Canada is well known for its epic landscapes, friendly people, its multicultural society and – among other things – a very good healthcare system. Every single year – without fail – thousands of immigrants seeking a better quality of life (and better opportunities) make their way into the Canadian population.
Given the existing opportunities, nurses and doctors represent a notable percentage of this annual migration number.
While uprooting your life – and often the lives of your whole family – to start anew in a foreign country is never easy. Nevertheless, thousands of people immigrate to Canada every year, and they do so with good reason.
Here are 7 reasons why nurses immigrate to Canada
1. Job opportunities:
Canada faces a notable shortage of doctors and nurses, partly due to a rapidly growing senior population, partly because of low numbers of student nurses for quite some time, and its aging healthcare workforce.
As a result, there are a multitude of opportunities for nurses and other healthcare professionals across all of the provinces. While plenty of opportunities exist in the cities, it appears that many rural areas are under-served in terms of healthcare services, and these seem to hold even more opportunities.
You will find there are opportunities across a wide range of healthcare setting, ranging from hospitals and clinics to long term care facilities (many home care opportunities too), and many others in between.
2. Career opportunities:
While the Canadian healthcare industry offers competitive salaries (plus benefits), the shortage of staff also means that (depending on the position you take) you could earn plenty of over-time for the next few years at least, which will help you to get a foothold in life in your new country.
In addition to that, working in a highly regarded, world class healthcare system can be used as a spring-board to any other first world country you would ever want to move to. Canadian healthcare credentials are recognized all over the world.
3. A high quality of life:
For many years, Canada has ranked high in terms of quality of life. For many nurses from developing countries, being able to provide their families with a better quality of life is a significant factor to nurses who consider immigrating to Canada.
In addition to that, Canada has a low crime rate, resulting in a safe and stable environment. When you compare that with high crime rates in some developing countries, it is easy to see how it influences immigration decisions.
Of course, there is also the matters of universal healthcare, a well developed social safety net, and high quality public education.
The safe environment allows immigrating nurses to safely explore outdoor activities – from the vast mountains to the vibrant city life.
4. Advance your medical career:
Canada’s educational institutions are highly regarded all over the world, and the Canadian healthcare system is supportive of nurses who want to further their studies and grow professionally. As an immigrating nurse, you will find there are a wide range of postgraduate programs and courses to expand your knowledge and skill set.
By advancing your nursing career, not only will you be able to contribute more to the healthcare sector, but the resulting career advancements will further increase your quality of life.
5. A supportive society:
Canada is known globally for its inclusive and welcoming society. Having friendly people around you can make your life a lot easier when you make the transition into a completely different culture. The multicultural society has a way of making immigrants feel valued and accepted, irrespective of their backgrounds.
This welcoming culture expends to the workplace, where you will find that cultural diversity is not only supported, but celebrated.
There are numerous community organizations (as well as support networks) dedicated to help newcomers to settle in and adjust to their new lives. You will find support and guidance for everything, from navigating the healthcare system to finding suitable housing, to integrating into the society. This support system helps immigrating nurses to settle in, and feel at home in Canada.
6. A pathway to permanent residency, and citizenship:
Nurses – along with other skilled workers – will find that Canada provides clear pathways to obtaining permanent residency and citizenship. Canada also offers a variety of programs (some of which differ between provinces) designed to attract medical professionals from abroad. Programs like the Express Entry program and the Provincial Nominee programs prioritize in-demand skills – and right now Canada definitely has a huge demand for nurses.
Once you obtain permanent residency, all of the benefits available to citizens open up to you – things like access to healthcare, high quality public education, social services, etc.
After having been a permanent resident for a few years, you can apply for Canadian citizenship, which comes with not only security, but also additional privileges.
7. A safe, family friendly environment:
For many nurses choosing to immigrate to Canada, the decision to make the move is based on being able to provide a better life for their families. From family-friendly policies to a safe environment and high quality public schools, Canada has it all.
Aside from the quality of life and higher standard of living, your children can have access to a multitude of extracurricular activities and -programs. Combine that with easy access to medical care and a supportive society, and it is clear to see why so many nurses immigrate to Canada every year.
In conclusion:
Immigrating to any country is a complex process. It is a long and (sometimes) challenging process, which deters many people from attempting it. However, in most cases, nurses who immigrated to Canada have only one regret: That they did not do so sooner.
With the combination of job opportunities, career opportunities, the high quality of life and the support network, Canada is a welcoming country and society – even more so to nurses, who are desperately needed.
A final word:
There are many ways for nurses to obtain permanent residency in Canada. Your options depend on various factors.
To see if you are eligible to immigrate, and which options are open to you, please complete the online Immigration Assessment form.