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Canada has set itself an ambitious target to welcome over 1.2 million new immigrants in the next three years. The country will target at least 401,000 each year. About 60% of the total invitations to apply for permanent residence will be issued under economic-class programs. They include Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program, and other business immigration programs.
Nurses fall into two categories that make them prime candidates for economic-class immigration. Firstly, they are in high demand, and secondly, they are working in a skilled occupation.
You may also find our previous blog on Registered Nurses in Canada much more informative.
New Limited-Time PR for Health workers
Canada introduced 6 new pathways for permanent residence which would favor international student graduates and essential workers in Canada.
Two of these streams are dedicated to healthcare professionals, such as nurses. It also includes a separate stream for French speakers. Additionally, Nursing student graduates are expected to take full advantage of the other streams dedicated to international students.
About 20,000 spots are open for temporary residents working in healthcare positions in Canada to apply for permanent residents. The application window will close when the intake cap is full. However, the stream for French speakers is open to accept an unlimited number of permanent residents.
Healthcare professionals need at least one year of work experience inside Canada and it should be in one of 40 eligible healthcare professions. Mandatory language requirements follow as they need a CLB or NCLC of at least 4 in order to be eligible.
Express Entry for Professional Nurses
Healthcare professionals can qualify to receive permanent residency through Express Entry under two immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and the Canada Experience Class (CEC).
For Nurses having work experience outside Canada in the last then nurses may apply under the FSWP. Applicants are required to have at least one year of continuous work experience in occupations like Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012), and licensed practical nurses (NOC 3233). The applicants must also score a CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French on all four language competencies: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Additionally, they are required to obtain at least 67/100 on the six-factor test that assesses candidates’ education level, language skills, and whether they have a job in Canada.
Foreign Nursing professionals who have work experience in Canada within the last three years may apply under the CEC. For nursing occupations such as Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012), language proficiency may be above CLB or NCLC 7. Whereas for occupations like licensed practical nurses (NOC 3233), the applicant can have language proficiency of CLB/NCLC 5.
None of the programs requires a person to have a job offer. However, having one can significantly increase one’s likelihood to receive an ITA for Canada PR.
How Express Entry Operates
Consider Express Entry as an application database to operate FSWP and CEC. All the applications submitted to Express Entry are evaluated and ranked based on a unique Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). It is dependent on the candidate’s age, work experience, education, and language proficiency among other factors.
CRS helps Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to nominate the highest-scoring candidates in its regular Express Entry draws. Upon which the IRCC sends them ITAs for Canada PR.
The entire process is designed to process 80% of completed applications in six months or less.
Canada PNP for Professional Nurses
Although PNPs cannot directly issue permanent residency to eligible candidates, they can issue provincial nominations to desirable candidates and push them one step closer to applying for permanent residency.
All PNP streams are classified with respect to Express Entry into ‘enhanced’ or ‘base’ nomination streams.
‘Base’ streams are those that are not linked to the Express Entry system. They include New Brunswick Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN), British Columbia’s Healthcare Professional (Skills Immigration pathway), Quebec’s Regular Skilled Worker Program, and the Quebec Experience Program are all avenues nurses can pursue. professional nurses
‘Enhanced’ streams are linked to the Express Entry system and this allows provinces to directly nominate an eligible candidate who is registered in the federal pool. The advantage for Express Entry candidates to get the provincial nomination through such ‘enhanced’ streams is that they gain 600 points on their CRS score. It will effectively ensure their ITA for Canada PR.
Take this free assessment online to find out if you’re eligible for Canadian Immigration.
If you want to qualify for any of the programs to immigrate to Canada, CanApprove recommends you kick-process the process now. The pandemic and slow population growth have warranted increased immigration for sustenance.
Schedule a free appointment with us to simplify the process and amplify your chances of immigration to Canada.
