Magnus32Canada’s demand for nurses keeps rising, and many health systems can’t hire fast enough. That’s why health care visa sponsorship jobs in Canada are a real target for internationally educated nurses, especially when you focus on provinces with strong hiring needs and active immigration pathways.
Across Canada, employer sponsorship often means a job offer that supports a work permit, commonly through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (often requiring an LMIA, depending on the role and employer). Provinces also use Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) to select nurses for permanent residency routes, which can pair well with Express Entry. Outcomes depend on your nursing category (RN, LPN, NP, aide), your licensing stage, your language scores, and whether the employer is willing and eligible to support the process.
Quick context: why Canada keeps hiring nurses (2025 snapshot)
Nursing vacancies have climbed sharply. Canada’s nursing job vacancies rose from 13,178 in 2018 to 41,716 in 2023, which is roughly triple in five years (Statistics Canada, job vacancy data summarized in reporting). Some regions also report high vacancy rates for nurse roles, with remote and rural areas showing the tightest staffing. Workforce churn is also a factor, with younger nurses leaving at concerning rates in several provinces (Canadian Institute for Health Information, workforce indicators summarized in reporting).
How you’ll usually apply (high-conversion path)
- Apply directly to provincial health authorities, hospital networks, and long-term care operators that hire internationally and, in some cases, support work permits.
- Apply through official Job Bank postings and filter for employers open to international candidates (Government of Canada, Job Bank).
- Align your job search with the province’s PNP options, since many provinces prioritize healthcare in their nomination spaces (IRCC and provincial program pages).
Core licensing and screening steps you’ll see often
- Credential review through NNAS for many internationally educated nurses (National Nursing Assessment Service).
- Registration with the provincial nursing regulator (each province has its own).
- Language testing if required (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, depending on province and regulator).
- A job offer, then employer support for a work permit when applicable (often LMIA-based), plus possible PNP nomination.
1. Alberta (AAIP, strong demand, big health system hiring)
Alberta is a high-demand province with large employers and a lot of province-wide coverage needs. The biggest single employer is Alberta Health Services, plus major faith-based operators like Covenant Health, which together create consistent hiring across hospitals, continuing care, and community settings.
From an immigration angle, Alberta runs the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), which has healthcare as a priority area in its overall nomination plan. In 2025, Alberta’s nomination allocation increased to 6,403 after a federal boost, which improved the odds for targeted sectors like healthcare (provincial and federal allocation updates summarized in reporting).
Where to apply
- Alberta Health Services careers, Covenant Health careers, and major city hospital networks in Edmonton and Calgary.
- Government of Canada Job Bank, using nurse NOC codes like 31301 (RNs) and 32101 (LPNs) to match postings.
Best-fit nursing profiles
- RNs and LPNs with hospital experience, urgent care, med-surg, geriatrics, and long-term care exposure tend to match ongoing needs.
- Candidates open to regional roles can see more employer interest, since shortages are often sharper outside core downtown hospitals.
2. British Columbia (BC PNP focus on healthcare, strong retention)
British Columbia stands out for its healthcare hiring focus and workforce stability. In recent workforce tracking, BC improved retention and attracted nurses from other provinces, which signals active recruitment and ongoing capacity building rather than short bursts of hiring (CIHI indicators summarized in reporting).
BC’s immigration system also supports healthcare selection. The BC PNP has dedicated attention on healthcare professionals, and 2025 updates increased the province’s nomination spaces to 6,214 by December, with healthcare among the categories receiving additional support (provincial allocation updates summarized in reporting). Reported processing for many 2025 applications also returned closer to about three months in some streams, which matters if you’re trying to start work sooner (program update summaries).
Where to apply
- Regional health authority career sites such as Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health, Interior Health, Island Health, and Northern Health.
- Job Bank listings tied to BC employers that note openness to international applicants.
Why BC converts well for sponsorship-style hiring
- Larger health authorities can be more familiar with international recruitment steps.
- Rural and northern communities often have tighter staffing and may be more open to supporting eligible candidates, depending on the employer.
3. Manitoba (targeted recruitment, realistic pathways for rural roles)
Manitoba is often practical for nurses who want a clear employer pathway and are open to Winnipeg or smaller communities. The province has a track record of using its nomination program to bring in healthcare workers, including through recruitment initiatives tied to employer needs.
In 2025, Manitoba had 5,000 nomination spaces, and nursing roles remain part of rural and in-demand hiring needs under the Skilled Worker streams (provincial allocation summaries). If you’re willing to work outside the largest cities, you may see more interviews, since staffing pressure rises in smaller facilities.
Where to apply
- Winnipeg hospital systems, regional health authorities, and long-term care operators.
