June 17, 2026
Do you want to work as a nurse in Canada? Then you are in luck. Canada needs nurses right now, and nurses from Pakistan have a clear way to get permanent residence in 2026. This blog shows you how to Immigrate to Canada as a Nurse from Pakistan. You will learn about the NNAS check, the NCLEX-RN exam, Express Entry, and how to get your PR.
Canada does not have enough nurses, and the gap keeps getting wider. From 2024 to 2033, the country is likely to face a big shortage of nurses. A lot of nurses are close to retiring. At the same time, older people need more care. This opens a real door for nurses from Pakistan.
AIRCS Group is a trusted immigration consultant in Pakistan with offices in Rawalpindi and Faisalabad. Our team guides through every step of Canada immigration for nurses, from the first document to the final PR. So, in this blog you will learn the main pathways, the exams you must pass, and the simple steps to follow next.
Quick Answer: Immigrate to Canada as a Nurse from Pakistan
Main pathways: Express Entry (healthcare category draws) and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).
Two parts: First you get PR. Then you get your nurse license in Canada. These are two different things.
PR steps: Get an ECA report, pass IELTS, enter the Express Entry pool, try for a PNP, then get your ITA and PR.
Exam steps: After PR, you do the NNAS check and pass the NCLEX-RN. Then you can work as a nurse.
Timeline: PR takes about 12 to 15 months. The license can be done while you settle in Canada.
Why Canada Needs Nurses in 2026
Canada immigration for nurses is busy right now because the country has an aging population, and older people need more care. At the same time, many nurses are getting ready to retire. About 26 percent of nurses working today are aged 50 or older, with a median retirement age near 63. This leaves a wide gap in hospitals and care homes.
The government is acting on it. In 2025, Express Entry ran several healthcare-focused draws that invited nurses at lower scores than general rounds. Canada’s new framework keeps most economic immigration spots for sectors with sharp shortages, and healthcare sits at the top of that list. For Pakistani nurses, that means a faster lane to PR. Learn more on highly demand jobs in canada.
Understand the Path Before You Start
Before you begin, it helps to understand how this works. Becoming a nurse in Canada involves two stages that run side by side, not one after the other. The first stage is your immigration, which means getting your permanent residence so you can live in Canada. The second stage is your licensing, which gives you the legal right to practice as a nurse.
These two stages are separate, and this is where most applicants get confused. You do not need to pass any nursing exam to immigrate to Canada as a nurse from Pakistan. Your PR is based on your degree, your IELTS score, and your work experience, so you can land in Canada without ever sitting the NCLEX-RN.
You cannot start working as a nurse the moment you arrive. Until you complete the NNAS check and pass the NCLEX-RN, you are not licensed to practice. Many nurses begin their licensing paperwork early, even from Pakistan, so they can start work soon after landing rather than waiting months once they are there.
How to Immigrate to Canada as a Nurse from Pakistan: 5 Easy Steps
Here is the simple path to immigrate to Canada as a nurse from Pakistan. Follow these steps in order.
Step 1: Get Your ECA Report
First, get your nursing degree verified. This verification is called an ECA. Most nurses from Pakistan use WES for this. WES looks at your degree and says it is equal to a Canadian one. Most degrees also need HEC attestation. Start this early, as it takes a few weeks.
Step 2: Pass Your IELTS
Next, you take the IELTS test. This shows you can read, write, speak, and listen in English. A high score gives you more points. So good prep is worth it. Moving up one band can add many points to your profile. AIRCS Group tells nurses to study for three to four months and to sit two mock tests first.
Step 3: Enter the Express Entry Pool
Now you create your Express Entry profile and submit all supporting documents. Registered nurses use the job code NOC 31301 while licensed practical nurses use NOC 32101. You get a CRS score out of 1,200 and enter the pool.
