What is the Canada Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)?

Canada Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is a faster-growing immigration pathway to Canadian permanent residence for those who want to immigrate to a specific Canadian province or territory. It attracts skilled and qualified international talent to Canadian provinces from all over the world. Through the PNP program, many thriving and successful candidates have moved and permanently settled in Canada. PNP is a significant part of the immigration policy of Canada. More than 200,000 people are supposed to get Canadian permanent residence through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) between 2020 and 2022.

Each Canadian province and territory manages its PNP intended to fulfill its specific economic and demographic necessities. If you are a skilled worker, it is the perfect time to discover your options through the PNP.

Over the last few years, the federal government has increased the annual allocations of provinces for their relevant PNPs, this indicates the growing importance of these programs within the entire Canadian immigration landscape. Here is the list of some of the ideal Canadian provinces to apply to under PNP.

1. Prince Edward Island

2. Ontario

3. Saskatchewan

4. Manitoba

5. Nova Scotia

Options In The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

If you want to migrate to Canada to live in a province, participate in its economy, and become a permanent resident of Canada, you need to apply under the PNP. There are two options when you apply under the PNP program:

1. Paper-based process

2. Through Express Entry Program

Paper-based process

When you apply to the province or territory for nomination under the Non-Express Entry stream, you need to qualify the individual In-demand Occupation Lists of various provinces and other eligibility requirements. After that, if your occupation is on the list, you will get a nomination from the province. You can then apply for a Canada PR Visa by submitting a paper application for your PR visa. The processing time is usually more than when you apply through the Express Entry system.

Express Entry System

You can apply for a nomination under the Express Entry stream by getting in touch with the province or territory. If you receive a positive reply from the province or territory to nominate you, you need to create an Express Entry profile or update the current profile.

The other option is to make an Express Entry profile and mention the territories or provinces you are interested in. If the province forwards a ‘Notification Of Interest,’ you can contact them and apply through the Express Entry system.

Note that: You need to fulfill the eligibility requirements for a successful conclusion of your application.

How To Apply For Provincial Nominee Program?

In Canada, all the decisions related to immigration are made by the federal government, not the provincial government. Therefore, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNPs) is a two-part process. First, you need to apply to the province to obtain a provincial nomination. After that, if you get a positive response from the province, you need to submit a second application to the federal government for your Canadian PR (permanent residence). The steps to apply for PNP are:

Step 1: Find out your eligibility

The first you need to apply for a PNP is to use the PNP Live Tracker to detect the available PNPs and find your eligibility for the various available options.

Step 2: Complete a Provincial Nominee Program application

Submit your petition to the province or territory.

Step 3: Receive your Provincial Nomination certificate

If you are eligible, you will obtain an official Provincial Nomination certificate. It will allow you to move forward to the next step.

Step 4: Submit your permanent residence application

After receiving your Provincial Nomination certificate, you need to submit a Canadian PR application to the federal government. 

Note that: If you were appointed through an Express Entry-aligned PNP, then you can apply through Express Entry. If not, then you need to submit a paper-based application.

What Provincial Nominee Programs Are Available In Canada?

The following are the Provincial Nominee Programs offered by each participating Canadian province or territory. 

1. Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

Ontario has one of the most diverse and vigorous of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs. Skilled professionals, businesspeople, and graduates can plan their immigration to Ontario.

2. British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)

British Columbia provides broad streams and categories for entrepreneurs, workers, and graduates in its Provincial Nominee Program. It comprises categories lined up with the federal Express Entry immigration selection system of Canada.

3. Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)

In Canada, it is one of the most well-known destinations for newcomers. It offers PNP streams for Non-Express Entry and Express Entry candidates. Alberta Provincial Nominee Program welcomes graduates, entrepreneurs, and workers to the province.

4. Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program

Over the years, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program has been experiencing changes. Through the MPNP, Manitoba nominates candidates for permanent residence.

5. Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program

Saskatchewan welcomes Express Entry candidates, as well as workers in in-demand occupations.

6. Nova Scotia Nominee Program

Nova Scotia is becoming a popular destination for new immigrants with various Express Entry-aligned streams and areas to welcome entrepreneurs and graduates. 

7. New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program

The NBPNP comprises a well-known Express Entry-linked stream and possibilities for workers with job offers and foreign entrepreneurs.

8. Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)

The PEI PNP accepts petitions from Express Entry candidates, business investors, skilled workers, and graduates.

9. Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)

If you are looking for the best place to make a career or grow a family, Newfoundland will be the excellent Canadian immigration option. NLPNP includes immigration routes for Express Entry candidates, business people, and graduates.

10. Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)

The NTNP can be your immigration route if you have a job offer from the Northwest Territories. Express Entry applicants have a dedicated stream under the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP).

11. Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)

YNP is for Express Entry candidates and business people to participate in life in the territory.

Note that: Quebec does not have any Provincial Nominee Program; it handles its own Skilled Worker Program.

Categories Of Provincial Nominee Programs

There are over 70 different PNP streams within the provinces. We can arrange them into three following broad categories.

1. First-come-first-served

2. Expression of Interest

3. Passive

First-come-first-served

Once the stream opens, petitions are accepted in the sequence they are submitted unless a quota is fulfilled. For various streams, the quota meets very quickly.

Some first-come-first-served streams receive applications continually. If you are qualified, you can submit at any time. 

Expression of Interest

This is for provinces that include points systems into their PNP streams. In certain respects, this category reflects the federal Express Entry system, with possible candidates first needed to present their nomination by submitting an Expression of Interest form.

It is worth noting that often these points systems are totally separate from the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) used to rank Express Entry applicants. 

Passive

Various Provincial Nominee Program streams are believed passive because, in most cases, applicants, who are Express Entry candidates, cannot actively declare their interest in considering a candidate through these streams. 

Processing Times For Provincial Nominee Programs

The processing times for Provincial Nominee Programs mostly depend on whether the petition has been introduced under an Express Entry-linked PNP stream or any of the other streams not associated with Express Entry. Most of the provinces take a few months or even weeks for processing. 

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