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Provincial Nominee Program

Over 45 Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow Canadian Provinces and Territories to nominate people who are wanting to move to Canada and are interested in settling in their province.

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • New Brunswick
  • Nova Scotia
  • Northwest Territories
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Yukon

This program is for applicants who:

  • have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory
  • want to live in that province, and
  • want to become permanent residents of Canada
  • Each province and territory has its own immigration “streams,” which are programmes that target specific populations and qualifications. Provinces and Territories may target students, business people, skilled workers, or semi-skilled workers in a programme stream.
  • Under the Provincial Nominee Program, Provinces and Territories have created a unique set of immigration streams to meet their needs in which they nominate qualifying candidates. All Provinces engage with the Federal Express Entry selection programme through at least 1 of their nomination streams under the PNP. These nomination streams are called “Express Entry Based Nominee Streams” where nominated candidates receive 600 points added to their Comprehensive Ranking System score.

How to Apply?

This depends on which Provincial Nominee Program stream you’re applying to. You might need to apply using the paper-based process, or by the online process through Express Entry. You will have to pass a Medical Exam and get a Police Check Certificate regardless of where they plan to live in Canada.

Paper-Based Process

  • Apply to the Province or Territory for nomination under a non-Express Entry stream.
  • Meet the eligibility requirements of the province that nominates you.
  • Once you have been nominated, you submit a paper application for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
  • You have to pass a Medical Exam and get a Police Check Certificate Everyone must have these checks, no matter where you plan to live 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:

1) 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 already have one) and show you have been nominated.

OR

2) You create an Express Entry profile and show the provinces and territories you’re interested in. If a province or territory sends you a “notification of interest” to your account, you contact them directly. You apply to their Express Entry stream and If you’re nominated, the province will offer it to you through your account, and you accept it electronically.

In Both Scenarios:

  • You must meet the eligibility requirements of the province or territory.
  • You must submit an Express Entry profile and show that you meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry, including being eligible for one of the immigration programs it covers.
  • If you are invited to apply, you submit an electronic application to IRCC.

*please note these are minimum requirements, additional requirements will vary with each category/program*