- Job Bank postings for Manitoba employers, then follow the employer’s application portal instructions exactly.
What typically helps applications move
- Proof you’re progressing through licensing steps (NNAS stage, regulator file number, exam plan).
- A resume that matches Canadian role language (unit type, patient ratios, documentation systems, shift patterns).
4. New Brunswick (healthcare priority, strong demand in smaller cities)
New Brunswick is a smaller province with consistent healthcare demand and an immigration system that often emphasizes essential sectors. In 2025, New Brunswick had 4,500 nomination spots and lists healthcare occupations like registered nurses and licensed practical nurses among priority roles (allocation and occupation focus summarized in reporting).
This province can be attractive if you want a lower cost of living and are open to communities beyond the biggest Canadian metros. Employers may be more motivated to retain staff long-term, which can align well with immigration planning.
Where to apply
- Regional health authority postings and long-term care operators in hubs like Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, and surrounding communities.
- Job Bank and employer career pages, then keep a record of all applications and job IDs for follow-up.
Good match for
- RNs, LPNs, and nurse aides who are comfortable with mixed caseloads and smaller-team environments.
- Bilingual candidates can have more options, depending on facility needs and patient population.
5. Newfoundland and Labrador (high need, rural demand, health boards hiring)
Newfoundland and Labrador often reports staffing pressure, especially outside St. John’s. Workforce indicators have also flagged higher churn among younger nurses in some Atlantic and smaller jurisdictions, which usually pushes employers to recruit more actively (CIHI indicators summarized in reporting). For internationally educated nurses, that can translate into more postings and more willingness to consider candidates who are licensing-in-progress, depending on the role.
Where to apply
- Provincial health authority and regional health board postings, including roles in rural and coastal communities.
- Job Bank postings that match your NOC and credential level.
Why it’s worth considering
- If you’re open to smaller communities, employers may prioritize faster hiring and longer contracts.
- Some roles in long-term care and community health can have urgent staffing needs, which can improve response rates.
6. Nova Scotia (Atlantic hiring demand, EOI system updates)
Nova Scotia sits in a region with persistent healthcare needs. Job vacancy data summaries have pointed to higher vacancy rates in Atlantic provinces for nursing roles compared with several other regions, with remote areas often facing the strongest gaps (Statistics Canada vacancy data summaries).
Nova Scotia also connects well to the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) in many employer-led cases, depending on designation and role eligibility. Program rules and intake processes can change, and Nova Scotia introduced updates to its expression-of-interest approach in late 2025 (program update summaries), so it’s a province where paying attention to current intake windows matters.
Where to apply
- Health authority postings in Halifax and Cape Breton, plus long-term care employers.
- Designated Atlantic employers that recruit internationally, where available.
Best-fit nursing profiles
- Experienced bedside nurses, continuing care nurses, and candidates open to shift-based roles.
- Applicants who can commit to a community long enough to support both staffing and immigration planning.
7. Ontario (largest job market, many employers, high turnover creates openings)
Ontario is Canada’s largest healthcare job market, so volume alone makes it a top target for health care visa sponsorship jobs in Canada. Major hospital networks and long-term care operators post year-round, especially in the GTA and mid-sized cities.
Ontario also runs the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). In 2025, Ontario reached a nomination limit of 10,750, and priority occupation lists have included multiple nursing NOCs such as 31301 (RNs), 31302 (NPs), 32101 (LPNs), and 33102 (nurse aides) (OINP allocation and occupation summaries). Ontario’s nursing workforce also grew in 2025, and internationally educated nurses make up a meaningful share of supply, which signals ongoing pathways for newcomers who meet licensing requirements (Ontario workforce reporting summaries).
Where to apply
- Large hospital networks in Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, Kitchener-Waterloo, and Windsor, plus long-term care chains.
- Ontario Health and public-sector postings, plus Job Bank for employer-sponsored roles.
How to stand out
- Show your licensing plan clearly and match it to the role level (RN vs RPN/LPN equivalent, aide roles).
- Highlight Canadian-aligned skills: electronic charting, infection control, med admin competencies, and acute care exposure.
8. Prince Edward Island (small province, focused healthcare hiring)
PEI is small, but it can be efficient for candidates who want a tighter market with fewer competing employers. In 2025, PEI had 1,500 nomination spaces and is often positioned as a province that supports essential workers, including healthcare, through its labor-focused immigration categories (allocation summaries).
Most healthcare hiring centers on the provincial employer. If you fit their needs, PEI can offer a more direct line from job offer to longer-term settlement, depending on eligibility.
Where to apply
- Health PEI postings and related provincial healthcare recruitment channels.
