What is Provincial Nominee Program?

A Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is an immigration program designed to allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate qualified individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada and are interested in a particular province.

The PNP was introduced in 1998 to evenly balance the benefit among Canadian provinces and territories. The purpose of this program is to target skilled workers who have the education, skills, and work experience; want to live in a particular province, and want to reside in Canada permanently.

Each province and territory has its own “streams” (immigration programs that target certain groups) and criteria for their PNP.

For example, in a program stream, provinces, and territories may target students, business people, skilled workers, or semi-skilled workers.

Provincial Nominee Program Explained image Work in Canada Permanent Residence

Common questions

Why should I apply for PNP instead of other pathways?

The PNP has over 80 provincial streams that vary from province to province. Unlike other Express Entry categories, candidates who qualify for PNP get additional 600 CRS points, which essentially guarantees they will receive an invitation to apply.

What PNP options are available?

Depending on your qualification and the province you would like to reside in, there are over 80 Provincial Nominee streams tailored towards individual applicant’s eligibility.

What are the requirements to apply for PNP?

Different provinces have different requirements to qualify for their PNP Programs depending on the category they qualify for. For the most part, you need to:

  1. Have a post-secondary degree from a recognized institution
  2. Have adequate knowledge of English or French
  3. Have a NOC skill TYPE 0, skill levels A or B

Under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), eligible candidates can apply for:

  • Foreign worker stream
  • In-Demand skills stream
  • International Student stream
  • Ontario corporate scheme

Province-specific information

British Columbia Provincial nominee program (BC PNP)

This program gives prospective applicants the chance to apply for permanent residence if they qualify for the BC PNP nomination certificate. Eligible applicants can either apply through the Skilled immigration category or the Entrepreneur immigration category.

Skill Immigration has 4 categories:

1. International graduate category. The international graduate category is designed for individuals who have graduated from a Canadian college or university within the last 3 years. Candidates must ensure they have a job offer from a BC employer to qualify for this category.

2. Healthcare professional category. Under this category, Nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals may apply if they have a valid job offer from a BC employer.

3. Skilled worker category. The skilled worker category is designed for skilled workers with many years of experience. Workers must receive an eligible job offer in a skilled occupation to qualify for this category.

4. International post-graduate category. The International postgraduate category offers candidates with Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from an eligible college or university in BC in natural, applied or health sciences the chance to apply for a permanent residence. The candidates do not necessarily need a job offer to qualify for this category.

Entrepreneur Immigration has 2 categories:

1. Regional pilot. Foreign entrepreneurs looking to establish a new business in smaller cities within BC can apply for the BC PNPvia the Regional pilot category.

2. Entrepreneur Immigration category. The entrepreneur immigration category is for Business owners who intend to invest funds into a proposed business in British Columbia.

Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)

The Alberta Immigration nominee program (AINP) is the immigration program the province of Alberta uses to select prospective economic immigrant who wants to settle and work in Alberta for permanent Residence.

Work Stream has 2 categories:

The worker stream has two categories for foreign workers who are living and working in Alberta or plan to live and work there.

1. Alberta Express Entry stream: the government of Alberta uses the Express Entry stream to nominate qualified candidates to apply for permanent residence.

2. Alberta Opportunity stream: this stream is designed for qualified candidates who live and work in Alberta. Candidates must have a valid job offer from an employer in Alberta.

Entrepreneur Stream has 3 categories:

The streams are dedicated to foreign workers who want to live, work, or do business in Alberta permanently.

1. Foreign Graduate start-up Visa stream. This stream allows eligible foreign graduates from outside of Canada to apply for permanent residence.

2. Self-employed farmer stream. This stream is for experienced farmers who plan to buy or start a farm in Alberta. Farmers who qualify for this stream can apply for permanent residence.

3. International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration stream. This stream gives international graduates of colleges and universities in Alberta who want to start or buy a business in Alberta a pathway to permanent residence.

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program is one of the immigration programs the Manitoban government uses to nominate eligible candidates who wish to reside, work, or do business in Manitoba permanently and obtain Canadian permanent residence. The MPNP has two categories for prospective migrants.

The Skilled Worker Stream

The skilled worker gives the opportunity to recent graduates from a recognized Manitoba college or university, businesspeople, and skilled workers who intend to settle and work in Manitoba.

1. Skilled Workers Oversee. The oversee skill worker stream uses a point-based system to select internationally trained and experienced workers who have the skills needed in the Manitoba labour market and then nominate them for Permanent residency. A prospective immigrant must score a minimum of 60 points based on the five factors: education, age, language proficiency, work experience and adaptability.

2. Skilled Workers in Manitoba. The Skilled worker in Manitoba is an immigration program used to select internationally trained and experienced workers who have the skills needed in the local labour market and nominate them to receive permanent resident visas to settle and work in Manitoba. Unlike the other connections to Manitoba in the MPNP, Skilled Workers in Manitoba are not subject to a points-based assessment.

International Education Stream (IES)

This stream is focused on providing faster ways to the nomination for international students who graduate in Manitoba and meet the needs of the industry.

1. Career Employment Pathway. Offers faster nomination pathways for post-secondary students who graduate and find long-term employment in Manitoba. Graduates must take an occupation that is consistent with their studies/training, which should also be in demand.

2. Graduate Internship Pathway. This stream is for international students with Masters and Doctoral degrees who graduated through internships in Manitoba. Graduates who complete an Accelerate or Elevate internship with Mitacs in Manitoba can apply to the MPNP immediately after graduation, whether or not they have a job offer.

