If you want to immigrate to Canada and work as a nurse, this article may greatly help you. Like most western countries, several job opportunities exist in Canada for registered nurses.
In the case of Canada, the reasons for the high demand are not far-fetched.
The advent of and surge in COVID-19 cases forced the country to engage the services of registered nurses across the globe to assist in catering to those down with the virus.
Also, nurses are in high demand in Canada because the nation urgently needs to take care of its aging population, and there are vacancies due to nurses retiring from the labor market.
Because of these reasons, Canada needs the services of nurses worldwide to help it fill its nursing gaps.
As a qualified nurse, apart from working in hospitals,there are settings to practice your beautiful nursing. Those places include:Â
- rehabilitation centers
- community agencies
- private homes
- businesses
- nursing homes, and
- clinics.
And because Canada has a high demand for nurses, the Canadian government has developed several immigration programs and policies that make things easier for foreign nurses to obtain work permits and apply for Canadian permanent residency status.
So, if you want to immigrate to Canada as a nurse in 2023, you can apply through one of these programs. But first, let’s look at the Canadian provinces where nursing services are most in demand.
Canadian Provinces Where Nurses Are Needed
Canada mostly needs the services of qualified nurses in the following provinces:
Manitoba
Manitoba is a central province in Canada and one of the leading provinces in need of nurses. The CBC news reported that Manitoba is facing a significant shortage of nurses, which has been the case for several years. The number of nurses needed in Manitoba has doubled since the Covid-19 pandemic.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick also needs registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and personal support workers. There are employment opportunities in the official language (English or French). The province of New Brunswick has prioritized recruiting, supporting, and retaining these much-needed healthcare professionals.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia also seeks to fill many vacancies in the nursing profession since many nurses in the province plan to retire soon.
Quebec
Nurses are also in high demand in the province of Quebec. The region 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 2023 can apply through work permit programs such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program. If successful, they can obtain permanent residency in Canada.
Canadian Immigration for Nurses
You would usually need a Canada work permit to work in Canada, but not if you already have permanent residency (PR). Two main immigration programs 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 few as six months. The Federal Skilled Worker Program is geared toward people with 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 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.
Also Read: 9 Legal and Easy Ways to Migrate to 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 want to immigrate through a PNP, you must apply to the province you wish to settle in. The region will then consider the application based on its immigration and labor needs while assessing whether you want to settle in the province.
For most provinces, Canadian immigration helps grow the economy but also helps support an aging population. Since nurses are in demand in Canada and many are retiring, you are likely to 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 Immigrate to Canada as a Nurse ?
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 that you’ll earn a good salary. The average nurse in Canada earns $65,000 a year, which is a reasonably high salary compared to several 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 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 child care that helps them take proper care of the children as and when required.
Other Things You Need To Know Before You Immigrate to Canada as a Nurse.
 What is the age limit to work as a nurse in Canada?
As long as you are not physically or mentally incapacitated, age may not be a barrier to your pursuing a nursing career in Canada. In other words, there’s no official age limit in Canada. There are instances of nurses who still practice well into their 60s and 70s.
What are the requirements to work as a nurse in Canada?
If you’re a foreign-born worker and hope to establish yourself as a nurse in Canada, you must first follow these few steps:
- Research each provincial association
- Self-Assess and Apply to a Province
- Once your temporary permit is granted, apply for the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination (CRNE)
In addition to these steps, you need to have the following qualifications:
Completion of a 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
 What is the easiest PNP to immigrate to Canada as a nurse?
Alberta PNP is one of Canada’s most accessible provincial nominee programs to get a nomination for Canada permanent resident status and help, following this, permanent residency itself. The reason is the Express Entry aligned Stream of Alberta, Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) invites applicants with CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) scores as low as 300 CRS points.
Read Also: How to Apply for International Scholarships
 Conclusion
Now that you know how to immigrate to Canada as a nurse, will you sit and let it slide? Or will you get out of your comfort zone and work out your dream of living your best life as a nurse in one of the most beautiful countries in the world?
Pick up your phone and get to work; you might get lucky!
Give it a try!
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