Discover Your Path to Canada Through Provincial Nominee Programs


Your Gateway to Canadian Permanent Residency — Province by Province

Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows provinces and territories to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada and settle in a specific province. If you have the skills, education, and work experience needed by a particular province, this can be your fast-track route to Canadian Permanent Residency (PR).

How Does the Provincial Nominee Program Work?

The PNP allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate immigrants for permanent residency under Express Entry or non-Express Entry streams.

Express Entry-linked PNP:

Eligibility: If a candidate is eligible for one of the three federal economic immigration programs (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Canadian Experience Class) and receives a provincial nomination, they can gain an additional 600 CRS points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Process: After obtaining a nomination, candidates enter the Express Entry pool and are issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency during the next Express Entry draw.

Non-Express Entry PNP:

  • Eligibility:Some provinces and territories have PNP streams that do not require Express Entry. If nominated through one of these streams, applicants will need to apply directly to the province and then for permanent residence through the federal immigration process.
  • Process:After receiving a provincial nomination, candidates can apply for permanent residency directly to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Types of Provincial Nominee Program Streams

Each province and territory has different streams under the PNP, and these may focus on specific immigration needs, such as skilled workers, entrepreneurs, students, or semi-skilled workers. Below are some common types of streams:

  1. Skilled Worker Streams:Designed for candidates with skilled work experience who can fill gaps in the provincial labor market.
  2. International Graduate Streams: These are for international students who have graduated from a Canadian post-secondary institution and want to remain in the province to work and settle.
  3. Business or Entrepreneur Streams: These are for individuals who want to invest in or start a business in the province and are capable of creating jobs or contributing to the local economy.
  4. Semi-Skilled Worker Streams: For workers in certain industries, such as agriculture, hospitality, or construction, where there is a need for labor but the candidates may not necessarily have a high level of education.
  5. Express Entry-aligned Streams:These streams allow individuals who meet the eligibility criteria for Express Entry programs to apply for provincial nomination, thereby increasing their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

How to Apply for the Provincial Nominee Program

  1. Check Provincial Requirements: Review the eligibility criteria and available streams for the province or territory you are interested in. Each province’s immigration website will have detailed information about their PNP streams and application process.
  2. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI): Many provinces require candidates to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to express their interest in being nominated. An EOI is a way for provinces to evaluate whether an applicant meets the specific requirements for nomination.
  3. Wait for an Invitation: If your EOI is successful, you may receive an invitation to apply for provincial nomination.
  4. Apply for Provincial Nomination: After receiving an invitation, you can submit a complete application to the province, providing all necessary documents (e.g. proof of work experience, education, language proficiency, etc.).
  5. Provincial Nomination: If the province nominates you, you will receive a Provincial Nomination Certificate, which allows you to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
  6. Apply for Permanent Residency: After receiving a nomination, you can apply for permanent residency through the IRCC, either through the Express Entry system (if nominated through an Express Entry-linked stream) or the non-Express Entry pathway.

Benefits of the Provincial Nominee Program

  1. Faster Processing: Provincial nomination often leads to faster processing of your application for permanent residence.
  2. Additional CRS Points: If nominated under an Express Entry-aligned stream, you receive an additional 600 points towards your CRS score, virtually guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the next Express Entry draw.
  3. Provincial Support: Once nominated, you have the backing of the provincial government, which may provide additional support and guidance for settling in the province.
  4. Targeted Immigration: The PNP targets specific skills, education, and experience needed in the province, allowing provinces to better address labor shortages and economic needs.

Provincial Nominee Program Draws and Results

Each province and territory may hold its own PNP draws, where they select candidates from the pool of applicants and issue invitations to apply for provincial nominations. PNP draws may happen at different times and frequencies depending on the province’s labor needs. Once nominated, the applicant can apply for permanent residency through Express Entry (if linked) or through a direct application to IRCC.