3. International Student Entrepreneur Pilot. This pilot annually provides the opportunity to pursue entrepreneurship rather than employment to up to 20 international Manitoba graduates.

Saskatchewan Immigrant nominee program (SINP) 

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program is the immigration program the province of Saskatchewan uses to select prospective immigrants with the right skills and experience who wish to work and settle in Saskatchewan.

Eligible candidates are issued a Saskatchewan Provincial Nominee Certificate, which they then use to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

The SINP has 4 categories:

 
1. International Skilled Worker category.
There is no job offer required to qualify for the International Skilled Worker category. Prospective applicants must score a minimum of 60 points, must have at least one year of experience in a skill type/level 0, A, OR B on the SINP In-demand Occupational list to qualify for this category.

2. Saskatchewan Experience category.  To qualify for the Saskatchewan Experience class, prospective candidates must be residing in Saskatchewan, have a full-time, permanent job offer from a Saskatchewan employer and must have worked at that job for a minimum of six months before applying.

3. International Graduate Entrepreneur. The International graduate Entrepreneur Category is for applicants who hold a post-secondary degree from a college or university in Saskatchewan. Applicants must also be residing in Saskatchewan and must own at least 33% ownership in a business to qualify.

4. Farm Owner Operator: the farm owner-operator category is targeted towards applicants with relevant farm knowledge. applicants are required to invest at least $75,000 into a farming operation in Saskatchewan to qualify for this category.

Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) is the immigration program the province of Nova scotia uses to select prospective immigrants with the skills and experience to receive a Nova Scotia Provincial Nomination Certificate.

The NSNP has 5 categories:

 
1. Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry.
This category is used by the province of nova scotia to select candidates for this stream, which provides a pathway to permanent residence for highly skilled individuals who wish to work and settle in Nova Scotia permanently.

2. Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry. The province of Nova Scotia uses the Federal Government Express Entry program to target eligible applicants who will be able to settle and contribute to Nova Scotia’s economy. Candidates who qualify must either have a job offer from a Nova Scotia employer or have work experience in one of nova scotia’s in-demand occupations.

3. Nova scotia Skilled Worker. The NSNP is designed for applicants who received a job offer from a Nova Scotia employer. This immigration category accepts applications from both high and low-skilled candidates.

4. Nova Scotia International Graduate Entrepreneur. The International Graduate Entrepreneur stream targets recent graduates of eligible Nova scotia college or University. A candidate who has completed at least two years of full-time study from a recognized post-secondary institution in Nova Scotia.

5. Atlantic Immigration Pilot program. The Atlantic Immigration Pilot program (AIPP) is an immigration program developed by the Federal Government and the four Atlantic provinces of Canada (which Nova Scotia is part of). The AINP is designed to facilitate the process of obtaining permanent residence for Candidates who have obtained a job offer from a designated employer in the Atlantic region.

 

New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) 

The New Brunswick provincial Nominee program (NBPNP) is the immigration program the province of New Brunswick uses to select prospective immigrants with the right skills and experience who wants to settle and work in New Brunswick. Candidates who qualify for the NBPNP are nominated to apply for Canadian citizenship.

The NSNP has 5 categories:

 
1. Skilled Workers with Employer support.
This category is designed for workers with the skill, education, and work experience to contribute to the New Brunswick economy, applicants must be willing to live permanently in New Brunswick.

2. New Brunswick Express Entry Stream. It targets high skilled foreign workers with a valid work offer from a New Brunswick employer. Applicant must be resident in the province of New Brunswick.

3. Atlantic Pilot Program. The program is a Federal Government economic initiative developed for provinces in the Atlantic region to facilitate the immigration process for newcomers who have obtained a job offer from a designated employer in the Atlantic region.

4. Skilled worker Employer Support stream. This stream targets high skilled foreign workers with a valid job offer from a New Brunswick employer

5. Post-graduate Entrepreneurial stream. This stream is designed for applicants who recently graduated from a New Brunswick University or college who have started or bought a business in New Brunswick. Applicants must have had the business for a year and intend to reside in New Brunswick Permanently to qualify.

Newfoundland and Labrador provincial nominee Program (NLPNP)

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) is designed to select candidates who have at least one year of work experience in highly-skilled, high-demand occupations as well as Post-Graduates who completed a Masters or Doctorate degree at memorial University within three years to help address local labour shortages in the province.

The NLPNP has 3 categories:


1. Express Entry Skilled Worker.
The category is designed for skilled who are in the federal Express Entry pool with a skill level of 0, A, or B occupations with a guaranteed employment offer from an employer in the province.

2. International Graduate. This category is designed for international Post-graduates of eligible universities and colleges who choose to remain in Newfoundland to obtain permanent residence. Graduates must have a job offer from an eligible Newfoundland and Labrador employer to qualify.

3. Atlantic Pilot Program. The Atlantic pilot program is a Federal Government economic initiative developed for provinces in the Atlantic region to facilitate the immigration process for newcomers who have obtained a job offer from a designated employer in the Atlantic region.

 

Tips for PNP


Each province has different standards, under which the officers thoroughly critic your profile;

Each PNP involves a lot of details and specifications, that is why what works for one applicant, might not work for another as each case is unique;

It is important to know that even if you do not qualify for one PNP, you might be eligible for another PNP that you haven’t yet considered. To figure out what program you may qualify for, get an assessment of your profile

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Check out our FAQs section to find out more about immigration to Canada.

Sandra Bowen Immigration Frequently Asked Questions
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