To meet the authorization to work requirement, you must provide proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency, or authorization to practice nursing in Ontario.

How to meet the requirement

You must submit one of the following types of documents with your application:

  • Canadian citizens: proof of citizenship

  • Permanent residents: proof of permanent residency

  • Other authorization to practice in Ontario: work or study permit

You can provide proof by including a copy (not originals) of one of the following documents with your application:

Citizenship:

  • your Canadian birth certificate issued by a provincial or territorial government (either the long or short form/card)
  • your Canadian Statement of Live Birth, including the emblem at the top, the seal and the registrar's signature at the bottom
  • page 2 of your valid* Canadian passport, which includes the name of the document, your picture, full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, and issuance and expiry dates
  • the front and back of your valid* Canadian certificate of citizenship
  • both sides of your Métis citizenship document or certificate of Indian Status (Indigenous) issued by a Canadian provincial or federal government

Permanent residency:

  • the front of your valid* permanent resident card, which includes the name of the document and expiry date, as well as your full name, identification number, date of birth, and picture. Note: if your full name does not appear on the front of the card, you must also provide a copy of the back of the card or a copy of another Canadian immigration document that shows your full name
  • your valid* confirmation of permanent residence document or verification of status document

Work or study permit:

  • a valid* work or study permit that authorizes you to practice nursing in Ontario. This includes a work permit or a study permit that allows you to work without restrictions anywhere in Canada.

    Note: If your permit does not allow you to work in Health Service Occupations or limits you to a specific type of employment, such as Live-In Caregiver, or to working in a specific place outside Ontario, such as Alberta, this document does not permit you to practice nursing in Ontario

*A document is valid if it has not yet expired at the time it is sent to CNO.

Note: If the name on the document you submit to CNO is different from the name on your CNO application, please submit a copy of a legal document (such as a marriage certificate or divorce decree) that validates your name change.

Applicants without proof of citizenship, permanent residency or authorization to practice nursing in Ontario, who meet all other requirements for registration

If you can't provide a copy of any of these documents, then choose one of these options:

  1. Do nothing: CNO will leave your application open until you provide the required proof of immigration or authorization to practice nursing in Ontario. If your application has been open for two years and you have not met this requirement, we will close your application and you will have to submit a new application, and pay fees, to re-apply.
  2. Register with terms, conditions and limitations (conditions): If you cannot provide the required proof of immigration or authorization to practice nursing in Ontario, you can agree to register with a condition on your certificate of registration that you will not be permitted to practice nursing in Ontario until you provide this proof.

    Registering with this condition means you are registered as a nurse and will be issued your certificate of registration, but you will not be able to work or volunteer as a nurse in Ontario. However, you will have time to obtain the necessary document without needing to re-apply. If you register with this condition, the information will be posted on CNO’s public register, Find a Nurse.

What happens if I choose to be registered with terms, conditions and limitations?

CNO will send you the Authorization to Practice — Consent and Waiver form, which you must complete, sign and submit to CNO. You will agree to:

  1. be issued a certificate of registration in the General Class as an RN or RPN, or in the Extended Class as an NP, subject to conditions outlined in the form and
  2. waive your rights of review and appeal by CNO’s Registration Committee or the Health Professions Appeal and Review Board.

Once CNO receives the signed Consent and Waiver form, you will become eligible for registration if you continue to meet all the other requirements for registration. We will notify you about how to proceed with your registration and pay your fees.

Once you are registered, information about your registration status will be posted on Find a Nurse, including the condition that you are not entitled to practice nursing in Ontario until you have provided proof of immigration or authorization to practice nursing in Ontario.

How do I have the terms, conditions and limitations removed?

Once you submit copies of your proof of immigration or authorization to practice nursing in Ontario to CNO, we will remove the conditions from your certificate of registration. Find a Nurse will be updated to show that you are entitled to practice nursing. Once this happens, you can begin to work or volunteer as a nurse in Ontario.