Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate those candidates who want to immigrate to Canada.

Provincial Nominee Programs are the fastest-growing pathway of Canadian Immigration. Over recent years, The Canadian Federal Government is showing the importance of these programs with the gradually increasing provinces’ annual allocations for their respective Provincial Nomination Programs. Provincial Nominee Program is becoming a major key part of Canada’s Immigration policy. Under this program, there are expected that more than 200,000 people may able to obtain Canadian permanent residence between 2019 and 2021.

The Provincial Nominee Program is for those workers who want to become a permanent resident of Canada and having the skills, education and work experience which contributes to the economy of a specific province or territory. Also, the candidate wishes to live in a particular province for which they are applying for PNP. Each province and territory has its own streams and requirements. Provincial nominations are issued under the Express Entry aligned streams which are known as Enhanced Nominations. If an Express Entry candidate is nominated in any province, he/she will be awarded 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points in Express Entry.

How do I apply for a Provincial Nominee Program?

In Canada, the Federal government made all the final immigration decisions not by the provincial government due to which the PNP becomes the two-part process. Firstly, the candidate has to apply for the provincial nomination to the selected province. If the candidate is nominated by the provincial government, he/she has to submit their second application with their nomination approval to the Federal government for their Canadian permanent resident status.

To apply for PNP of choice, follow these steps:

1. Find your eligibility: With more than 80 provincial immigration streams, determine your eligibility for the Canadian immigration pathway that best suits you. Find out your eligibility using the Free Assessment Form.
2. Complete a Provincial Nominee Program application: After finding the suitable Canadian immigration pathway, submit your application to that eligible province or territory.
3. Submit your permanent residence application: After getting nominated by the province or territory you need to apply to the Federal Government of Canada for the Canadian Permanent Status. The submission of application depends on the Provincial Nominee Program you are applied to. If you were nominated through an Express Entry-aligned PNP, you can apply through Express Entry. Otherwise, you must submit a paper-based application.
   • Express Entry Process: If you are applying through the Express entry you must meet the eligibility requirements of province and territory. The candidate must submit their online Express Entry profile and meet the minimum requirement of Express entry including one of the Federal Economic Immigration Program which includes FSW, FST, CEC. If the candidate received an Invitation To Apply, you must submit an application to IRCC. There are two ways to apply for online Express Entry which are:
     • • Contact the province or territory for the Provincial Nomination under the express entry stream. If they nominate you in their province or territory, create your online express entry profile (or update the existing profile if you have one) and show you have been nominated. or,
       • Create your online Express Entry profile and show the provinces and territories you are interested in. If they send you a notification of interest you can contact them directly to their Express Entry stream. If they nominate you, you will receive an offer directly in your express entry account and you can accept it electronically.

Some PNP streams operate on a first-come, first-served basis, while other PNP streams require potential applicants to first register an Expression of Interest. Further, some PNP streams operate outside the federal Express Entry immigration system – these are known as “base” streams – while other PNP streams are aligned with Express Entry.

Provincial Nominee Programs available in Canada

Find the Provincial Nominee Programs offered by the provinces and territories of Canada except Quebec does not have a Provincial Nominee Program as it operates its own Quebec Skilled Worker’s Program.

• Alberta Immigration Nominee Program (AINP): Alberta is one of Canada’s most popular destinations for new immigrants. The Alberta’s provincial immigration offers PNP stream for both Express Entry candidates and non-Express Entry candidates. Their program welcomes workers, graduates, and entrepreneurs to their province under the Opportunity Stream, the Alberta Express Entry Stream, and the Self-Employed Farmer Stream. The province government issues provincial nominations to the foreign individuals who meet their program-specific requirements and demonstrate an intention to live in their province. Find out more about the eligibility requirements and process at Alberta Immigration Nominee Program (AINP).
• British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP): British Columbia offers wide-ranging streams and categories for workers, graduates, and entrepreneurs in its Provincial Nominee Program under the Skills Immigration, Express Entry BC and Entrepreneur Immigration Streams which are aligned with Canada’s federal Express Entry immigration selection system. Find out more about the eligibility requirements and process at the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).
• Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP): Manitoba’s provincial nomination program is dedicated to providing faster pathways to international students graduating in Manitoba, business immigrants, skilled workers and their families who wish to work and live in Manitoba permanently. Find out more about the eligibility requirements and process at the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).
• New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP): The NBPNP includes a popular Express Entry-linked stream of New Brunswick’s provincial immigration program targeting international graduates, skilled workers with a job offer and foreign entrepreneurs in the federal government’s Express Entry selection system. Find out more about the eligibility requirements and process at the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP).
• Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP): The NLPNP of Newfoundland and Labrador accepts immigration applications from skilled workers, international graduates and entrepreneurs who meet program-specific requirements such as jor or job offer, intent to reside in the province, and the ability to become economically established in the province. Find out more about the eligibility requirements and process at the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP).
• Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP): Nova Scotia is rapidly becoming a popular destination for newcomers. The NSNP is Nova Scotia’s nomination programs with many Express Entry-aligned streams and room to welcome eligible skilled workers, international graduates, entrepreneurs and professionals looking to settle permanently in the province. Find out more about the eligibility requirements and process at the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP).
• Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP): Ontario has one of the most varied and dynamic of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs. Ontario nominates Skilled workers, graduates, and business owners who have skills, experience and intent to settle in Ontario as permanent residents. Find out more about the eligibility requirements and process at Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
• Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP): The PEI PNP is the island province’s economic immigration program welcoming applications from Express Entry candidates, skilled workers, graduates, and business investors who demonstrate the intent to reside and work in the province and show the ability to become economically established. Find out more about the eligibility requirements and process at Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP).
• Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP): The SINP is Saskatchewan’s dedicated immigration program, welcoming eligible Express Entry candidates and foreign nationals workers in In-Demand Occupations through various immigration pathways including International Skilled Worker. Find out more about the eligibility requirements and process at the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).
• Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP): The Northwest Territories (NWT) is the name given to the one single expansive territory situated between the Yukon and Nunavut. The Northwest Territories accepts economic immigration applications to settle in Northern Canada under two main streams — the Employer Driven and Business— one of which has three distinct streams, including an Express Entry-aligned stream for skilled workers. Find out more about the eligibility requirements and process at the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP).
• Yukon Nominee Program (YNP): Yukon is looking for Express Entry candidates and other workers, as well as business people, to contribute to life in the territory. Find out more about the eligibility requirements and process at the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP).