The Provincial Nominee Program is the fastest-growing economic Canadian immigration pathway.
Over recent years, the government at the federal level has gradually increased provinces’ annual allocations for their respective PNPs, showing the increasing importance of those programs within the general Canadian immigration landscape.
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNPs) operates as a key part of Canada’s immigration policy, with nearly 250,000 people expected to get Canadian permanent residence through the Provincial Nominee Program between 2021 and 2023.
Every year, the federal government of Canada increases the number of invitations for PNP candidates.
Each province, with the exception of Quebec, operates several PNP streams. These streams are designed by the provinces to assist and meet their unique immigration goals based on their specific economic and demographic needs; therefore, the eligibility criteria and application procedures vary.
However, PNPs are a well-liked option because they will be the fastest pathway to Canadian permanent residence.
All decisions regarding Canadian permanent residence must be approved at the national level by the federal government of Canada, so Canada’s provinces cannot approve permanent resident status on their own.
This is often why the provincial programs are considered “nominee” programs.
A successful applicant to a PNP is going to be nominated by the province to submit an application for permanent residence to the federal government of Canada.
This suggests that securing a provincial nomination is usually the first step during a two-part process. First, an interested immigrant is approved at the provincial level then they need to apply to the federal level.
Provinces and Territories
Each of Canada’s provinces and territories operates its own unique Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) designed to satisfy its economic and demographic needs; this is however with exception to the province of Quebec.
Program requirements and application procedures vary greatly between provinces, so interested applicants should consult each of the provinces so as to work out their eligibility.
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Edward Island
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
How Many PNPs are There in Canada?
Each of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada operates its own PNP program with several streams. Altogether, there are quite 80 different provincial nominee programs!
Express Entry Provincial Nominee Programs
In 2015, Canada introduced Express Entry as a system to manage applications for permanent residence through the same major economic immigration programs. Since then, many Canadian provinces and territories have developed ‘enhanced’ PNP streams that are aligned with Express Entry.
This suggests that some PNPs require that an applicant have an Express Entry profile in order to satisfy the PNP eligibility requirements.
If an applicant is nominated through a PNP which is aligned with Express Entry, the applicant can then claim 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, virtually guaranteeing they’re going to receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence within the next Express Entry draw.
Alternately, if an applicant receives a nomination through a PNP which isn’t aligned with Express Entry, then they need to submit a paper-based federal application for permanent residence as a provincial nominee.
Paper-based applications for permanent residence to the federal government can take significantly longer to process than electronic Express Entry applications.
Easiest Province to Immigrate to in Canada
Each PNP has requirements that are specific to the requirements of the province or territory. If you’ve got a connection to the province or territory through school or work experience, you’ll have a greater chance of receiving a provincial nomination.
Your skills and work experience also will play a task, because the labour market of each province and territory in Canada is different.
Am I Eligible for a Provincial Nominee Program?
Within the Provincial Nominee Programs, provinces and territories in Canada can nominate individuals and families who wish to settle in their province or territory-supported criteria set by the province.
Each province and territory in Canada are permitted to determine their own eligibility criteria for Provincial Nominee Programs.
For instance, one province might prioritize bringing in provincial nominees with experience within a certain occupation, while another province might prioritize bringing in provincial nominees with French-language experience. It solely depends on the requirements of every specific province and territory.
In order to become a provincial nominee, applicants must show that they meet the set criteria. This may show that the applicant has the talents, education, and work experience to be ready to make a positive contribution to the local economy and society.
The province or territory will consider the application supports the requirements of the precise province, also because of the applicant’s genuine intention to settle there.
Within each PNP, there are multiple sub-programs and categories, usually referred to as “streams”.
How do I Apply For a Provincial Nominee Program?
In Canada, all final immigration decisions are made by the government at the federal level, not the provincial government. For this reason, PNPs are a two-part process.
First, you’ve got to use the province for your provincial nomination. Then, if you’re approved by the province, you will need to submit a second application to the federal government for your Canadian permanent resident status.
Follow these step-by-step instructions to use for your PNP of choice:
- Find the PNP that’s right for you: Consult the list of provinces and territories to work out where you’d wish to immigrate. confirm to see the criteria for every PNP to work out your eligibility.
- Complete a Provincial Nominee Program application: Submit your application to the province or territory.
- Receive your Provincial Nomination certificate: If your application is complete and you’re eligible, you’ll receive a politician Provincial Nomination certificate, allowing you to still subsequent step.
- Submit your permanent residence application: Apply to the federal for Canadian permanent resident status. If you were nominated through an Express Entry-aligned PNP, you’ll apply through Express Entry. Otherwise, you want to submit a paper-based application.
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 referred to as “base” streams – while other PNP streams are aligned with Express Entry.
Understanding the Application Options
How you’ll apply depends on which Provincial Nominee Program stream you’re applying to. You would possibly have to apply using the paper-based process, or by the web process through Express Entry.
As a part of the method, you’ll need to pass a medical checkup and obtain a police check (certificate). Everyone must have these checks, regardless of where they decide to stay in Canada.
Paper-based process
In the paper-based process:
- You apply to the province or territory for nomination under a non-Express Entry stream.
- You would be required to satisfy the eligibility requirements of the province that nominates you.
- Once you’ve been nominated, you have to submit a paper application for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.
- You also have to pass a medical checkup and obtain a police check (certificate). Everyone must have these checks, regardless of where you propose to stay in Canada.
- Application processing times are longer than through Express Entry.
Express Entry process
In the online Express Entry process, there are 2 ways to apply:
- You contact the province or territory and apply for a nomination under an Express Entry stream.
- If the province or territory agrees to nominate you, you create an Express Entry profile (or update your profile if you have already got one) and show you’ve been nominated.
OR
- You create an Express Entry profile and show the provinces and territories you have an interest in.
- If the province or territory sends you a “notification of interest” to your account, you contact them directly.
- You apply to their Express Entry stream: If you’re nominated, the province will offer it to you ny the means of your account, and you accept it electronically.
In both cases:
- you have to meet the eligibility requirements of the province or territory. And,
- you have to submit an Express Entry profile and show that you simply meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry, including being eligible for one among the immigration programs it covers.
- If you’re invited to apply, you submit an electronic application to IRCC.
PNP Application Processing Time
Processing times for Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs largely depend upon whether or not the application has been submitted under an Express Entry-linked PNP stream, or one among the opposite streams not linked with Express Entry.
Applicants should expect a processing period for the initial application to the province, plus added processing period for the concluding application to the federal government for permanent residence.
Most provinces have brought their processing times right down to a couple of months, or maybe weeks. For Express Entry-linked applications, the federal time processing for most applications remains six months.
Non-Express Entry linked applications, also called paper-based applications, usually take between 1-2 years to process at the federal stage.
Am I Able to Qualify for a PNP if I Don’t Qualify for Express Entry?
Many PNPs require that applicants have a live profile within the Express Entry pool. However, there are exceptions to where some provinces issue nominations to applicants who don’t have Express Entry eligibility.
These programs vary in their eligibility requirements, so it’s best to consult a representative to debate your eligibility.
All PNPs leading to a nomination require that the applicant submits a permanent resident application to the Canadian federal government.
If the PNP isn’t aligned with Express Entry, the application for permanent residency to the federal government must be submitted within the paper-based format, instead of electronically.
