The increased demand for Licensed nurses got on the rise by highly sought-after hospitals in Canada, and guess what? This scenario is likely to be unending in many years to come; the situation is only most likely to create more opportunities for foreign-qualified nationals to gain permanent residence in a country like Canada. Being a licensed nurse in Canada has enormous benefits, and I guess you won’t want to miss out.
Due to the high demand for nurses in Canada and so many other countries, there are many trustworthy immigration pathways for licensed nurses to always choose from. Canada is a blessed country with a widespread health care system. Have you wondered why licensed nurses keep choosing Canada? Canada provides a soothing and healthy working environment for their health workers. By immigrating to Canada, you can take your nursing career to a new level.
The high demand trend for licensed nurses is expected to keep growing in 2024 and way beyond. Find the most reliable ways to immigrate to Canada as a licensed nurse. With these tips, you will have absolutely nothing to worry about.
Immigrating to Canada as a Licensed Nurse
The COVID-19 pandemic amplified the need for nurses in Canada. Canada gives newcomers the leverage of applying for permanent residence as long as they have the skills and qualifications needed to bridge the gap in critical skills and are ready to positively impact the Canadian Healthcare sector.
You can choose from numerous Permanent Residence (PR) programs to immigrate to Canada as a licensed nurse.
1. Express Entry Program
Ever heard of the express entry program? Licensed nurses get qualified under the Federal Skilled Worker program (FSW) or Canadian Experience Class (CEC) if the requirements for the program are met. To apply under the FSW program, candidates must have at least a year of continuous work experience within the previous 10 years in a skilled occupation. It will be a bonus to have completed my work experience abroad.
Candidates who have met the requirements must send a profile to the Express Entry Pool. Once you enter the pool, you will receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score out of 1,200. If you are lucky enough to be among the highest-ranking candidates in the Express Entry pool, invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence will be issued.
One outstanding advantage of this system is that if you are invited to apply for permanent residence, your application can be speedily processed within six months. This is one of the most reliable ways to immigrate to Canada as a licensed nurse.
The minimum language score required in the Express Entry System depends on the individual’s complete profile. To gain eligibility for Express Entry, a Canadian Language Benchmark of at least 7.0 is expected in English or French in each of the four language competencies. Additionally, applicants have to score a minimum of 67/100 on the six-factor test that aids in assessing candidates’ education level, language skills, and whether they have a job in Canada.
2. Quebec Immigration
Some nurses looking to immigrate to Canada as licensed nurses might also be eligible for the Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSW), which depends on their achieved score in the Quebec grid of selection.
Eligible candidates may submit a profile to Quebec’s Arima portal, also ranked on another points system. Quebec’s government usually holds regular Arima draws, inviting candidates to apply for permanent selection. Interestingly, nurses are always the target. Once selected, you will be offered a Quebec Selection Certificate that will enable you to apply for PR with the IRCC.
Related Articles:
3. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)
Most Canadian provinces and territories, except the Quebec and Nunavut Provincial Nominee Programs, allow them to nominate applicants with the skills and qualifications to bridge the labor shortages. Nursing is an in-demand skill in most provinces, offering a very attractive salary.
The selection process of Express entry PNP streams depends on the CRS scores. Some PNP streams allow provinces to nominate skilled workers in National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes or specific professions. You might also be lucky to have a better chance of receiving a provincial nomination from a well-known province that requires licensed nurses. The PNP pathways for licensed nurses include Ontario, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Quebec.
4. Study in Canada
Suppose you have been looking for a chance to immigrate to Canada as a licensed nurse but are not eligible for any of the above immigration options. In that case, your dream of immigrating to Canada can still be a reality. As an international student, you can use your nursing degree as a bedrock to help you advance your career as you live, study, and even work in Canada.
Securing an education in Canada might help you permanently immigrate when you graduate. It will also be important to bear in mind that immigration programs in Canada are subject to change, hence it is quite difficult to ascertain that the eligibility criteria for any of the existing programs will remain the same during the time of your graduation. However, a Canadian nursing degree can make a unique difference if you seek permanent residency.
Conclusion
It is essential for licensed nurses who aspire to move to Canada to have vivid knowledge of available immigration options. If you want to immigrate to Canada as a Licensed nurse, choosing the most appropriate and reliable pathway should be your utmost priority. Although the Canadian Immigration landscape is not static, it is still advisable to seek proper guidance from experts who have been in the field. With this guide, your immigration journey to Canada as a licensed nurse can be a smooth and successful experience.
