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Provincial Nominee Program of Canada

The Provincial Nominee Program of Canada is a part of Canada’s other immigration programs. The country runs its immigration system through its provinces and federal streams. Canadian provinces are doors to its immigration system which helps one more to settle in Canada permanently.

There are 10 Canadian provinces, with three territories to the north. The provinces are Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. The three territories are Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon.  PNP currently has about 80 unique streams in the participating provinces and territories.

Table of Contents

Provinces with PNP stream-based Immigration

Provinces that run PNP (provincial nominee program) are:

Quebec runs its own immigration program for different streams. Complete details could be found here.

Territories Based Immigration Program

  • Yukon
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut

Some other regional programs

Canada’s all provinces offer provincial nominee programs except Nunavut and Quebec. These both have their own PNP programs. These immigration routes are tailored to the specific needs of each province and are designed for a specific type of immigrant, whether skilled, unskilled, business, or international students.

Each of these participating in the PNP has its own specific series that is specifically designed to meet market labor needs and targets a specific category of immigrants. Migrating to any province can be easiest if you meet all the criteria of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for which you are applying. Especially having a job offer from a specific province can make it the best possible option.

How does the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) work?

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

The PNP works for those who:

  • want to live in that province
  • want to become permanent residents of Canada
  • have the skills, education, and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory

A better PNP stream related to the provincial nomination, namely Canada’s Express Entry System, will give the system a Comprehensive Rating System (CRS) score of 600 extra points. If you earn these extra points, it is practically guaranteed that you will receive an invitation from the Government of Canada to apply for permanent residency.

How to apply for PNP through Express Entry?

Applying online

Provincial Nomination Programs can mainly be used for the Express Entry stream. In the online Express Entry process, there are 2 ways to apply:

1- By getting Provincial Nomination first

Through this process, the candidates contact the province or territory and apply for a nomination under an Express Entry stream. If the province or territory agrees to nominate them, they create an Express Entry profile (or update their profile if they already have one) and show they have been nominated.

2- Directly through Express Entry

In the second option, candidates can create an Express Entry profile and show the provinces and territories that they are interested in. If a province or territory sends them a “notification of interest” to their account, they contact them directly. If a candidate is nominated, the province will offer it to them through their account and they accept it electronically.

Applying on paper

Application for the PNP program can also be made on paper (application processing times are longer than through Express Entry.). For doing so, the candidates:

  • apply to the province or territory for nomination under a non-Express Entry stream.
  • need to meet the eligibility requirements of the province that nominates them.

Once the candidates are nominated, they:

  • submit a paper-based application for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.
  • pass a medical exam and get a police check (certificate). Everyone must have these checks, no matter where you plan to live in Canada.

PNP Programs

1- Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program without a job offer

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is another option for international applicants without a job offer. There are two highly active categories in Saskatchewan’s International Skilled Worker category that do not require a job offer.

The first is a series linked to the Saskatchewan Express entry, however, applying requires a person with an active profile in the federal express system. The second Saskatchewan profession is the demand stream, which is not required. It brings in skilled workers who are able to meet the labor needs in Saskatchewan. Applicants must have at least one year of experience in a position on the Saskatchewan students’ list of demanding professions in order to qualify.

2- Nova Scotia Nomination Program (NSNP) without a job offer

Nova Scotia Nomination Program (NSNP) is Canada’s most comprehensive and innovative provincial representative program. NSNP uses four streams to select express entry candidates. The NSNP Express searches for entries and identifies candidates with work experience in specific occupations.

Although Physical Stream requires a job offer to meet labor market preferences (specifically, as a physician to the Nova Scotia Health Authority), Nova Scotia demands. The Nova Scotia Experience And Nova Scotia’s labor market preferences (other than physicians) do not require job offers to applicants.

3- Ontario’s without job OINP stream

Finally, Ontario’s Immigrant Nomination Program (OINP), “Human Capital Preferences” series is a more popular choice for those without a job offer. There are three express entry categories in this regard and it is actively issuing invitations to immigration candidates even in 2020. While a job offer is not required, you need to consider an active entry and work experience and will be invited to apply to this stream.

4- Best PNP provinces for Tech related workers

There are two notable PNP routes for tech workers that run through the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. From time to time, Ontario conducts dedicated “tech draws” within the Human Capital Priority stream linked to the Ontario Express registration.

It targets people who have experience working in one of six specific designs, such as computer engineers and web designers. No job offer required. BC’s tech pilots, meanwhile, select immigration candidates to apply for provincial nominations on an almost weekly basis. This pilot works on the path of BC Skills Immigration. The pilot has the ability to offer a job in any of the 29 designated technology professions.

5- Best PNP province for French-speaking candidates

Outside of the French-speaking province of Quebec, there are other PNPs that offer francophones or bilingual applicants. They say OINP’s Express Entry-linked French-speaking Skilled Worker allows the province to find an Express Entry Pool for candidates who are French-speaking skilled workers and who have English in addition to other selection criteria. The series has been active for the past six months, releasing about 700 invitations to apply.