Registered nurse jobs in Canada with visa sponsorship are among the strongest opportunities for internationally educated nurses (IENs). Every province reports nursing shortages, registered nurses are on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program’s prioritized occupations list, and they are included in the Express Entry healthcare and social services category for 2026.
The main hurdle is licensing: you cannot work as an RN until a provincial nursing regulator registers you. This guide explains the licensing route (NNAS, NCLEX-RN and provincial regulators), real salaries, visas and PR, the health employers and government-funded recruiters to contact, and how to avoid recruitment scams.
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Registered Nurse Jobs in Canada at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Occupation code | NOC 31301 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (TEER 1) |
| Typical pay | Job Bank national median about $43.27/hour (≈ $90k/year) |
| Licensing | Provincial regulator; NNAS assessment in most provinces; NCLEX-RN exam |
| Work permit | Employer-specific permit with an LMIA (RN is a prioritized occupation) |
| PR options | Express Entry healthcare category, PNP health streams, RCIP, AIP |
| Best for | Nurses with a nursing degree and recent clinical practice |
1. Types of Registered Nurse Jobs Available in Canada
Hospital Staff Nurse
Medical-surgical, emergency, ICU, operating room and maternity units in public hospitals – the largest employer of RNs.
Long-Term Care and Seniors’ Care Nurse
Nursing homes and retirement communities, often with strong demand in smaller cities.
Community and Home Care Nurse
Visiting patients at home and in clinics through health authorities or private providers.
Mental Health and Psychiatric Nurse
Registered psychiatric nurses are a separate regulated profession in western provinces.
Rural and Northern Nurse
Remote communities offer incentives and wider scope of practice; ask about relocation support.
2. Registered Nurse Salary Ranges in Canada (2026)
Nurse wages are set by provincial collective agreements and rise with years of service. National Job Bank medians; annual estimates assume 2,080 hours.
| Level | Hourly | Approx. yearly (full-time) |
|---|---|---|
| New graduate / entry step | Below median | Set by provincial union scales |
| Registered nurse (national median) | $43.27 | ≈ $90k |
| Senior RN with shift premiums and overtime | Above median | Check Job Bank “high” wage for your province |
Source: Job Bank – wages for registered nurses (NOC 31301), updated November 19, 2025.
3. Visa Types for Foreign Registered Nurses in Canada
Most foreign registered nurses start with an employer-specific work permit: the employer gets a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from ESDC, then you apply to IRCC.
| Visa / permit | Who it is for | Employer needed? | Official page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer-specific work permit (LMIA) | Job offer from an employer with a positive LMIA | Yes | IRCC work permits |
| LMIA-exempt permit (IMP) | Intra-company transfers, CUSMA, Francophone Mobility | Yes | IRCC – IMP |
| Express Entry (PR) | FSWP, FSTP or CEC candidates | No | IRCC – Express Entry |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PR) | Workers nominated by a province | Often | IRCC – PNP |
| RCIP / AIP (PR) | Offer from a designated employer in a rural or Atlantic community | Yes | IRCC – RCIP |
Registered nurse positions are prioritized occupations in the TFW Program, and many hospitals operate in NAICS 622, which is exempt from the low-wage refusal rule. Most RN jobs are high-wage, so employers submit a transition plan. As TEER 1, a spouse may be eligible for an open work permit under current rules.
Low-wage LMIAs are not processed in metropolitan areas with unemployment of 6% or more (updated quarterly), except in exempt sectors such as construction, food manufacturing, hospitals and nursing care – see the official list.
