The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic increased the demand for nurses in Canada, which was already suffering from a nursing shortage. The government intends to address the crisis by admitting more foreign nurses through PR channels. Several provinces are also stepping up efforts to attract more foreign health workers. Over the next five years, Ontario will invest $342 million to hire over 13000 healthcare workers. At the same time, British Columbia will spend $16000 to cover application fees, English language tests, and education upgrades for approximately 1500 foreign-trained nurses. Similarly, Quebec will invest $65 million in recruiting and training approximately 1000 francophone nurses.
How do I move to Canada as a Nurse?
Nurses are classified into two categories in the Canadian government’s National Occupation Classification (NOC). Registered nurses and psychiatric nurses are classified as NOC skill level A, and their NOC code is 3012. Simultaneously, licensed practical nurses are classified as NOC 3233, skill level B. Nursing falls under the category of skilled work,’ so nurses are eligible to apply for immigration through almost all skilled worker immigration pathways. Canada has approximately 100 immigration routes.
The major routes for nurses to migrate to Canada are as follows:
Express Entry
Two of Canada’s federal economic immigration programs are managed by Express Entry. Nurses can apply for permanent residency through Express Entry under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Those who wish to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry may create an Express Entry profile. They would be assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on various eligibility factors. Those with the highest scores will be invited to apply for permanent residence in Canada in regular Express Entry draws.
Provincial Nominee Program
Another option is the Provincial Nominee Program, abbreviated as PNP. Nursing professionals have dedicated pathways in some PNPs. Candidates from the Express Entry pool are chosen by some PNPs and invited to apply for provincial nomination. Express Entry candidates nominated by a province will receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score points, making them eligible for an invitation to apply for Canada PR in an Express Entry draw.
Some of the PNP immigration pathways for nurses are as follows:
| Province | Immigration pathway |
| Ontario | Human Capital Priorities Stream |
| British Columbia | Healthcare professional category (both SI and Express Entry) |
| Saskatchewan | International Health Worker EOI pool |
| Nova Scotia | Labour Market Priorities Stream (Holds occasional draws exclusively for nurses) |
| New Brunswick | Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) program |
Are you a registered nurse or a skilled professional? With more information on this platform, you can find the best path for migration to Canada right now.
