Canada faces significant healthcare worker shortages, and registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and other healthcare professionals are among the most in-demand immigrants in the country. Several dedicated pathways exist to help nurses get permanent residence quickly.
Why Canada Needs Nurses
Canada's aging population, combined with pandemic-related burnout and retirements, has created critical nursing shortages across every province and territory. The federal government and provinces have responded by creating targeted Express Entry draws for healthcare workers, provincial nominee streams specifically for nurses, and streamlined credential recognition processes to bring internationally educated nurses into the workforce faster.
NOC Codes for Nursing
The key NOC codes for nursing in Canada: NOC 31301 — Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses: Requires university-level nursing education and provincial registration. NOC 32101 — Licensed Practical Nurses: Requires college-level nursing education and provincial registration. NOC 32102 — Paramedical Occupations: Emergency medical technicians, paramedics. NOC 33102 — Nurse Aides, Orderlies, and Patient Service Associates: Lower-skilled support roles — TEER 3, not eligible for some programs.
Express Entry and Healthcare Draws
Since 2023, IRCC has held category-based Express Entry draws specifically for healthcare occupations, including nurses. These draws often have lower CRS cut-offs than all-program draws, making it easier for nurses to receive ITAs even without exceptional CRS scores. To benefit from these draws, your Express Entry profile must correctly identify your occupation as one of the designated healthcare NOC codes. Monitor IRCC draw announcements closely — healthcare draws have become a regular part of the Express Entry calendar.
Provincial Nurse Immigration Streams
Ontario OINP: The Human Capital Priorities stream has sent NOIs to nurses with specific NOC codes. BC PNP Health Authority Stream: For nurses with job offers from one of BC's six regional health authorities — one of BC PNP's most active streams. Alberta AAIP: Healthcare workers are prioritized; the province regularly holds targeted draws for nurses. Manitoba MPNP: Nurses qualify for the Skilled Workers in Manitoba and Overseas streams with strong demand. Atlantic Immigration Program: Employers in Atlantic Canada, including hospitals and long-term care facilities, are AIP-designated and actively recruit internationally educated nurses.
Credential Recognition: NNAS
Before you can practice nursing in Canada, your international nursing credentials must be recognized by the provincial regulatory body (e.g., CNO in Ontario, BCCNM in BC, CARNA in Alberta). The National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) provides an advisory report that provincial regulators use to assess internationally educated nurses. The NNAS process takes four to six months and requires: educational documents, proof of registration and licensure in your home country, professional references, and English (CELBAN or IELTS) or French (TEF Canada) language test results. Start the NNAS process early — ideally before or alongside your immigration application.