The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is known in French as Les programmes des candidats des provinces (PCP). It comprises immigration programmes operated by the Government of Canada in partnership with each province, each with its own requirements and distinct streams targeting specific groups such as entrepreneurs, students, high-skilled workers or semi-skilled workers.
Although provincial governments run their provincial nominee programmes according to their own objectives,Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)remains the authority responsible for assessing and making the final decision on permanent residence applications.
Contents
Overview
Under the Constitution of Canada, the federal government and each province and territory share jurisdiction over the country’s immigration system.
The Provincial Nominee Program allows Canada’s provinces and territories to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada and are interested in settling in a particular province. The only exceptions are the territory of Nunavut, which does not have such a programme, and the province of Quebec, which operates its own immigration pathway.
The main purpose of the Provincial Nominee Program is to spread the benefits of immigration across Canada. Before it was introduced in 1998, most immigrants to Canada settled in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. Since 1998, however, Canada has seen a wider distribution of immigration across the country, as the Prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) and the Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador) have been more successful in attracting immigrants, largely thanks to the PNP.
Every provincial nominee programme has at least one stream aligned with the federalExpress Entryimmigration selection system. Provincial nominations issued under these Express Entry-aligned streams are known as enhanced nominations. The advantage of enhanced streams is that Express Entry candidates receive an additional 600 points towards theirComprehensive Ranking System (CRS)score. In practice, they are guaranteed to receive anInvitation to Apply (ITA) theo Express Entry.
Another major advantage is that their permanent residence application may be processed more quickly by the federal government, usually within 06 (six) months. Another route to permanent residence through the PNP is the base stream. Here, the candidate applies directly to a sub-category and, once the provincial nomination is granted, the federal government processes the candidate’s permanent residence application.
Find out more about the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) on the Government websitehere.
Considering a residency programme? The Prosperous Living Investment team assesses your profile free of charge and advises on the pathway that fits your goals.
Enhanced Provincial Nomination
Most Canadian provinces and territories may nominate a set number of candidates through the Express Entry system to meet local and provincial labour needs. These parts of the PNP are known as “enhanced” nominations.
Candidates in the Express Entry pool who receive a nomination from a province are awarded an additional 600 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), out of a total of 1,200 points. Once these additional points are added to the candidate’s human capital and skill transferability scores, the candidate will be in a position to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw.
Depending on the province or territory, a candidate eligible for the Express Entry pool may enter the pool first and be nominated afterwards, or receive a nomination before creating an online Express Entry profile and entering the pool. In most cases, the candidate must have a profile in the pool before applying for an enhanced provincial nomination certificate.
Base Provincial Nomination
Provinces and territories may also issue nominations through their regular streams, known as “base” nominations, which sit outside the Express Entry system. Provincial and territorial nominations made outside the Express Entry system follow their own streams and processing standards. Candidates who receive a base nomination are not awarded the additional 600 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
Individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada but are not eligible for the Express Entry pool may still apply through a base stream, provided they meet the requirements of the specific programme. A base nomination can therefore open a route to Canadian immigration for individuals who do not qualify for Express Entry.
Candidates who receive a base nomination have their application processed outside the Express Entry system. The path from a base nomination to permanent residence involves two steps. First, the candidate must meet the criteria of a stream, submit an application and receive a nomination certificate. Once this certificate is issued, the candidate may apply to the federal government, which will carry out medical and security background checks before granting permanent resident status.
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)
Detailed article onAlberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), formerly known as the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program, comprises 8 streams divided into 2 main groups: for workers and for entrepreneurs. The province issues provincial nominations to foreign nationals who meet the specific criteria of the programme and demonstrate an intention to reside in the province.
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
Detailed article onBritish Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program comprises skilled immigration streams, Express Entry British Columbia and entrepreneur immigration streams. These streams are divided into categories targeting high-skilled workers, international students and professionals whose skills, experience and qualifications match the needs of British Columbia.
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
Detailed article onManitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program comprises streams designed to nominate skilled workers and their families who wish to work and settle in the province long term. The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program is currently being renewed.