4. List of Companies Offering Registered Nurse Jobs With Visa Sponsorship – Contacts and Addresses
These are real, well-known employers of registered nurses in Canada. We list the head-office location and the official careers page – the only safe place to apply. Being on this list does not mean a company is hiring or sponsoring foreign workers right now; each posting states its own requirements.
| Company | Head office | Official website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta Health Services | Edmonton, AB | Careers page | Provincial health authority |
| Nova Scotia Health | Halifax, NS | Careers page | Provincial health authority |
| University Health Network | Toronto, ON | Official website | Teaching hospitals |
| Extendicare | Markham, ON | Careers page | Long-term care and home health |
| Sienna Senior Living | Markham, ON | Careers page | Seniors’ living and long-term care |
5. Employment Agencies to Find Registered Nurse Opportunities – International Recruitment
Agencies can connect you with employers, but only the employer (with ESDC) and IRCC handle LMIAs and permits. We list head-office cities and official websites; contact branches only through these sites.
| Agency | Head office | Official website | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Match BC | Vancouver, BC | www.healthmatchbc.org | Free, government-funded recruitment for BC health authorities |
| Saskatchewan Healthcare Recruitment Agency | Saskatchewan | www.saskhealthrecruitment.ca | Provincial health recruitment |
| Randstad Canada | Toronto, ON | www.randstad.ca | Construction, industrial, engineering |
| Adecco Canada | Toronto, ON | www.adecco.ca | Industrial, warehouse, trades |
| Hays Canada | Toronto, ON | www.hays.ca | Construction, engineering, IT |
| ManpowerGroup Canada | Toronto, ON | www.manpower.ca | Industrial, trades, logistics |
No recruitment fees: employers may not charge or recover recruitment fees from foreign workers (your rights). For immigration advice, use only a consultant on the CICC public register or a lawyer licensed by a provincial law society.
6. Visa Requirements for Employment – Requirements and Documents
Officers compare your CV, reference letters and job offer, so keep them consistent. Typical checklist:
- Valid passport
- Signed job offer (duties, wage, hours, NOC 31301) and the LMIA decision letter or offer number
- Reference letters with duties, dates and hours, plus pay slips
- Nursing diploma/degree transcripts and course outlines sent directly by your school
- Nursing registration in your country and verification sent by your regulator
- NNAS advisory report (most provinces) or regulator file number
- Police certificates and medical exam if required (IRCC medical exams)
- Biometrics at a visa application centre and fees paid online (IRCC fee list)
7. Steps to Get Visa Sponsorship as a Registered Nurse – How to Apply
- Confirm your NOC 31301 duties on the official NOC site and check Job Bank wages.
- Prepare a two-page Canadian-style CV with licences and achievements.
- Apply to real employers on Job Bank and the careers pages above.
- Interview and get a written offer stating wage, hours, duties, location, travel and housing.
- The employer applies for the LMIA and pays the fee.
- Apply online for your work permit, give biometrics and track processing times.
- Travel and work only for the employer and job on your permit, then start your PR plan.
Possible websites to apply for sponsorship visas
- Job Bank – official Government of Canada job board
- IRCC – apply for a work permit
- IRCC – Express Entry
- Provincial Nominee Programs
- Official careers pages of the employers listed above
8. Pathways That Can Give PR in Canada – Express Entry, RCIP and Others
Permanent residence lets you work for any employer and later apply for citizenship. NOC 31301 is in the Healthcare and social services occupations category of Express Entry for 2026 (12 months of full-time experience in the last three years needed – official list).
| Pathway | How it works | Official website |
|---|---|---|
| Express Entry (FSWP / FSTP / CEC) | CRS points for age, language, education, experience; job-offer points were removed in March 2025 | canada.ca/express-entry |
| Provincial Nominee Program | Provincial streams, many with a job offer | IRCC – PNP |
| Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) | Offer from a designated employer in 14 communities (e.g. Sudbury, Thunder Bay, Brandon, Moose Jaw, Claresholm, Peace Liard) | IRCC – RCIP |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | Designated employers in NS, NB, PE and NL | IRCC – AIP |
Registered nurses are in the 2026 healthcare and social services category, and several provinces have dedicated health-worker nominee streams. Nurses already working in Canada can also qualify through the Canadian Experience Class. Start your licence early: in most provinces you begin with the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS); British Columbia applicants apply directly to BCCNM; Ontario applicants register with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
All PR programs are applied for online. IRCC contacts: the IRCC web form and the Client Support Centre, 1-888-242-2100 (from within Canada), per the official contact page. Each RCIP community lists its own contacts on pages linked from canada.ca.
9. Meeting the Eligibility Requirements
- Registration: you must be registered with the nursing regulator of your province before working as an RN.
