Nurses can get Canadian PR through Express Entry, where the three healthcare draws of 2026 invited 3,500 to 4,000 people each at CRS 467 to 475, or through a provincial nomination, which adds 600 points. You do not need a Canadian nursing licence to enter the Express Entry pool, but you need one to work as a nurse, so start your NNAS credential assessment early (IRCC, Oct 2026).
This guide covers which nursing jobs qualify, how the healthcare draws work, which provinces want nurses and how licensing fits in. It ends with five first steps.
Key takeaways
- Registered nurses (31301), nurse practitioners (31302), licensed practical nurses (32101) and nurse aides (33102) all appear in the Express Entry healthcare and social services category.
- Healthcare draws in 2026 were held on February 20, June 25 and September 4, with cut-offs of 467, 475 and 475. The gaps were 125 and 71 days.
- French-language draws are the lowest cut-offs. The August 19 draw invited 5,000 people at CRS 382.
- Alberta’s Dedicated Health Care Pathway needs an Alberta job offer. Its 2026 draws had minimum scores of 45 to 64.
- Licensing is separate from PR. The NNAS Expedited Service costs $750 CAD and issues the report within 5 business days after it receives all documents.
Can nurses immigrate to Canada?
Yes. Nurses can apply for permanent residence through Express Entry, a provincial nominee program or both. Healthcare is one of the occupations IRCC invites in category-based draws, and most provinces list nurses among their priorities (IRCC, Oct 2026).
Which nursing occupations qualify for Express Entry?
Five nursing-related jobs appear in the healthcare and social services category. TEER 0 to 3 jobs count as skilled work for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class. Check your code with our Find Your NOC Code tool.
| NOC code | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 31300 | Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 1 |
| 31301 | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 1 |
| 31302 | Nurse practitioners | 1 |
| 32101 | Licensed practical nurses | 2 |
| 33102 | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 3 |
Do nurses need a Canadian licence before they apply for PR?
Not for Express Entry. The Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Canadian Experience Class do not require a Canadian licence to enter the pool. You do need to be registered with a provincial regulator to work as a nurse, and some provincial streams ask for proof that you can meet regulatory requirements, such as Alberta’s Dedicated Health Care Pathway.
How do the Express Entry healthcare draws work for nurses?
IRCC holds draws only for candidates in the healthcare and social services category, which lists 37 occupations. You qualify with 12 months of full-time work in one of them within the last three years, in Canada or abroad (IRCC, June 2026). The cut-offs have stayed in a narrow band, between CRS 462 and 476, since November 2025.
How many healthcare draws were there in 2026, and what were the scores?
IRCC held three healthcare draws in 2026, and 16 since it created the category. The September 4 draw invited 3,500 candidates at CRS 475. IRCC publishes no schedule, so do not plan around a date.
| Date | Invitations | Lowest CRS |
|---|---|---|
| September 4, 2026 | 3,500 | 475 |
| June 25, 2026 | 4,000 | 475 |
| February 20, 2026 | 4,000 | 467 |
| December 11, 2025 | 1,000 | 476 |
| November 14, 2025 | 3,500 | 462 |
Read our breakdown of the September 4 healthcare draw for the tie-break rule and what to do if you scored lower.
What language level do nurses need?
It depends on the program. The Federal Skilled Worker Program needs CLB 7 in all four abilities. The Canadian Experience Class needs CLB 7 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs, such as registered nurses, and CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs, such as licensed practical nurses and nurse aides. See our language tests and CLB converter.
Can French help nurses get PR faster?
Yes, if you reach NCLC 7 in all four abilities. IRCC held 10 French-language draws in 2026, and the August 19 draw invited 5,000 people at CRS 382, which is 93 points below the healthcare cut-off of 475. See our French-language category guide.
What if my CRS score is below 475?
Raise your score or add a provincial nomination, because a gap of 10 to 15 points can often be closed with a better language result. A nomination adds 600 points. Use our CRS calculator and read how to improve your CRS score.
Which provinces nominate nurses in 2026?
Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Atlantic provinces all prioritize healthcare workers this year. Most streams need a job offer in the province. A nomination adds 600 CRS points on the Express Entry route. Priorities change often, so check each province before you apply (checked October 2026).
How does Alberta’s Dedicated Health Care Pathway work?
It covers nine professions, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and nurse practitioners. You need an Alberta job offer, proof that you meet the regulator’s requirements and, on the Express Entry option, a CRS score of at least 300. The non-Express Entry option asks for CLB 5. Alberta held 16 of these draws in 2026, with minimum scores of 45 to 64 and 24 to 102 invitations each (alberta.ca, Oct 2026). See our Alberta PNP guide and AAIP points calculator.
What does British Columbia offer nurses?
BC invites workers under three priorities, and its Care priority covers healthcare. The Health Authority stream is for public health employees, physicians, nurse practitioners and midwives. Registration is free, and the application fee is $1,750. See our BC PNP guide.
Does Saskatchewan have a health route?
Yes. The Health Talent Pathway is one of the six SINP routes. It needs a full-time Saskatchewan job offer backed by an Employer Position Assessment, and the language minimum is CLB 5. See our Saskatchewan PNP guide.
What about Manitoba?
