In a major move to address health-care staffing shortages, the Government of New Brunswick has officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Indonesia to recruit trained nurses and personal support workers. This groundbreaking partnership marks the first formal health-care recruitment agreement between Indonesia and a Canadian province paving the way for skilled international professionals to contribute to New Brunswick’s growing health system.

Health Minister John Dornan described the agreement as a vital step in ensuring the province’s hospitals and long-term care facilities remain well-staffed. “This mutually beneficial partnership opens a new pathway for skilled health-care professionals to serve New Brunswickers today and in the years ahead,” said Dornan.

What the MOU Means for New Brunswick and Indonesia

The New Brunswick–Indonesia MOU provides a structured framework for the recruitment and deployment of Indonesian health-care workers, including nurses and personal support workers (PSWs).

The province will offer support in key areas such as:

• Foreign qualification recognition – helping candidates transition smoothly into Canadian licensing systems.
• Immigration assistance – guiding workers through visa and relocation processes.
• Employment facilitation – connecting candidates with employers across the province’s health-care network.

For Indonesia, the partnership represents a valuable opportunity for professionals to gain high-quality international experience, while helping Canada meet urgent labour demands.

Dwi Setiawan Susanto, Director General for Promotion and Utilization of Overseas Job Opportunities at Indonesia’s Ministry of Migrant Workers Protection, praised New Brunswick’s transparency and collaboration, adding, “Our health-care workers will bring their skills to support New Brunswick’s system while gaining professional growth in a safe and welcoming environment.”

Background: A Growing Need for Health-Care Talent

Across Canada, provinces are facing acute shortages of trained health professionals. New Brunswick has taken proactive steps by forming international recruitment partnerships and creating streamlined licensing pathways for foreign-trained nurses. Since 2019, the province has successfully recruited over 1,300 internationally educated nurses, including:

• Registered Nurses (RNs)
• Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs)
• Personal Support Workers (PSWs)

Through such programs, nurses trained in 14 countries now benefit from faster credential recognition and employment onboarding, allowing them to integrate quickly into the workforce.

The New Brunswick–Indonesia partnership builds on this foundation, adding another reliable source of skilled professionals for the province’s health-care system.

The First Recruitment Mission to Indonesia

The Department of Health and its partners carried out their first recruitment mission to Indonesia in October 2024, identifying promising candidates for employment across hospitals, nursing homes, and community health facilities. With the MOU now signed, employers in New Brunswick can formally offer positions to the selected professionals. This next phase ensures that recruitment moves from planning to real-world placements, accelerating workforce reinforcement across the province.

How the MOU Supports Canada’s Broader Health Strategy

This partnership aligns with Canada’s wider health-care recruitment efforts, which focus on bringing internationally educated professionals into the system faster. It also supports New Brunswick’s Population Growth Strategy, aimed at attracting skilled workers who can both fill critical positions and settle permanently in the province.

For candidates, this agreement opens a structured pathway to long-term career and immigration opportunities combining employment, training, and permanent residence prospects under Canada’s immigration framework.

How to Apply as a Health-Care Professional in New Brunswick

Internationally trained nurses, PSWs, and other health-care professionals can explore job openings and recruitment updates through official New Brunswick government portals and ImmigCanada’s expert guidance.

Steps to apply:

1. Review eligibility and professional credentials.
2. Apply through New Brunswick’s official health recruitment website.
3. Prepare documentation for immigration and licensing support.
4. Attend recruitment sessions or interviews coordinated through the provincial team.

This streamlined process ensures applicants receive clear guidance from recruitment to settlement.

A Milestone for Global Health-Care Collaboration

The New Brunswick–Indonesia MOU represents a historic collaboration that benefits both regions empowering Indonesian professionals to gain international exposure while strengthening New Brunswick’s health-care system. As the province continues to innovate in recruitment and training, this partnership sets a precedent for sustainable and inclusive workforce development in Canada’s health sector.

At ImmigCanada, we support internationally educated nurses and health-care workers in finding the right immigration and employment pathways in Canada. If you’re a health-care professional seeking to build your career in New Brunswick, our team can guide you through every step from eligibility and licensing to permanent residence.