Provincial Nominee Programs and Québec
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) offer an alternative route for individuals to immigrate to Canada, especially if they do not have enough points for Express Entry or do not qualify for other immigration categories.
These programs allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate and settle in a specific region. Each province (except Quebec, which has a separate selection system) and two territories have their own unique PNPs. These provinces and territories have agreements with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that enable them to select immigrants based on their specific needs and criteria.
Each PNP has its own selection criteria to identify immigrants with skills that are in demand within the province but cannot be sourced locally. These criteria and targeted occupations vary by province and can include fields such as information technology, healthcare, agriculture, trades, business, and investment. Additionally, some programs prioritize individuals who have ties to Canada.
How does the program work?
Candidates must first enter the Express Entry system with their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score (calculate here), and then apply to a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) as a separate application. You will remain in the Express Entry pool for a year or until you are selected to apply for Permanent Residence (PR).
Once your PNP application is processed by the province, typically within 3-4 months, you will be awarded an additional 600 points to add to your Express Entry score. With these extra points, you will be selected and invited to apply for PR in the very next draw, which occurs every two weeks.
Advantages applying under PNP program
Once a Provincial Nominee Certificate is granted, you receive an additional 600 points towards your Express Entry score. On average, individuals without a PNP certificate score between 300 and 500. Recent cutoff scores for Express Entry selection have been in the 400-500 range. With a PNP certificate, you automatically receive 600 points, which, when added to your initial score of 300-500 points, results in a final Express Entry score above 900. This score is significantly higher than the current selection cutoff of around 400-500 points.
Available PNP Programs
If you have a close relative living in the province of Manitoba, you may be eligible to apply to their PNP program under the "connection to Manitoba" category. We will need to assess your profile to determine if you are a strong candidate, as this PNP has its own scoring and selection system similar to Express Entry. Currently, you would need a score above 530 to be considered a strong candidate.
If you have a close relative living in the province of New Brunswick, you may be eligible to apply for their Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
If you have a brother or sister, aunt or uncle, nephew or niece, first cousin, mother or father, or grandmother or grandfather living in one of these provinces, you may be eligible to apply for a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Each province in Canada seeks candidates with skilled job experience to address labor shortages specific to their region. The list of in-demand occupations varies from province to province based on their unique needs. If you are granted a PNP nomination, you are likely to find employment since the nomination is for a job category where there is a shortage of your skills.
If you have job experience in one of the categories below and are interested in applying for Permanent Residence in Canada, please contact us for assistance. The process can be complex, and we can help you secure PR through these PNP programs.
