Nurses are highly sought-after across Canada, and, as such, there are plenty of different Canadian visa routes for nurses to select from. As nurses, you could be able to enter Canada as an experienced worker through one of the numerous economic immigration programs available at the federal as well as provincial levels.

There are four methods to bring you to Canada as a nurse:

1. Express Entry
2. Quebec Immigration
3. Provincial Nominee Programs
4. Study in Canada

Express Entry

Nurses can be eligible for Express entry through the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) or Canadian Experience Class (CEC) when they meet the eligibility requirements for the program. To be eligible for the FSW program, applicants need to have, at minimum, an entire year’s experience in the last decade in a qualified job. Work experience can be done in another country.

Candidates who have met the minimum requirements may apply for a profile in an Express Entry pool. After being accepted into the group, they will receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 1,200. Of 1,200. The highest-scoring applicants in the Express Entry pool receive invitations to apply (ITAs) to apply for permanent residence.

One of the biggest benefits of this Express Entry system is that If you are asked to submit a request for permanent residency, you can process the application within six months!

The minimum language score required for nurses eligible for Express Entry depends on the applicant’s entire profile. You must score a minimum of a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) that is 7.0 with 7.0 in English or French for every one of the four required language skills to be qualified in Express Entry. Additionally, those applying for Express Entry must get at least 70/100 on the test, which evaluates applicants’ education, communication ability, and whether they hold a job in Canada.

Quebec Immigration

Nurses could also be qualified to be considered for this Regular Skilled Workers program (QSW), depending on their scores on the Quebec selection grid.

Eligible candidates can make a profile on Québec’s Arima portal, which is ranked according to an additional points-based system. The Quebec government Quebec regularly holds Arrima draws, in which applicants are invited to submit applications for selection as permanent. Nurses are usually selected in Québec’s Arima draws.

Provincial Nominee Programs

Another option for nurses who want to move to Canada is to use the Provincial Nominee Programme(PNP). PNPs are programs for immigration that operate in partnership with provincial governments and federal governments. Every province within Canada has its PNP with multiple streams. However, each PNP has the same goal: Canadian permanent residence.

Some PNPs are restricted to those registered in the Federal Express Entry pool. A nomination from some of these PNPs will grant you 600 CRS points, almost guaranteeing that you will get an ITA.

Many PNPs require some form of a link to the province running it, for example, having family members living there or having previous work or study experience with the region. Other PNPs are designed to fill provincial skills shortages by allowing skilled workers with previous experience in jobs that are highly sought-after across the province.

This Labour Market Priorities stream of the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), for example, is available to applicants with the Express Entry profile and prior experience in specific professions. The problem with the workstream is that it is only possible to apply by being invited by the provincial government. The stream has also encouraged nurses to submit applications for nomination on multiple occasions. Another stream operating in this manner is the Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream, who frequently asks nurses to submit applications for nomination.

Study in Canada

If you’re not qualified for one of the options listed above, you could still travel to Canada. If you’re an international student, you can develop your nursing degree to further your career while you are studying, living or even being employed in Canada.

Your Canadian training could make you eligible to become a permanent resident when you finish your studies. Be aware that Canadian immigration policies are constantly changing, and it’s impossible to be certain that the criteria for eligibility for any currently available programs will remain identical by the time you graduate. However, under the current system, graduating with a Canadian degree could be a huge difference.

There are numerous possibilities to move to Canada as a nurse. Knowing which options you’re eligible for can take time and effort. If you’re keen to know more about the options available to move to Canada By, completing our free assessment online can help you make sense of the immigration process.