Provincial Nomination Program

All Canadian Provinces have their unique immigration programs that can either support a Federal Immigration application via ‘Express Entry’ or through a stand-alone PNP application. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) gives provinces and territories an active role in immigrant selection as it authorizes them to nominate for permanent residence individuals who will meet specific local labour market needs. Most PNPs include one or more employer-driven streams which allow workers to be nominated based on a permanent, full-time job offer, provided they meet provincial or territorial nomination requirements (these may include specific occupations, education, work experience, official language proficiency and age).

The provinces have various streams in their PNPs, but they tend to fall into following clusters:

• Skilled workers
• Semi-skilled workers
• Business/Investors
• International Graduates
• Family/community connections

PNPs are a key part of Canada’s immigration policy and are the fastest-growing economic Canadian immigration pathway. Over recent years, the federal government has gradually increased provinces’ annual allocations for their respective PNPs, displaying the increasing importance of these programs within the overall Canadian immigration landscape.

Overview of the PNP

The Provincial Nominee Program is a pathway for skilled workers, semi-skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and investors to obtain Canadian permanent residence through nomination by a specific province or territory.

Participating Provinces and Territories

Each Canadian province and territory, except for Quebec, has its own PNP with unique eligibility criteria and selection processes. Provinces and territories have the authority to nominate candidates based on their specific economic and labor market needs.

Expression of Interest (EOI) or Application Process

Depending on the province or territory, candidates may need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) or directly apply to their respective PNP stream. Qualified candidates are typically invited to apply for a provincial nomination.

Provincial Nomination

Once nominated by a province or territory, candidates receive additional points under the Express Entry system, significantly increasing their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Categories and Streams

PNPs offer various categories and streams tailored to the specific needs of each province or territory. These may include skilled worker streams, international graduate streams, entrepreneur streams, and others.

Processing Times

Processing times for PNP applications can vary depending on the province or territory and the volume of applications received. Generally, provinces and territories strive to process applications as efficiently as possible to meet their economic goals.