How to Immigrate to Canada as a Nurse?

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

• Many nurses, doctors and other healthcare professions immigrate to Canada through the FSWP.
• The FSWP is a points-based Canadian immigration program that requires at least 67 out of 100 points for:
  • Education;
  • Work Experience;
  • English and/or French language skills;
  • Age;
  • Qualifying Canadian job offer;
  • Adaptability.
• One year of full-time paid work experience in the past 10 years is required in an eligible occupation.
• Applicants must demonstrate a certain level of English or French language abilities as indicated by receiving passing scores on approved language evaluation exams such as the IELTS for English or the TEF for French.
• A favorable Education Credential Assessment (ECA) is required if your education was received outside of Canada.
• Application for the FSWP is done by creating an online Express Entry profile.
• An Invitation to Apply (ITA) must be received in order to apply for Canadian permanent residency.
• Healthcare workers, including nurses, are receiving priority in the issuing of ITAs for Express Entry to Canada.
• Proof of funds, good health, good character and other criteria must also be satisfied.
• A decision about Express Entry immigration to Canada is generally made within 6 months after the application for Canadian permanent residency has been correctly filed with the necessary documents and government fees.
• If granted Canadian permanent residency, a foreign nurse and his or her family can live and work in Canada in any province or territory except Quebec (which has its own Quebec immigration programs, such as the QSWP below).

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

• Eleven of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories have a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
• The PNP lets provinces and territories nominate foreign workers for immigration to Canada who have occupations and skills that are in high demand in their particular location.
• Provinces/territories that participate in the PNP create their own eligibility criteria based on their local needs, in coordination with the federal Canadian immigration authorities.
• In general, a foreign worker will first apply for the PNP of a province/territory where they want to work in Canada.
• If the provincial or territorial immigration officials conclude that an applicant is a good match for their PNP, they will issue a provincial nomination (i.e., nominating him or her for immigration to Canada).
• Once a PNP applicant has a nomination, he or she can apply to the federal Canadian immigration agency for permanent residency in Canada.
• Good health, good character and other criteria must be satisfied and the governmental fees must be paid.
• After being granted Canadian permanent residency, the foreign worker and his or her family will settle in the province or territory that nominated him or her for its PNP.
• Note: There is an option to apply for Canadian immigration through the PNP using the Express Entry system.  

Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP)

• The Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP/RSWP) is a Canadian immigration program for skilled foreign workers who want to live and work in Canada’s French-speaking province of Quebec.
• This points-based Quebec immigration program requires at least 50/103 points for a single applicant or 59/120 points for an applicant with a spouse or partner.
• Points can be received for education, work experience, French and/or English language skills, spouse/partner characteristics, age, previous stay in Quebec, qualifying job offer in Quebec, adequate financial resources, and having children.
• In general, a foreign worker will first apply for the QSWP by filing an Expression of Interest (EOI) with the Quebec immigration agency using their Arrima online portal.
• If the foreign worker receives an invitation from the Quebec immigration agency, he or she may then apply for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (Quebec Selection Certificate).
• After receiving the Certificat de sélection du Québec, the foreign worker will have 60 days to apply for Canadian permanent residency with the federal immigration agency.
• Good character, good health and other criteria must be satisfied and governmental fees must be paid.
• Once Canadian permanent residency is granted, the foreign worker and his or her family will settle in Quebec.

Please note that this is an overview of some Canadian immigration programs a person could apply for to move to Canada as a nurse. Canadian Visa Expert works with authorized immigration consultants who can evaluate your eligibility, guide you through the process for immigration to Canada (if you qualify) and answer any question you may have about the procedure.