Provincial Nominee Programs (2023)

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) gives Canada’s provinces and territories the authority to nominate skilled workers, who’ll like to live in work in their provinces, for permanent residency in Canada. These nominations are based on the ability of the candidates to meet the provinces’ demands of their local labor market and unique economic situations. 

The requirements established by the respective provinces determine the eligibility requirements for the Provincial Nominee Program. Provinces will send nominations and invitations to submit an application for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to candidates they consider eligible.

How does the Provincial Nominee Program work?

Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories, and 11 of them offer provincial nominations. The provinces offering provincial nominations include:

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

You might have noticed that Quebec province and Nunavut territory aren’t on the list. That’s because Quebec has its own criteria and process for choosing immigrants, while Nunavut currently doesn’t have an immigration program. 

Each of these provinces and territories has its own unique streams (immigration programs targeting particular groups) and their requirements. For instance, one province may target students and skilled workers in its immigration stream, while another province may target business people and semi-skilled workers in its own stream. 

Related: Know anyone who’s been displaced or at risk of harm? Our article on refugees in Canada might help them.

Now, let’s take a look a the Provincial Nominee Programs offered by the different provinces and territories in Canada:

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

The immigration program for Alberta has eight streams, which can be split into two main groups: one for skilled workers and one for business owners. Foreign nationals who satisfy the criteria for any of the streams and would like to live and work in Alberta are given provincial nominations by the province.

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

The British Columbia (BC) immigration program includes Skills Immigration, Entrepreneur Immigration, and BC PNP Tech Streams. These streams can be broken down into categories that focus on skilled workers, international professionals, and graduates with the talents, qualifications, and experience that British Columbia needs.

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)

Manitoba’s PNP program is made up of streams that target skilled workers and entrepreneurs who’d like permanent residency in its province. Manitoba’s PNP streams consist of the Skilled Worker Stream and the Entrepreneur Pathway.

New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)

New Brunswick’s PNP consists of multiple streams targeting international graduates, skilled workers, and entrepreneurs who desire to immigrate to the scenic English and French-speaking city.

Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)

Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial immigration program nominates eligible applicants for permanent residency through any of its 3 PNP streams. These streams include the Express Entry, Skilled Worker, and International Graduate streams.

Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)

The Northwest Territories can nominate people who’d like to settle in its territories through any of its 3 PNP streams. They target skilled workers with job offers from employers in the territory via the Employer-Driven Stream; entrepreneurs via the Business Stream and Frech-speaking skilled workers via the Francophone stream.

Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)

The province of Nova Scotia has several provincial immigration streams. Prospective immigrants can get to live and work when they apply to any of the streams as skilled workers, business owners, or international graduates.

Read: Work Opportunities for International Students in Canada

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

International students, entrepreneurs, and foreign nationals with the right set of skills, education, and experience can apply to any of Ontario’s 9 provincial immigration streams. Canadian immigration applicants interested in living in Ontario can either apply to one of the province’s PNP streams or through Express Entry.

Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)

Prince Edward’s Island immigration program comprises 3 streams that let you move to the province as an entrepreneur or worker. The immigration streams include Business Impact, Labour Impact, and Express Entry streams. 

Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)

This is Saskatchewan’s provincial immigration program for selecting and nominating eligible foreign nationals to immigrate to the province. Interested applicants can apply to any of its 4 PNP streams.

Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)

Yukon is one of Canada’s territories in the Provincial Nominee Program. It nominates eligible candidates to immigrate to its territory through 4 main immigration streams. They include Skilled Worker, Express Entry, Business Nominee, and Critical Impact worker programs. In 2020, it introduced the Yukon Community Pilot, a special PNP program that ends in June 2023.

How to apply to the Provincial Nominee Program

The application process for PNPs depends on the province and stream you’re interested in. To get a detailed description of a province’s PNP application process, you should visit their immigration websites.

You can also apply to a PNP program through Express Entry – this is called Enhanced PNP and typically processes applications within 6 months. To apply through Enhanced PNP, you must first be eligible for one of the Express Entry programs.

What does it cost to migrate to Canada via PNP?

Generally speaking, migrating to Canada via the PNP program costs about the same as the Express Entry program, plus some additional fees. Some provinces charge up to $1500 CAD  for processing PNP applications, e.g. Ontario, while others do not. Check the province’s website for any additional fees you might need to pay. 

Pros & cons of PNP

The PNP has numerous pros, the chief of which is enhanced nomination. A province nomination greatly improves your chances of receiving a permanent residence invitation through an Express Entry program. 

The downside of provincial nominations is that they can take a longer time to process. You can reduce the processing time by applying for a provincial nomination via Express Entry. Moreover, you’d be applying at both the provincial and federal levels. You can take a look at other pathways of migrating to Canada if you’d rather keep looking.

Conclusion

With over 80 provincial immigration streams, Provincial Nominee Programs increase your chances of migrating to Canada. Thousands of Immigrants have successfully settled in Canada through PNPs. If you’d like to consider this pathway, we recommend you start by deciding on which of the provinces offers the best conditions for you and your family in the long term.

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