Effective Nov. 1, 2025, CNO has a new approach to closing applications which meets our legislative requirements under the Nursing Act, 1991. Based on this legislation, applicants must meet all requirements to register, including paying the registration fee(s), within two years of submitting their application and their application fee.

If you submitted your application and fee on or before Oct. 31, 2024, more than one year ago, you have only one (1) year left to meet all your registration requirements. Your application will be closed on Nov. 1, 2026, if you don’t meet all the requirements.

If you submitted your application and fee between Nov. 1, 2024, and Oct. 31, 2025, less than one year ago, you have two (2) years left to meet all your registration requirements. Your application will be closed on Nov. 1, 2027, if you don’t meet all the requirements.

After your application is closed, you can reapply by submitting a new application and application fee. You may also be required to submit new supporting documents, though we may use the information we have on record, if available, for your new application.

It depends on when you submitted your application and application fee.

If you submitted your application and fee on or before Oct. 31, 2024, more than one year ago, you have only one (1) year left to meet all your registration requirements. Your application will be closed on Nov. 1, 2026.

If you submitted your application and fee between Nov. 1, 2024, and Oct. 31, 2025, less than one year ago, you have two (2) years left to meet all your registration requirements. Your application will be closed on Nov. 1, 2027. 

You have two different closure deadlines as you applied on different dates. If you submitted one of your applications and fee on or before Oct. 31, 2024, more than one year ago, you have only one (1) year left to meet all your registration requirements for that application. Your application will be closed on Nov. 1, 2026.

If you submitted your other application and fee between Nov. 1, 2024, and Oct. 31, 2025, less than one year ago, you have two (2) years left to meet all your registration requirements. Your application will be closed on Nov. 1, 2027.

Yes, applicants must meet all registration requirements, including paying the required registration fee(s), within two years of the date CNO notifies them of receiving both their application and their application fee. If you don’t, your application will be closed. However, you can reapply by submitting a new application and application fee. We will use any information we have on record, if available, for your new application. You may also be required to submit new supporting documents, if needed.

No, you cannot request an extension to keep your application open past the application closure deadline. Legislation requires you to meet all your requirements within two years.  

Yes, you will receive reminders about your closure date in the applicant portal.

If you are registered in the Temporary Class in a specific category when your General Class application in the same category comes up for closure, your application will remain open until your Temporary Class registration expires. If you have not met all the requirements for registration in the General Class at that time, your General Class application will be closed. 

Your application will be closed, and you will need to reapply. If you reapply immediately and none of your requirements have expired, then you will be able to continue with SPEP.

If you have met all the other requirements except the authorization to work, you can request to be registered with a condition on your certificate. The condition indicates that you are registered in Ontario but not authorized to practice nursing until you provide proof of your immigration authorization. You will not be allowed to work or volunteer as a nurse in Ontario until we receive your authorization to work in Canada. There will be a notation on CNO’s public register, Find A Nurse, that you are not entitled to practice. Learn more.      

No, we will not reopen your application if you have not met all the requirements for registration, including paying the required registration fee(s). You must open a new application. 

You do not need to apply again to one of the approved ECA service providers if you have already done so as part of your application to CNO. However, you must apply to an approved ECA if you have new education documents that must be reviewed once you reapply to CNO. If there are no changes to the documents required for your application at the time you reapply, we may use any information we have on record, if available, for your new application. We will advise you if updated information is needed.

Please note: if you are an internationally educated nurse who was previously registered elsewhere in Canada when you originally applied to CNO and your application was closed, you will have to apply to one of the approved ECA service providers if you are no longer registered in another Canadian jurisdiction when you reapply to CNO. Learn more