New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
Detailed article onNew Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP).
The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program is the province’s immigration programme and includes streams for entrepreneurs, international students, high-skilled workers with employer support and high-skilled workers within the federal government’s Express Entry system.
Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)
Detailed article onNewfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP).
The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program accepts immigration applications from high-skilled workers, international students and entrepreneurs who meet the specific criteria of the programme, including holding a job or a job offer, intending to live in the province and being able to establish themselves economically in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
Detailed article onNova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP).
The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) is a nomination programme for high-skilled workers, international students, entrepreneurs and eligible professionals who wish to settle permanently in the province. The programme comprises several economic immigration streams, three of which are aligned with Canada’s Express Entry system.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
Detailed article onOntario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
Through the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), Ontario nominates foreign workers, international students, business owners and entrepreneurs whose skills, experience, education and intention are to settle permanently in the province as permanent residents.
Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
Detailed article onPrince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP).
The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program is the province’s economic immigration programme for high-skilled workers, international students and entrepreneurs who intend to live and work in Prince Edward Island and are able to establish themselves economically in the province.
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
Detailed article onSaskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is Saskatchewan’s own immigration programme for selecting and nominating eligible foreign nationals through various pathways, including principal categories such as International Skilled Worker: Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand.
Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
Detailed article onNorthwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP).
The Northwest Territories accepts economic immigration applications for settlement in Canada’s North under two main streams: an employer-driven stream and a business stream. One of these comprises three separate sub-streams, including one aligned with Express Entry for high-skilled workers.
Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
Detailed article onYukon Nominee Program (YNP).
Yukon’s official nominee programme helps eligible employers in Canada’s northern territory nominate internationally trained foreign workers and entrepreneurs for permanent residence in Canada.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about the PNP
Yes. Research by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Statistics Canada, the Canadian provinces and territories, and academics shows that provincial nominee immigrants achieve very strong labour market outcomes. They are generally able to integrate quickly into the Canadian labour market.
Research shows that PNP immigrants tend to earn high wages, have high labour force participation and employment rates, and record low unemployment rates.
The reasons behind the success of PNP immigrants include:
- Selection criteria typically take into account Canadian work experience, Canadian education and pre-arranged employment in Canada.
- They are nominated on the basis of meeting the local labour market needs of Canada’s provinces and territories.
- They have strong human capital, including solid language skills, education, work experience and connections in Canada.
The process depends on the stream the candidate applies to and whether that stream is aligned with Express Entry (streams aligned with Express Entry are commonly called enhanced PNPs). These streams use the online application system as standard. The greatest advantage of applying through an Express Entry-aligned stream is that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) may process the permanent residence application within 6 months, whereas streams not aligned with Express Entry generally have longer processing times.
At the permanent residence application stage, most candidates will need to complete medical and police background checks.
PNP process not aligned with Express Entry:
- Step 1:Determine whether the candidate is eligible to apply under a PNP.
- Step 2:Apply to a specific stream.
- Step 3:If approved by the province or territory, submit a paper permanent residence application to IRCC.
- Step 4:Complete the medical examination and obtain police clearance certificates.
- Step 5:Once approved by IRCC, the candidate may complete landing formalities as a permanent resident in Canada.
PNP process aligned with Express Entry (enhanced):
- Step 1:Determine whether the candidate is eligible to apply under a PNP.
- Step 2:Apply to a specific stream.
- Step 3:If a provincial nomination is received, create an Express Entry profile on the IRCC website and declare that the candidate has been nominated.
- Step 4:Once an Invitation to Apply (ITA) is received from IRCC, submit the permanent residence application to IRCC.
- Step 5:Complete the medical examination and obtain police clearance certificates.
- Step 6:Once approved by IRCC, the candidate may complete landing formalities as a permanent resident in Canada.
Alternatively, the candidate may submit an Express Entry profile to IRCC first and select the provinces or territories they are interested in. A province or territory may send the candidate a “Notification of Interest”. The candidate may then contact the province or territory to proceed with the provincial nomination process.
