Immigrate to Canada as a Nurse

The most in demand profession in Canada at the moment is nursing. Canada is experiencing a major shortage of registered nurses, this is exacerbated by a population with an average age that is increasing year on year as more and more Canadians go into retirement. Essentially, there aren’t enough young people in Canada to meet the demands of the labour market, and no more so than in the nursing profession. Higher demand means higher wages, nurses in Canada earn an average of $36 an hour, which translates to an average annual salary of $79,715 a year. If you meet the requirements to immigrate to Canada as a nurse, you could have permanent residency in as little as six months through the Express Entry system as a high-skilled profession in demand. If you are ready to start the immigration process, follow the link below. If you would like to learn more about what life would be like in Canada and about the immigration process, keep reading!

Cost of Living in Canada

It’s no good earning a lot of money if everything is really expensive where you live, so let’s take a look at the general cost of living so you can compare it to your own country and how much you stand to earn in Canada. The average price of a house in a Canadian city is $430,000, which means a 20 year mortgage would be a breeze on your salary and if you have a partner with marketable skills, you could even do a 10 year mortgage plan. If you aren’t looking to buy just yet, the average price for a spacious 2 bedroom apartment is $900 a month. If you’re taking home $6,500 before taxes, well you can do the math.

Speaking about taxes, how much will you actually be paying? On $79,715 a year you will pay 24.7% tax, which is around $19,690. So you will take home about $50,000 per year, but how far will that get you?

The average cost of living per person in Toronto, which keep in mind is a major city so it is higher than most of Canada, especially small towns, is $1,038 per month.

Now for the cost savers; healthcare is free for all permanent residents and Canadian citizens, so that is not an expense you need to concern yourself with. Then if you have children, their schooling is free; also something you don’t need to worry about. So if you are taking home around $4,200 on average as a single adult or parent, you could have over $2,200 to save, support dependents, spend on exploring your new home, it’s your choice!

Immigrating as a Registered Nurse

Securing a valid job offer before moving would be the most optimal scenario. However, whether you do or do not secure a job offer, each province has their own provincial bodies which assess your qualifications and make a recommendation. You may be required to undergo the Canadian Registered Nurse Exam to prove your competency. Selecting an immigration program for your path to permanent residency is the next important step. The three main immigration programs for skilled practitioners to immigrate to Canada and obtain PR status efficiently are:

Express Entry

This program involves creating an online profile into which you will enter your credentials and any other applicable information. Your Comprehensive Ranking Score will then be calculated and you will be entered into a pool of applicants. Each month a number of applicants are drawn based on a minimum CRS score and are invited to apply for permanent residency. Achieving a high CRS score is paramount, and something our Regulated Canadian Immigration consultants specialize in helping you achieve.

Provincial Nomination Program

If you know where you want to live in Canada, it doesn’t even have to be a city, just a province, you can apply to said province for a nomination. You can do this visa express entry simply by creating an expression of interest, or you can apply to the province directly. If the province has a need for your set of skills, which they will, you’re a registered nurse in a country with a serious shortage, they will issue you a provincial nomination. You can then obtain permanent residency through this program, which may take a little longer than Express Entry, but is a good and effective way nonetheless, or you can continue through express Entry. A provincial nomination is worth 600 CRS points out of a maximum of 1,200 points, and all but guarantees an invitation to apply for permanent residency.

Atlantic Immigration Pilot

Very similar to the PNP, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot is aimed at skilled individuals who know which province they would like to settle in when they arrive in Canada, and assuming that province is one of the three participating provinces in this immigration pilot. New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland & Labrador are the three Atlantic adjacent participating provinces. This is a community and employer driven pilot, so you will need a valid job offer from a participating community and you will have to live and work in the community that grants you a recommendation. You will also need to have at least one year of full time experience to qualify for this pilot.

How We Can Help You

Navigating the Canadian immigration system can be a lengthy and complicated process, with a copious amount of forms and documents to complete and strict submission dates. While you may be used to dealing with a lot of paperwork, you know that not just anyone could do what you do. That’s what we’re here for. At sober Immigration, we take the stress and hassle out of planning to relocate abroad.