Manitoba selects by occupation as well as by score. On September 10, 2026 it issued 233 invitations to candidates working in Manitoba in health occupations (immigratemanitoba.com, Oct 2026). See our Manitoba PNP guide.
Which Atlantic provinces want nurses?
Nova Scotia selected between 161 and 789 candidates a month from its EOI pool in 2026, mainly from healthcare, skilled trades and other priority occupations. New Brunswick’s NB Experience pathway invites healthcare, education and construction workers. Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador also prioritize health jobs. Check our PNP draw tracker for recent rounds.
Is Ontario still an option for nurses?
Yes, with a job offer. Ontario closed its old streams in 2026, and it now has one open skilled stream, Ontario Workforce Priority. Before that, Ontario ran healthcare and early childhood education draws that invited 1,649 candidates on February 2 and 1,635 on April 8 (ontario.ca, Oct 2026). See our Ontario PNP guide.
Does Quebec follow the same process?
No. Quebec runs its own immigration programs, so the Express Entry and provincial routes above do not apply to Quebec (IRCC, Oct 2026). Nurses who want Quebec need to check its separate rules.
How do internationally educated nurses get licensed in Canada?
You apply to the nursing regulator in the province where you will work. Most regulators ask internationally educated nurses to start with the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS), which verifies your credentials and issues an Advisory Report to the regulator. The regulator then decides what else you need (NNAS, Oct 2026).
What is NNAS and who needs it?
NNAS is the first step to becoming a nurse in Canada for people who completed nursing education outside Canada. It also applies to Canadian citizens and residents who studied nursing abroad. You are eligible if you completed post-secondary nursing education outside Canada and have never been licensed as a nurse in Canada in that profession.
How much does NNAS cost and how long does it take?
The Expedited Service costs $750 CAD for the RN and LPN credentialing process together, and NNAS releases the Advisory Report within five business days after it receives all documents. It assesses your education at the country level, so you do not send your curriculum. The RPN Pathway costs $650 USD (about $845 CAD) and takes about twelve weeks. NNAS does not issue refunds (NNAS, Oct 2026).
Which regulators use the Expedited Service?
Participating regulators include those in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. Some of these regulators cover only registered nurses and others only practical nurses, so check the list for your profession before you apply (NNAS, Oct 2026).
Is the NNAS report the same as an ECA for Express Entry?
No. The NNAS Advisory Report goes to your nursing regulator. For education points in Express Entry you need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an organization designated by IRCC. You may need both. See our ECA guide.
What should a nurse do first?
Start with the steps that take the longest. These five steps put you in the pool with the best profile you can build.
- Step 1: Check your NOC code. Match your duties to 31301, 32101 or the code that fits your job. IRCC checks duties, not job titles.
- Step 2: Start NNAS. Apply for the credential assessment and ask for your Advisory Report to go to your target regulator.
- Step 3: Order an ECA. You need it for Express Entry education points.
- Step 4: Take a language test. Aim for CLB 9 in all four abilities. Also test French if you can.
- Step 5: Create your profile and compare provinces. Enter the Express Entry pool, then check the provincial routes above. Keep your documents ready for the 60-day deadline after an invitation.
Frequently asked questions about Canadian immigration for nurses
Do I need a job offer to get Canadian PR as a nurse?
Not for Express Entry. A job offer adds no CRS points since March 25, 2025. Most provincial streams for nurses, such as Alberta’s Dedicated Health Care Pathway, do need one.
How long does it take to get PR as a nurse?
IRCC shows about 7 months for the Federal Skilled Worker Program and about 6 months for the Canadian Experience Class, after you submit your application. The wait for an invitation comes first (IRCC, data updated September 2026). See our processing times page.
Can licensed practical nurses and nurse aides qualify?
Yes. Licensed practical nurses (32101) and nurse aides (33102) are on the healthcare category list. Under the Canadian Experience Class they need CLB 5 instead of CLB 7. Provincial streams may treat them differently, so check each page.
Will my foreign nursing degree be recognized?
The regulator in your province decides, using your NNAS Advisory Report. It may ask for more steps, such as an exam or a bridging program. NNAS does not make the licensing decision.
How much does it cost to move to Canada as a nurse?
The federal PR fee is $1,590 for an adult principal applicant. NNAS, an ECA, language tests, medical exams and any provincial fee come on top. See our PR fees page for the federal list.
Does Quebec use the same system?
No. Quebec runs its own immigration programs, so check its rules separately (IRCC, Oct 2026).
Not sure which route fits your nursing credential and CRS score? Book a Strategy Consultation and we will map your PR route and your licensing steps.
Sources
- IRCC, Express Entry category-based selection (June 2026) and rounds of invitations (October 2026), at IRCC
- NNAS, fees, eligibility and Expedited Service pages (October 2026)
- Alberta Dedicated Health Care Pathway and AAIP draw table (alberta.ca, October 2026)
- Provincial pages and immigratemanitoba.com, ontario.ca, checked October 2026
Related reading
- Healthcare Express Entry category guide
- Express Entry healthcare draw, September 4, 2026
- Express Entry draws 2026
- Provincial Nominee Program guide
- Nursing in Canada 2026: wages and the immigration path
Amir Ismail is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC R412319) who has been associated with the immigration consulting industry since 1991.