Once the provincial nomination certificate is issued, the candidate is awarded an additional 600 points under the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), making it all but certain that they will receive anInvitation to Apply (ITA)from IRCC. Once the ITA is received, the candidate submits the permanent residence application to IRCC, completes the medical and police background checks, and finally completes landing formalities as a permanent resident in Canada.
No. Many streams do not require the candidate to hold a job offer or to have Canadian work or study experience in order to qualify for a nomination.
The purpose of the PNP is to drive economic growth across Canada.
The Constitution of Canada provides that immigration is an area of shared federal and provincial jurisdiction, with the federal government holding the final say on immigration matters.
For most of Canada’s history, the federal government managed the immigration system with very little involvement from the provinces and territories.
Beginning in the 1960s, the French-speaking province of Quebec sought greater powers from the federal government to select immigrants in order to strengthen its French cultural identity. Today, Quebec has the greatest authority of any Canadian province or territory over the selection and settlement of immigrants.
In 1998, the federal government and the provinces agreed to launch the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The aim of the programme was to help smaller provinces attract immigrants, as most immigrants had until then settled mainly in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia. The smaller provinces wanted a distinct programme through which they could set their own selection criteria and attract economic immigrants matching their labour needs.
The PNP has since expanded and now operates in every Canadian province and territory except Quebec and Nunavut. The programme is highly regarded for its effectiveness and is seen as a key driver of economic growth across Canada, as PNP immigrants contribute through employment, investment, entrepreneurship and spending in the economy.
Yes. A candidate may submit an Express Entry profile and apply directly to a stream at the same time.
One of the advantages of being in the Express Entry pool is that provinces and territories may review the candidate’s profile and invite them to apply to their PNP.
If the candidate accepts the invitation, they submit a full application to the provincial or territorial PNP. Once approved, the candidate receives a provincial nomination certificate, which adds 600 points to their Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, all but guaranteeing that the candidate will receive an invitation from IRCC to apply for permanent residence under Express Entry.
Every candidate’s circumstances are different. Candidates should carry out their own research or contact an immigration lawyer to identify the PNP stream best suited to their situation. The PNP search tool on CanadaVisa can help, and candidates can also complete the free assessment on CanadaVisa to identify the PNP streams they may be eligible for.
Theo immigration plan, Canada aims to admit more than 80,000 immigrants through the PNP each year.
Yes, close family members may come to Canada with you and also obtain permanent residence.
Close family members include:
- A spouse or common-law partner
- Dependent children
- Dependent children of the spouse or common-law partner
- Dependent children of dependent children
A dependent child is:
- Aged 22 or over but who, before the age of 22, was largely dependent on financial support from their parents and is unable to support themselves financially because of a physical or mental health condition
- Under 22 and neither married nor in a common-law relationship
The Canadian economy is highly diverse, with employment opportunities in every province and territory. Candidates should research the opportunities that match their professional background and career goals. Each PNP stream is also designed to give skilled candidates the best chance of success in that particular province or territory.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website holds extensive information on the PNP. Find out more athere.
The Constitution of Canada grants citizens and permanent residents freedom of movement within the country. A candidate may move to another province once they have obtained permanent residence through a PNP. However, candidates should be honest about their intention to reside when submitting a PNP application. A false declaration can carry serious consequences. It is best for candidates to choose a PNP stream in the province or territory where they genuinely intend to settle long term.
Some PNP streams issue the candidate a work permit. Once certain criteria are met, the province or territory may issue a provincial nomination certificate allowing the candidate to apply for permanent residence. In this case, the candidate must reside in that province or territory for the duration of the work permit in order to qualify for the provincial nomination.
Each PNP stream sets its own language standards. Candidates must complete one of the officially designated language tests. Test results are valid for 2 years:
English:
French:
Accompanying you on your journey in residency investment
The Prosperous Living Investment team advises on pathways, assesses profiles and manages investments transparently for every residency, citizenship and international property objective.
Free profile assessmentWhere life gets prosperous