Provincial Nominee Programs

The Canadian Federal government has been gradually increasing the number of Invitations to Apply for permanent residency to candidates from Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). These programs have overtaken other popular economic immigration pathways to become the most widely used route to permanent residency in Canada.

Canadian provinces and territories individually manage Provincial Nominee Programs, each operating several PNP streams (except for Québec, which maintains its immigration programs). Altogether, there are more than 80 Provincial Nominee Programs, each with its eligibility criteria designed to meet the immigration goals of that province or territory.

By enabling provinces to tailor immigration programs specific to their demographic and economic needs, PNPs have proved to be exceptionally successful for both candidates and communities. If this is a route that interests you, read on to learn more about the program or reach out to one of our Canadian immigration consultants to find out how we can help.

Provincial Nominee Programs in Canada

There are significant variances in the eligibility criteria for each Provincial Nominee Program in Canada. One program may concentrate on candidates with work experience in a specific occupational field, while another might prioritize strong French language skills or international graduates from particular programs.

Although PNPs are provincially run, the Federal Government retains power over all decisions regarding permanent residency; therefore, immigration through a PNP is a two-part process. First, a candidate must successfully obtain a provincial nomination, and then they can apply for permanent residency through Federal channels.

Choosing the right PNP and navigating the multi-phase application procedure can often feel overwhelming and for that reason, immigration consultants are often hired to help pave the way.

Express Entry Aligned Provincial Nominee Programs

In addition to standard PNPs, many provinces have also developed ‘enhanced’ Provincial Nominee Programs which take advantage of the Federal Express Entry System.

Candidates applying for an Express Entry aligned PNP must meet the qualification criteria for both the chosen PNP and Express Entry; however, obtaining a PNP awards candidates 600 CRS points which all but guarantees they will receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residency.

Express Entry aligned PNPs also offer significantly faster processing speeds than standard PNP applications.

Applying For a Provincial Nominee Program

Find the Right Canadian Provincial Nominee Program 

With over 80 possible pathways, one of the biggest challenges of applying for a PNP is finding the right program. An immigration consultant can assist with program selection and navigating the application process.

Apply to the Chosen Provincial Nominee Program

All PNP applications are submitted directly to the selected province or territory. Once a decision is made, you will receive a notification.

Obtain a Provincial Nomination Certificate

If you are successfully nominated to apply for permanent residency by your province or territory of choice, you will receive a Certificate of Nomination.

Apply for Permanent Residency

Once you have received a Certificate of Nomination, you can apply for permanent residency through Federal channels. Applications from both Express Entry aligned PNPs and non-Express Entry PNPs can now be submitted electronically.

Incorrect or incomplete information on your application can significantly lengthen processing times and if you need assistance with a Provincial Nomination Program, we can help.