Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) goal for 2022 is to welcome 431,000 permanent residents. It has made huge strides towards achieving this by welcoming more 300,000 permanent residents to the country, reaching this amount a lot faster than any other year. The Canada Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is a great program for immigrants who wish to settle in a particular Canadian province. In this article, we take a look at how this program could be your pathway to Canadian permanent residence (PR).

The Government of Canada has an agreement with 11 Canadian provinces and territories, giving them permission to nominate foreigners wanting to settle there. With more than 80 PNP programs in the country, provinces and territories may nominate qualifying economic immigration candidates for Canada PR.

Canadian immigration is a tool many provinces use to boost economies and develop sectors where growth has slowed down. This has over the years become essential, largely due to Canada’s aging population, declining fertility rates, and skills shortages across the board. The country is set to depend heavily on immigration for the foreseeable future.

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Explained

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is for workers who want to relocate to Canada. They have to have the necessary skills, qualifications and experience to contribute towards filling labour gaps in Canadian provinces and territories. Every region has their own streams or pathways and criteria for this process, targeting al target a particular skill level, sector, or education level. There are opportunities for different skill levels across the country, though.

Who Can Apply?

The PNP is for foreign nationals who:

  • Can add value to the province or territory
  • Wish to settle in that particular province
  • Would like to make their status more permanent by eventually obtaining Canada PR 

Participating Canadian Provinces and Territories For PNP

  • British Columbia
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Alberta
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Yukon
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nova Scotia
  • Manitoba
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan

Occupations That May be In-demand in Canadian Provinces

  • Ontario - agriculture, retail, transportation truck drivers, health and construction
  • Prince Edward Island - healthcare, food production, delivery, agriculture, food production and cleaning
  • British Columbia - tourism/hospitality, trucking and food processing
  • Newfoundland & Labrador - healthcare, hospitality and tourism, retail,logistics, farming and food processing
  • Manitoba - healthcare, food production, etc
  • New Brunswick - healthcare, travel, hospitality, retail, trucking, delivery, food processing and farming
  • Yukon - retail, hotel staff, drivers, farm workers, cashiers, housekeeping and janitors
  • Northwest Territories - retail staff, hotel desk clerks, drivers, farm workers, cashiers, housekeeping and janitors
  • Nova Scotia - nurse staff and transport truck drivers Canada, find out more by taking the eligibility test
  • Yukon - retail salespersons, hotel desk clerks, truck drivers, farm workers, cashiers, food counter attendants, hotel housekeeping and janitorial services

PNP Applications

The way you apply for Canada PNP depends on the stream you’re applying through. There are applications that are submitted online, while others may be on paper only. All applicants will have to undergo a medical examination and apply for police clearance as well.

Paper-based PNP Applications

If your application is paper-based:

  • Apply to the province or territory for nomination of your choice through a non-Express Entry stream.
  • You will have to meet the eligibility requirements of the province you apply to.
  • As soon as you are nominated, you will have to submit your paper application submission for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
  • You then have to take a medical exam and get your police clearance certificate. These checks are for everyone who apologies.
  • It should be noted, that this kind of application takes longer than Express Entry applications.

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    Express Entry PNP Applications

    There are two options for this.

    Option 1

    You may approach the province or territory of your choice and apply for a nomination through the Express Entry stream. When your nomination is secured, set up an Express Entry profile or updatethe one you may already have. Note that you have a nomination on your profile.

    Option 2

    You could also create your Express Entry profile and then demonstrate your interest in a particular province. Once you are sent an indication of interest from the province, you must contact them. You then have to apply to the province’s Express Entry stream. If nominated, a nomination certificate from the province will reflect on your profile. You need to accept this online.

    What You Need to Know About PNPs and The Express Entry System

    Provincial nomination tops the list of vital elements within the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Why? Because you can earn up to 600 additional CRS points. Applicants get a score out of 1,200 points. This can be a major factor contributing to whether or not you get an Invitiation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency. Most PNP streams have CRS cut-off scores can at times be lower than other Express Entry draws. For example, in Alberta the lowest possible CRS score is abount 300. Therefore, just simply securing a nomination can get you an ITA.

    Ready to Apply to Your Province of Choice?

    If you’ve decided on the region you’d like to settle in, it’s now time to apply to the Canada PNP. Here’s what you need to remember:

    • When you apply to the provincial nomination program, you must follow the guidelines of the province you are applying to.
    • It’s a good idea to check out each province or territory’s website and try to make contact with an official relevant to your application. Don’t forget that criteria varies vary from province to province.
    • Try to stay abreast of news regarding PNPs so that you can be aware of any changes.

    FAQS

    Are There Disadvantages to Canada’s PNPs?

    Applying through a Provincial Nominee Program can take a long time. It can range anything from 6 to 19 months.

    What is the Best province to work in?

    Ontario is regarded as the top province for foreign nationals to immigrate to via a PNP, followed by  British Columbia, and Saskatchewan.

    Why Isn’t Quebec on the PNP list?

    Quebec doesn’t take part in the Provincial Nominee Program. The province has a separate agreement with the government that allows it to choose interested candidates. It is the only province in Canada with permission to make decisions on who is selected and has its own set of immigration requirements.