PNPs for Canada
Canada’s provincial nominee programs (PNPs) offer a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for individuals who are interested in immigrating to a specific Canadian province or territory.
Each Canadian province and territory operates its own PNP designed to meet its specific economic and demographic needs.
What are Provincial Nominee Programs?
Each province, apart from Quebec and Nunavut, operates several PNP streams. These streams are designed by the provinces to help meet their unique immigration goals, so the eligibility criteria and application procedures vary. However, PNPs are a popular option because they can be the easiest pathway to Canadian permanent residence.
All decisions regarding Canadian permanent residence must be approved at the national level by the federal government, so Canada’s provinces cannot approve permanent resident status on their own. This is why the provincial programs are considered “nominee” programs.
A successful applicant to a PNP will be nominated by the province to apply to the federal government for permanent residence. This means that immigrating to Canada through a PNP is always step one in a two-part process. First, an interested immigrant is approved at the provincial level and then they must apply to the federal level.
This program is for workers who
- have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific province
- want to live in that province and
- want to become permanent residents of Canada
Each province and territory has its own “streams” (immigration programs that target certain groups) and requirements. For example, in a program stream, provinces and territories may target
- students
- business people
- skilled workers
- semi-skilled workers
Understand the application options
How you will apply depends on which Provincial Nominee Program stream you’re applying to. You might need to apply using the non-Express Entry process, or through Express Entry.
As part of the process, you will have to pass a medical exam and get a police check (certificate). Everyone must have these checks, no matter where they plan to live in Canada.
Non-Express Entry process
In the non-Express Entry process:
- you apply to the province or territory for nomination under a non-Express Entry stream.
- you need to meet the eligibility requirements of the province that nominates you.
- if you’re nominated, you apply for permanent residence online
- you have to get a
- medical exam and
- police check (certificate)
- 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 already have one) and show you have been nominated.
OR
- You create an Express Entry profile and show the provinces and territories you’re interested in.
- If a province or territory sends a “notification of interest” to your account, you contact them directly.
- You apply to their Express Entry stream.
- If you’re nominated, the province or territory will send a nomination certificate to your account, and you accept it electronically.
Choose a province or territory
To be nominated by a province or territory, you must follow the instructions on their website and contact them directly:
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
The criteria by province and territory vary and can change without notice.
Contact
- 800 - 15355 24th Ave Surrey British Columbia - V4A 2H9
- +1(604)616-0011
- arvin@universalsightsimmigration.com
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