Canada Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

For persons who desire to immigrate to Canada and become permanent residents of a province or territory, there is a program called the Canada Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The provincial nominee program is unique to each province or territory in Canada and is designed to meet the requirements of the regional labour market.

The number of immigrants accepted for permanent residency through Canada PNPs has grown over time because of increased federal funding allocations. Between 2020 and 2023, Canada hopes to accept approximately 200,000 persons under the PNP.

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program was established by the New Brunswick government to support the expansion of the province’s economy and population. Candidates that qualify for a Provincial Nomination through the NBPNP include those in the Express Entry pool. This can increase their CRS score by 600 points, effectively guaranteeing them an ITA for Canada PR in the ensuing Express Entry draw.

In Canada, how many PNPs are there?

Each of Canada’s provinces and territories has a PNP with a variety of immigration streams. The main Canadian PNP programs are as follows:

The provincial nomination program for Alberta (AINP) gives nominations to international applicants in three streams.

✅ Alberta Opportunity Stream

✅ Alberta Express Entry Stream

✅ Self-employed Farmer Stream

The candidates must be eligible for the program and show that they want to settle in the province.

Read more about the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program

Program for Provincial Nominees in British Columbia (BC PNP):

The following streams are available for candidates to apply for nomination in the British Columbia PNP:

Skills Immigration
Express Entry BC
Entrepreneur Immigration

These streams are aimed towards professionals, foreign graduates, and skilled employees who meet the PNP are requirements for education, training, and experience.

Learn more about the British Columbia Provincial Immigrant Nominee Program

Program for Provincial Nominee in Manitoba (MPNP):

The Manitoba PNP issues an invitation to recent graduates, talented workers, and business people to immigrate to Canada permanently with their families. They must be able to settle down and establish a business economically in Manitoba, as well as intend to do so.

The following streams are part of the PNP:

✅ Skilled Workers in Manitoba

✅ Skilled Workers Overseas

✅ International Education

✅ Business Investor

Learn more about the Manitoba Provincial Immigrant Nominee Program

Program for Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP):

Program for Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP):

The Ontario PNP nominates foreign employees, foreign students, and entrepreneurs who have the required training, expertise, and intention to live permanently in the province. Under the Ontario economic immigration program, nominations are being accepted for the following streams:

Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream

Ph.D. Graduate Stream
French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
Human Capital Priorities Stream
Skilled Trades Stream
Entrepreneur Stream

Learn more about the Ontario Provincial Immigrant Nominee Program

Program for Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP):

SINP allows non-Canadians to get a PR visa, immigrate to Canada, and settle themselves permanently in the province. Under the PNP, candidates for immigration may choose from the following categories:

International Skilled Worker
Saskatchewan Experience
Entrepreneur and Farm

Learn more about the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program

Program for Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP):

The provincial government of Prince Edward Island specifically seeks for applicants who meet the eligibility requirements. The Provincial Nomination Certificate, which can be used to apply to the Federal Government of Canada for a PR visa, is given to the qualified applicants.

Under the PEI PNP, nominations are accepted for the following immigration categories:

The following immigration categories are open to nominations under the PEI PNP:

PEI PNP Express Entry
Labour Impact Category
Business Impact Category

Read more for more details about the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program

Program for the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP):

New Brunswickers are distinct from other Canadians in that they speak two languages. The percentage of native French speakers is about 30%. New Brunswick is home to a number of cities, including Fredericton, Moncton, and Saint John. NBPNP is the province’s Provincial Nominee Program, which offers nominations to immigration candidates who meet the required qualifications in terms of education and work experience.

The following streams are eligible for provincial nomination:

Skilled Workers with Employer Support
Express Entry Labour Market Stream
Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream
Entrepreneurial Stream

Learn more about the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)

Program for the New-found land and Labrador's Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP):

Newfoundland and Labrador, an island connected to the mainland, makes up the province. The province has recently experienced tremendous economic growth thanks to its abundant natural resources and energy. The PNP allows foreign nationals seeking immigration to ask the provincial government for a nomination.

NLPNP nominations are acceptable under the following immigration categories:

Express Entry Skilled Worker
Skilled Worker
International Graduate

Program for the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP):

The Provincial Nominee Program in Nova Scotia nominates skilled people, entrepreneurs, international graduates, and skilled workers for permanent residence in the province.

Through NSNP, applications are accepted for the following immigration streams:

Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities
Labour Market Priorities for Physicians
Physician
Entrepreneur
International Graduate Entrepreneur
Skilled Worker
Occupations in Demand
Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry
Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry

Learn more about the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)

Am I eligible for Canada PNP Program?

Learn more about the Provincial Nominee Program in New Brunswick (NBPNP)

PNPs are often designed to draw people who can easily contribute to the economy and have a high probability of remaining in that province because they are a component of an economic immigration plan. As a result, several PNPs give priority to immigrants with work history in sectors where there is a demand in the province. Some PNPs give preference to immigrants who have connections to the province, such as family members, as this increases the possibility that they will remain.

Young applicants who have good language abilities, a high level of education, and skilled work experience are more likely to succeed, such as is the case with most economic immigration programs.

Each PNP has different “immigration” streams that are each designed to target immigrants with specific skill sets.

How should a Provincial Nominee Program application be submitted?

The following are the main ways to get Canada’s provincial nomination program:

Step 1: Check your PNP eligibility – Check over the list of PNPs listed above to see which PNPs you eligible for.

Step 2: Submit your application – Following your selection of the PNP, you must submit your request for a nomination by your province.

Step 3: Get your provincial nomination certificate – If the provincial authority finds that your application qualified for permanent residency, the province will nominate you.

Step 4: Submit your PR Visa Application – You must submit your Canada PR Visa application to IRCC along with your provincial nomination. If your PNP is acceptable to the express admission program, you can apply online; otherwise, you must submit a paper application.

Paper-based application for the Canada PNP

If your PNP is not online, you must apply for the express entry program through a paper-based method.

Once you have obtained a provincial nomination, you can submit your paper application for Canadian permanent residency to IRCC along with a PCC and a medical examination certificate.

When using express entry programs, paper-based processes take a lot longer than online processes. While a permanent residence application submitted through Express Entry usually takes 6 months to process, a paper application generally takes 18 months.

Applying through the Express Entry program for the Canada PNP

On the Express Entry website, create a profile and submit it. You must mention in your profile that you were nominated by a Canadian province or territory.

Following the acceptance of your provincial nomination, you’re CRS score will rise by 600 points and you will be added to the Express Entry pool. With these many more points, you are practically guaranteed to receive an ITA for a Canada PR visa.

How long does the PNP processing procedure take?

The processing time for your PNP application will vary depending on whether you used express entry-linked or non-express entry-linked streams to submit your application.

The overall processing time for the Canada PNP includes the initial application to the province and further processing for the IRCC’s PR Visa application.

Nowadays, most provinces complete document processing in a couple of months or even weeks. For streams linked to Express Entry, the processing time is between 6 and 8 months. For non-Express Entry applications (paper-based), the typical processing time at the federal level is one to two years.