The easiest way is the health draw. Express Entry for nurses runs special health rounds, and in 2026 these have let nurses in with scores from 462 to 476. That is well below the normal cutoff of 500 plus. And you do not need a job offer to apply.
Step 4: Try for a PNP
Is your score on the low side? Then try a PNP. This means a province picks you. A PNP adds 600 points to your score which almost always gets you an invite in the next draw. Provinces like Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia all pick nurses. We check every nurse for a PNP at the first assessment. Read more about the best PNPs for Pakistanis Professionals.
Step 5: Get Your ITA and PR
If your score is high enough, Canada sends you an ITA. ITA means an invite to apply. Now you send your full PR file. After review, you get your PR. Then you can move to Canada with your family.
Client example: A registered nurse from Lahore came to us stuck in the Express Entry pool for months. Her CRS score was 468, just under the general cutoff. Because her job duties matched NOC 31301, she qualified for the healthcare category draw, which sits well below the general line. We updated her profile to that category, and she received her ITA in the next healthcare round.
After PR: Get Your Nurse License in Canada
Now you are in Canada as a PR. Next, you make it legal to work as a nurse. This is part two. Here is how it works.
Do the NNAS Check
NNAS stands for the National Nursing Assessment Service. It checks your nursing study against Canadian rules. You send your school papers, and NNAS makes a report. This report goes to the nursing college in your province.
Pass the NCLEX-RN Exam
This is the main nurse test. If you want to be a Registered Nurse, you take the NCLEX-RN. If you want to be a Licensed Practical Nurse, you take the REx-PN or CPNRE. You can sit this test in your home country or in Canada.
Get Your Full License
After you pass, you send your report to the nursing college in your province. For example, the College of Nurses of Ontario. Some provinces also ask for a short ethics test. Once they say yes, you get your full license. Now you can work as a nurse in Canada.
What You Can Earn as a Nurse in Canada
Now for the good part, the pay. Nurses in Canada earn between CAD 60,000 and CAD 100,000 a year. Pay is higher in big cities and in special roles. Nurses are also valued and treated well.
You can bring your family too. Your husband or wife and your kids can come on the same file as dependants. They also get permanent residency. This is one of the biggest perks of the Canada PR route.
Common Mistakes Nurses Should Avoid
Many nurses slow down their own files. Here are the top mistakes to skip:
- Late ECA report. Get your degree checked early. If you wait, your whole file waits too.
- Low IELTS score. One more month of study can lift your band and change your draw chances.
- Skipping the PNP. Many nurses think Express Entry for nurses is the only road, but a province pick can be the faster way in.
- Wrong job code. If your work is mostly desk work, you may not fit NOC 31301. Your work letter must show real nursing.
- Waiting on the exam. You do not need the NCLEX-RN for PR, but start study early so you are ready to work fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to pass the NCLEX-RN before I move to Canada?
No. You do not need any nurse exam to get PR. You move to Canada first, and then you do the NNAS check and pass the NCLEX-RN to work as a nurse.
What do I need to immigrate to Canada as a nurse from Pakistan?
You need an ECA report, an IELTS score, and one year of nursing work. Then you enter the Express Entry pool and aim for an ITA.
How long does PR take for a nurse?
For a good Express Entry file, about 12 to 15 months, from your profile to your final PR. The PNP route takes longer, usually 18 to 24 months.
Do I need a job offer to apply?
No. You can apply through Express Entry with no job offer. Your CRS score is what counts most.
Can I bring my family with me?
Yes. You can add your husband or wife and your children to the same file as dependants. When your PR is approved, they become permanent residents too. So they can live, work, and study in Canada.
Ready to Move to Canada as a Nurse?
AIRCS Group has helped many nurses build strong files and reach Canada. The right path depends on your score, your work, and your goals. And right now, the door is wide open for nurses.
Book an appointment today. We will review your profile, confirm your NOC code, check your CRS score, and map the fastest route to your ITA. You may be closer to Canada PR than you think.
