoba is a central province in Canada and is one of the main provinces that is in need of nurses. The CBC news reported that Manitoba is facing a big shortage of nurses and that this has been the case for a number of years. The number of nurses needed in Manitoba has doubled since the Covid-19 pandemic.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is also in need of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and personal support workers. There are employment opportunities in either official language (English or French). The province of New Brunswick has made it a priority to recruit, support and retain these much needed healthcare professionals.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia also seeks to fill a large number of vacancies in the nursing profession since many nurses in the province plan to retire in the near future.
Quebec
Nurses are also in high demand in the province of Quebec. The province is working hand in hand with work permit programs to encourage immigrants to work in Quebec as a nurse in the new year.
People who wish to immigrate to Canada as a nurse in 2022 can apply through work permit programs such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program and if successful, they can obtain permanent residency in Canada.
Canadian Immigration for Nurses
To be able to work in Canada, you would usually need a Canada work permit, but not if you’re already have permanent residency (PR). There are two main immigration programs that allow successful applicants to obtain PR status. If you want to immigrate to Canada as a nurse, you can apply through the following programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Provincial Nominee Program
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is part of the Express Entry system, a popular immigration option because of its fast processing time of as little as six months. The Federal Skilled Worker Program is geared toward people who have the qualifications, skills, or work experiences to contribute to the Canadian economy.
So how do you know if this program is for you? Let’s look at the requirements you need to meet in order to apply for the FSWP.
Who can apply for the Federal Skilled Worker Program?
The requirements to be eligible for the FSWP include the following:
- Have skilled work experience in an occupation that is listed in the National Occupation Classification (NOC)
You must have skilled work experience in one of the following positions:
- Managerial
- Professional
- Trade/technical occupation
Successful applicants will obtain Canadian permanent residence, which allows them to live and work in Canada.
What is the Provincial Nominee Program?
If you have a province in mind where you would like to work as a nurse, perhaps one of the provinces mentioned where nurses are in demand, this might be the way for you to get PR status.
The Provincial Nominee Program is an immigration class that is made up of more than 80 immigration streams and there are 11 participating provinces and territories of Canada, namely:
- Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
- British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
- Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
- New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NW PNP)
- Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NL PNP)
- Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
- Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NS PNP)
- Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OINP)
- Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
- Saskatchewan Provincial Nominee Program (SINP)
- Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
If you would like to immigrate through a PNP, you must apply to the province you wish to settle in. The province will then consider the application based on its immigration and labor needs while also assessing whether you truly wish to settle in the province.
For most provinces, Canadian immigration helps grow the economy and helps support an aging population. Since nurses are in demand in Canada and many nurses are retiring, you will likely stand a good chance of success if you apply through the PNP.
What ‘s more, the Canadian government plans to welcome 250,000 newcomers between 2021 and 2023 just through the PNP!
So who can apply through a PNP and how do you do this? Let’s take a look.
Why Work as a Nurse in Canada
Apart from the fact that you would be contributing to the growth of the Canadian economy and living in one of the safest and most financially secure countries, are there other benefits of being a nurse in Canada? The answer is yes.
Healthy salaries
A great benefit of working as a nurse in Canada is earning a good salary. The average nurse in Canada earns $65,000 a year, which is a fairly high salary compared to other developed countries.
Health insurance
Another benefit of being a healthcare worker in Canada is that you will receive access to health insurance plans that will cover you and your family.
Child care assistance
Did you know that registered nurses in Canada receive access to a facility for all the working parents who need child care assistance? To ensure that children of nurses who work odd hours are being taken care of, many hospitals and institutions provide the facility of child care where the children can be taken care of, as and when required.
FAQs
1. What is the age limit to work as a nurse in Canada?
There is no official age limit in Canada. In fact, there are practicing nurses well into their 60s and 70s.
2. What are the requirements to work as a nurse in Canada?
In order to work as a registered nurse in Canada, you need to have the following qualifications:
- Completion of nursing program that is equivalent to a four-year bachelor’s degree in nursing or:
- A practical nursing diploma
- Completion of the NCLEX-RN for those applying for Registered Nurse, or the CPNRE (Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam) for those applying for Registered Practical Nurse
3. What is the easiest PNP to immigrate to Canada as a nurse?
Alberta PNP is one of Canada’s easiest provincial nominee programs to get a nomination for Canada permanent resident status and permanent residency itself. The Express Entry aligned Stream of Alberta, Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), invites the applicants with CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) scores as low as 300 CRS points.
