The answer
NNAS issues an Advisory Report after every required document has been received. The official NNAS evaluation window is up to 12 weeks from the day the file is "complete".
Document arrival is the bottleneck for most African applicants: - Nursing school transcripts + course-by-course syllabus: 4 – 8 weeks typical - Nursing council good-standing: 2 – 4 weeks - Past employer references: 2 – 6 weeks per employer - Language test (IELTS / CELBAN / OET): 2 – 4 weeks turnaround after sitting
So a realistic full-cycle plan is 16 – 26 weeks (4 – 6 months). Starting NNAS the moment you decide on Canada — even before language is booked — is the single biggest timeline saver.
Once NNAS issues the Advisory Report, the province (CNO Ontario, CRPNBC BC, etc.) takes its own review window — often another 1 – 6 months.
If that was confusing, here it is in plain English
Plan 4 – 6 months for NNAS, then more for the province. Start the moment you decide on Canada.
Open the NNAS guide for the province + category checklist.
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