- Exam: most regulators require the NCLEX-RN, plus a language test such as IELTS or CELBAN.
- Recent practice: regulators check that you have practised nursing recently; bridging programs exist for gaps.
- Language and education: approved English/French tests and, for Express Entry, an Educational Credential Assessment.
- Admissibility: clean record, medical clearance and honest forms – misrepresentation can mean a five-year ban.
10. Applying at the Embassy – Work Visa Verification, Embassy Contacts and Verification
You do not apply for a Canadian work permit at the embassy: you apply online and give biometrics at an official visa application centre. Missions handle consular services; visa questions go through the IRCC web form. Contacts below are from Government of Canada pages (checked October 2026); for other countries see the official embassy list.
| Country | Mission | Address | Phone | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | High Commission of Canada, Abuja | 13010G, Palm Close, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District, Abuja | +234 (209) 461 2900 | Official page |
| India | High Commission of Canada, New Delhi | 7/8 Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110 021 | +91 11 4178 2000 | Official page |
| Ghana | High Commission of Canada, Accra | 42 Independence Avenue, Accra | +233 (0) 302 21 15 21 | Official page |
| Philippines | Embassy of Canada, Manila | Levels 6–8, Tower 2, RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, Makati City | +63 2 8857 9000 | Official page |
How to verify a job offer, LMIA or visa
- Ask for the LMIA decision letter and check the employer name, job, NOC, wage and location against your contract.
- Find the company yourself (official website, business registry) and check that emails use its own domain.
- Never pay for a job offer or LMIA; official IRCC fees are paid only on IRCC’s website.
- Report suspicious offers via IRCC’s fraud page.
11. Mistakes to Avoid During the Process – Immigration Errors
- Paying an agency for a “guaranteed nursing job” before you are even registered.
- Applying for RN jobs while your licence is only “in progress” without telling the employer.
- Paying for a “guaranteed” LMIA job.
- Using the wrong NOC code or copied job descriptions in reference letters.
- Submitting fake or exaggerated documents (five-year ban risk).
- Working outside the employer, job or location on your permit.
12. Settlement Benefits and Relocation Planning
Health authorities sometimes offer relocation allowances, especially for rural posts. Ask for details in writing, and connect with free newcomer services and provincial IEN support programs.
| Benefit | What to know | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance | Provincial plans may have a waiting period; get private cover first | Provincial health ministry |
| Free settlement services | Jobs, language classes, housing help | IRCC newcomer services |
| SIN and benefits | SIN to work; eligible families may get the Canada Child Benefit | canada.ca – SIN |
Conclusion
Registered nurse jobs in Canada with visa sponsorship are realistic for qualified nurses who start licensing early, use official recruiters such as Health Match BC and apply directly to health authorities. Express Entry’s healthcare category gives RNs one of the clearest PR routes in Canada.
Next step: open your NNAS or regulator file, prepare for the NCLEX-RN and apply on the official careers pages above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can foreign nurses work in Canada?
Yes, after registering with a provincial nursing regulator. Most provinces start with an NNAS assessment and require the NCLEX-RN.
Are nurses eligible for Express Entry category draws?
Yes. Registered nurses (NOC 31301) are in the 2026 healthcare and social services category; you need 12 months of full-time experience in the last three years.
How much do registered nurses earn in Canada?
Job Bank shows a national median of about $43.27 per hour (roughly $90,000 a year), set mainly by provincial union scales.
Is NNAS required in British Columbia?
No. Applicants for BC apply directly to the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).
Do health authorities charge recruitment fees?
No. Public recruiters such as Health Match BC are free for candidates.
Who pays for the LMIA?
The employer pays the $1,000 LMIA processing fee and cannot recover it, or any recruitment fee, from you.
Next guide: Registered Nurse Jobs in the USA With Visa Sponsorship →
Important: ConvertKind Jobs is an independent information website. We are not an employer, recruiter or immigration adviser, we do not offer jobs or visas and we never charge fees. Rules, wages and fees change often, so always confirm details on the official government websites linked in this guide or with a licensed immigration professional before you apply or pay anyone.