- Job Bank roles that list PEI employers and healthcare facilities.
Best-fit nursing profiles
- Nurses open to generalist duties, mixed units, and community-based care.
- Candidates who want a smaller community setting and can commit for continuity.
9. Quebec (high vacancy rates in recent data, French gives a big edge)
Quebec has shown strong signs of need. Recent job vacancy rate summaries place Quebec among the higher provinces for nursing vacancy rates in 2024 tracking (Statistics Canada vacancy rate summaries). Quebec has also been active in international recruitment, and licensing can be faster for certain French-trained nurses due to mutual recognition arrangements with France (reported in workforce and provincial context summaries).
Quebec’s immigration system differs from other provinces, and French is often central to both licensing and job success. For many candidates, Quebec becomes the best option when they can work in French and want a large province with both metro and regional demand.
Where to apply
- CIUSSS and CISSS regional health networks, major hospitals in Montréal, Québec City, and regional centers.
- Provincial recruitment drives when announced, plus Job Bank postings that specify French requirements.
What improves hiring odds
- Documented French ability (TEF or recognized proof, when required).
- Flexibility on location, since regional facilities may hire faster than central urban hospitals.
10. Saskatchewan (steady demand, employer-led options, prairie affordability)
Saskatchewan regularly recruits nurses for both cities and rural communities. For many applicants, it’s a strong value play: good odds of interviews when you’re open to location, and an employer environment that’s often more familiar with filling gaps in essential roles.
Saskatchewan’s immigration pathways include provincial nomination options that can align with healthcare hiring needs. As with other provinces, outcomes depend on the occupation code, the employer’s readiness to support the process, and your licensing stage.
Where to apply
- Saskatchewan Health Authority postings in Regina, Saskatoon, and regional facilities.
- Job Bank postings for hard-to-fill communities and continuing care employers.
Good match for
- RNs and LPNs who can work broad scopes and adapt to smaller teams.
- Candidates who value lower housing costs and a more predictable commute.
Comparing the provinces fast (what matters for sponsored nurse hiring)
| Province | Why employers hire internationally | Best geographic targets | Immigration tie-in (high level) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Large health system demand, wide coverage | Calgary, Edmonton, regional towns | AAIP options, employer work permit routes |
| British Columbia | Healthcare priority and strong recruitment | Lower Mainland, Interior, North | BC PNP healthcare focus |
| Manitoba | Rural need plus city roles | Winnipeg, rural regions | Manitoba PNP Skilled Worker streams |
| New Brunswick | Smaller markets need steady staffing | Moncton, Fredericton, Saint John | NB PNP pathways, employer hiring |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Coastal and rural gaps | St. John’s, outports | NL PNP Skilled Worker options |
| Nova Scotia | Atlantic demand, mix of metro and rural | Halifax, Cape Breton | NSNP and AIP links for eligible employers |
| Ontario | Biggest job volume, many employers | GTA, Ottawa, Hamilton, London | OINP and employer work permit routes |
| PEI | Centralized hiring, focused roles | Province-wide | PEI PNP labor categories |
| Quebec | High vacancy, active recruiting, French advantage | Montréal, Québec City, regions | Quebec selection system, French weighting |
| Saskatchewan | Consistent need in cities and rural | Regina, Saskatoon, regional | SINP options with healthcare demand |
Where to apply (credible places recruiters actually pull from)
- Government of Canada Job Bank: Use nurse NOC codes, set location by province, and follow each employer’s portal instructions.
- Provincial health authority career sites: These are usually the highest-volume sources for hospital roles.
- Hospital networks and long-term care operators: Many manage hiring in-house and will state if international candidates are considered.
- Nursing regulators: Not for jobs, but for licensing steps that employers often require you to start before offering sponsorship support.
Reputable sources used for the basics and shortage signals (no live links)
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), work permits, Express Entry, and PNP program basics.
- Government of Canada Job Bank, official job postings and employer details.
- Statistics Canada, job vacancy and labor market measures.
- Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), nursing workforce and retention indicators.
Conclusion
The best provinces to apply for health care visa sponsorship jobs in Canada depend on what you can offer right now (your nursing category, experience, language, and licensing progress) and what the province needs most. British Columbia and Quebec show strong signals in recent workforce and vacancy reporting, while Ontario’s job volume stays hard to ignore. Alberta, Manitoba, and the Atlantic provinces can also convert well, especially when you’re open to regional roles where shortages hit hardest.
Visa sponsorship, salary ranges, and requirements vary by employer, location, and your qualifications. This article is general information, not legal advice. Always verify requirements on official government sites and with the hiring employer.
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