Step 7 of 7 · PH → CA
Obtain separate legal authorisation to work — Philippines to Canada
Most foreign nationals need a Canadian work permit, or another status that authorises work. An NNAS report, an ECA, an exam result, or provincial nursing registration gives you none of that by itself.
- Jurisdiction scope
- Canada federal immigration
- Last verified
- Relevant official-body pillar
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Purpose
Why this decision point exists
Keep immigration and employment permission separate from professional registration in your planning.
Who needs it
Check whether it applies
Applicants who do not already hold status that authorises the work they intend to do in Canada.
Requirements
What to check at this step
- Check whether your facts support an employer-specific permit or an authorised open work permit route. — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (external site)
- Use IRCC's live application instructions and disclose your actual status. — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (external site)
Common mistakes
Where applicants trip up
- Treating nursing registration as permission to enter or work in Canada.
One fact at a time
Official facts
Each value appears with its effective date and cited source. We never assume an optional fact applies to you, and we never convert currencies.
No confirmed numeric fact is shown for this page. Check the linked official pages for current fees, timing, and requirements; a missing value is not zero.
The order of decisions
Where this step sits in the reviewed pathway
Work through the decision points in this order, and expect the responsible body to change, add, or remove requirements for your circumstances.
Step 1
Choose the province and nursing regulatorIf you plan to use NNAS Expedited, first identify the provincial nursing regulator and confirm that it participates in or accepts the service. NNAS is an assessment service, not the authority that grants registration.
Step 2
Select the regulator-approved assessment routeUse NNAS Expedited only for a participating regulator that accepts the service. For Ontario, CNO requires an approved ECA before application and lists an NNAS Expedited report prepared by TruMerit as an accepted option. For Nova Scotia, review NSNMR's dated pause notice before relying on its former pathway.
Step 3
Apply to the provincial regulatorFor an Ontario application, CNO must receive the approved ECA report and education documents before you submit the online application and fee.
Step 4
Meet education, competence and language standardsFor Ontario RN registration, CNO assesses education, evidence of practice, language and the other General Class requirements on the applicant's file, including whether more evidence or education is needed.
Step 5
Register for NCLEX-RN after regulator eligibilityApply to the regulator, register with Pearson VUE, wait for the regulator to declare you eligible and issue the Authorization to Test, then book within its validity window. A pass on the NCLEX-RN still leaves the provincial licence decision with the regulator.
Step 6
Complete final provincial registration requirementsFor Ontario, complete the remaining CNO requirements shown for internationally educated RN applicants, including any required jurisprudence, police or background, evidence-of-practice, conduct, work-authorisation and fee items. CNO makes the registration decision.
Step 7
Obtain separate legal authorisation to workMost foreign nationals need a Canadian work permit, or another status that authorises work. An NNAS report, an ECA, an exam result, or provincial nursing registration gives you none of that by itself.
Evidence record
Official source ledger
Each entry records who published the source, what it covers, and when it was last checked.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Find out what type of work permit you need
- Scope
- Canada federal immigration
- Last verified
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Work permit: How to apply
- Scope
- Canada federal immigration
- Last verified