Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Provincial Nominee Programs allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate PR candidates who wish to immigrate to Canada and those who are interested in settling in a particular Canadian province.
These Provincial Nominee Programs create additional PR pathways for those candidates who:
- Have the particular skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific province. Usually, a province determines the targeted professional groups and determines application requirements. These requirements differ from province to province;
- Want to live and settle in the specific province;
- Have the intention of obtaining their permanent resident status in Canada.
PNP: Explained
Every province and territory has its own immigration programs that target a certain group of candidates. Moreover, these programs are exclusively designed to meet the economic and social development goals of a province or a territory. Therefore, such programs have their own requirements to qualify. In general, practically all provincial nominee programs target the following groups:
- Semi-skilled workers
- Skilled workers
- Students
- Business people
It is important to note that since the Express Entry system launch, most provinces and territories have adjusted their existing programs or even created new streams, that allows them to issue their nominations to EE candidates. These nominations grant Express Entry candidates an additional 600 CRS points.
After having been nominated, the applicant must make a separate application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for permanent residence. The application is then assessed based on Canadian immigration regulations.
- Self-Employed Farmer Stream
- Alberta Opportunity Stream
- Alberta Express Entry Stream
- Skills Immigration
- Skilled Worker Category
- Healthcare Professional Category
- International Graduate Category
- International Post-Graduate Category
- Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker Category
- Express Entry
- Express Entry – B.C. Skilled Worker
- Express Entry – International Graduate
- Express Entry – Healthcare Professional
- Express Entry – International Post-Graduate
- Entrepreneur Immigration
- Entrepreneur Immigration Category
- Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot
- Strategic Projects Category
- BC PNP Tech Pilot
- Skilled Worker in Manitoba
- Skilled Worker Overseas
- Manitoba Business Investor Stream
- Manitoba Farm Investor Pathway
- Manitoba Entrepreneur Pathway
- Morden Community Driven Immigration Initiative
- International Education Stream
- Career Employment Pathway
- Graduate Internship Pathway
- International Student Entrepreneur Pilot
- NB Express Entry Stream
- NB Skilled Worker Stream
- NB Entrepreneurial Stream
- Express Entry Skilled Worker
- Skilled Worker
- International Graduate
- International Entrepreneur
- International Graduate Entrepreneur
- Employer Driven Programs
- Express Entry System for skilled Workers
- Skilled Worker
- Critical Impact Worker
- Business Immigration Program
- Business Stream
- Express Entry
- Nova Scotia Demand
- Nova Scotia Experience
- Labour Market
- Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities
- Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities for Physicians
- Skilled Worker Stream
- Occupation in Demand Stream
- Entrepreneur Stream
- International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Physician Stream
- Employer Job Offer
- Foreign Worker Stream
- International Student Stream
- In-Demand Skills Stream
- Human Capital Category (EE stream)
- International Graduates
- Masters Graduate Stream
- PhD Graduate Stream
- Ontario’s Express Entry
- French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream
- Human Capital Priorities Stream
- Skilled Trades Stream
- Business Category
- Entrepreneur Stream
- Express Entry
- Labour Impact Category
- Skilled Workers in PEI Stream
- Critical Worker Stream
- International Graduate Stream
- Skilled Workers Outside Canada
- Business Impact Category
- Entrepreneur Category
- Work Permit Stream
- 100% Ownership Stream
- Partial Ownership Stream
- International Skilled Worker Category
- Employment Offer
- Occupation In-Demand
- Saskatchewan Express Entry
- Saskatchewan Experience Category
- Skilled Worker with Existing Work Permit
- Semi-Skilled Agriculture Worker with Existing Work Permit
- Health Professionals
- Hospitality Sector Project
- Long-Haul Truck Driver Project
- Students
- Entrepreneur Category
- Farm Category
- Express Entry
- Skilled Worker Program
- Critical Impact Worker Program
- Business Program
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Frequently Asked Questions
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are immigration pathways through which Canadian provinces and territories can nominate individuals for permanent residency based on their specific economic and labor market needs.
Applying through a PNP can offer several advantages, such as faster processing times, additional points under the Express Entry system, and tailored pathways that align with the province’s economic priorities.
Provinces play an active role in selecting candidates under their PNPs by nominating individuals who meet their specific economic needs and priorities.
Yes, most PNPs have streams for candidates who are already working or studying in Canada on a valid work or study permit.
A PNP nomination is not permanent residency itself. It is a significant step toward obtaining permanent residency, as it allows candidates to apply for permanent residence to the federal government.
Yes, candidates can apply for both a PNP and the federal Express Entry system simultaneously. If nominated through a PNP, they can gain additional points in the Express Entry CRS and increase their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.