Provincial Nominee Program
80,000 new permanent residents are welcomed to Canada each year through this pathway. Each stream is designed to target candidates who meet the specific labour market and economic needs of the province.
What is the Provincial Nominee Program?
Each Canadian province, except Nunavut and Quebec, have provincial immigration streams which may assist a foreign national in obtaining permanent residence in Canada. These streams may target students, business people, skilled workers, or semi-skilled workers, which would contribute to the economy of a specific province.
There are currently more than 80 provincial immigration streams available in 11 provinces and territories. Provinces and territories that operate a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) can nominate candidates through the Express Entry pool or candidates can apply directly to the province if they meet the eligibility requirements to do so through the paper-based process.
Provincial Nominee Program Through Express Entry
Provinces and territories that operate a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) can nominate candidates through the Express Entry pool. Candidates who have a nomination receive an additional 600 points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which is usually sufficient to trigger an invitation to apply (ITA) at the next round of invitations.
Provinces will use the portal to search for candidates already in the express entry pool. They can search using a combination of different fields such as language levels, education, and work experience. A candidate in the express entry pool must select one, multiple, or all provinces when identifying provinces they are interested in residing in. Provinces can only view candidates who indicate an interest in their jurisdiction.
Provinces interested in a particular candidate will indicate their interest through the express entry portal or the provincial portal (depending on the program). Candidates will receive a Notification of Interest in their online account that advises them that a province would like to consider them for nomination. If a candidate wishes to be nominated by that province they must apply directly with the provincial government, outside of the express entry environment.
If the nomination application is approved, the candidate will be informed and given 30 days to accept or reject the nomination. You can only have one pending nomination and only accept one nomination.
If a province nominates you through an Express Entry Stream there are two ways to apply:
Option One
Create an Express Entry profile and select which provinces you are interested in
A province may send you a “notification of interest” to your Express Entry profile; you may then apply for your nomination directly with the province
If your nomination application is approved, the province will send a notification to your Express Entry profile to accept electronically. On acceptance, you will receive an additional 600 points.
If you are invited to apply, you will submit an electronic permanent residence application through your Express Entry portal.
Option Two
Apply to the province for nomination under an Express Entry stream
If the province agrees to nominate you, create an Express Entry profile or update a current profile to show you have been nominated. You will receive an additional 600 points.
If you are invited to apply, you will submit an electronic permanent residence application through your Express Entry portal.
Received a Notification of Interest from a Canadian Province?
Get in touch with a licensed immigration consultant to discuss your application to the Provincial Nominee Program!
Provincial Nominee Program Through Paper-Based Application
If you have not been nominated through an Express Entry Stream you may be eligible to apply through the paper-based application process. You must apply in two stages:
Stage One
You must apply to the province for a nomination under a non-Express Entry Stream. You must meet the eligibility requirements for the province that nominates you and prove you really plan to live in that province.
Stage Two
After the province nominates you, you must then submit a paper-based application for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The processing times under the paper-based streams vary across different provinces but are often significantly higher than applications made under the express entry-based programs.
Provincial Nominee Programs
Ontario
Being a popular destination among new immigrants, Ontario’s PNP offers a wide range of available options supporting foreign workers with job offers and those without. To qualify for a nomination, candidates must be eligible through the Employer Job Offer category, Human Capital Category (Express entry and international graduates) or the Business category.
Alberta
Alberta’s PNP program nominates candidates that have the skills to fill labour shortages in the province or plan to buy or start a business. AINP offers two streams for foreign workers living and working in Alberta, two streams for entrepreneurs as well as the Alberta Express Entry Stream.
British Columbia
BC PNP offers three main pathways: Skills Immigration, Express Entry BC and Entrepreneur Immigration. Pathways contain subcategories that target skill level, job or student status of candidates wishing to permanently reside in British Columbia.
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia’s provincial nominee program has various immigration streams targeting skilled workers, physicians, entrepreneurs, and graduates. It also offers three Express Entry-based programs. one of which does not require a job offer.
Prince Edward Island
PEI PNP offers six categories to support permanent residence for skilled workers, international graduates and entrepreneurs with an interest in living and working in PEI. Most candidates will require a job offer from a PEI employer, except for the express entry aligned program.
Saskatchewan
SINP is known most for its popular Job offer exempt ISW: Occupations in-demand stream and International Skilled Worker (ISW): Express Entry streams; Saskatchewan also has various other streams targeting health professionals, hospitality workers, long haul truck drivers, farmers and entrepreneurs.
Manitoba
Manitoba’s PNP offers three main streams: Skilled Worker Stream, targeting both workers in Canada and overseas, International Education Stream (IES) for students graduating in Manitoba, and the Business Investor Stream (BIS), which will replace the current PNP- business immigration category.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick’s PNP offers five streams, three of which are currently active. Each stream targets candidates with skilled work experience and graduates from the province who can help New Brunswick employers meet labour market demands.
Newfoundland and Labrador
The NLPNP is designed to help skilled immigrants and their families with the ability to economically establish and intent to reside in the province. The three main streams available are Express Entry, Skilled Worker and International Graduate.
Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)
Northwest Territories
Tailored to attract skilled, entry-level and semi-skilled workers, the NTNP only offers two main streams: The Employer-Driven Stream, which includes an Express Entry aligned program, and Business Stream. Candidates must have a job offer or be ready to invest in a business to be eligible to immigrate to this province.
Yukon
The YNP is small but mighty nominating candidates for permanent residency through their skilled worker or business stream. Skilled workers interested in relocating to Yukon will require a job offer from an employer in Yukon or be looking to establish or purchase an existing business in the territory.