Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) - The Pathway To Permanent Residency

Below, there is a list of Canadian provinces that are currently participating in the program stream:

1. Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
2. British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)
3. Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
4. New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
5. Newfoundland and Labrador Nominee Program (NLPNP)
6. Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NSPNP)
7. Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
8. Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
9. Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
10. Quebec Skilled Workers Program (QSWP)
11. Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
12. Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)

Provinces and territories in Canada may target students or business people (semi-skilled workers or skilled workers). As of 2021, this stream was used to attract “talented international students” from top universities who wish to establish a business and settle in one of Canada’s provinces.

For those who want to become permanent residents, there are different entry streams.

While some PNP streams operate on a first-come basis (immigrants that arrive earlier are treated before others), other PNP streams require applicants to register an Expression of Interest. It’s important to note that some PNP streams operate outside the Express Entry Process – they are also known as “base streams.”

Currently, there are more than 80 different provincial immigration streams, making it challenging to find the pathway that suits the applicant best.

The provincial nominee program’s aim is to spread benefits across Canada’s territory. Before its launch in 1998, most immigrants who came to Canada settled in Ontario, Quebec, or British Columbia. Since the launch, however, Canada has witnessed immigration on a larger scale, which was a direct result of the provincial nominee program.

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) works by selecting skilled workers who are looking to immigrate to Alberta long-term. Candidates planning to move to the province of Alberta should fill the employment gaps or have plans to purchase or establish a business here.

This is an excellent opportunity for skilled workers looking for job opportunities in a foreign country. Alberta is also known for its high living standards and steady economic growth.

Immigration Streams:

There are two streams: for workers and for entrepreneurs.

Streams for workers:

• Alberta Opportunity Stream

This stream targets foreign nationals that already work in Alberta or have an official employment offer from an Alberta Employer to continue working full-time here.

• Alberta General Express Entry Stream

This stream helps the province select candidates with active profiles in the Express Entry system. This stream will automatically consider candidate profiles in the federal Entry pool.

• Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway

This stream offers potential candidates a job in a tech company or an eligible tech role to apply for a nomination. The candidates must also be working in one of the tech occupations that are in demand.

Streams for entrepreneurs:

• Farm stream

This stream targets foreign nationals with strong previous work experience in owning and operating a farm. The candidates must also possess substantial financial resources in order to launch a farming operation in Alberta.

• Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

This stream offers permanent residency to international students who wish to start and operate a business in Alberta. The students with the highest rank will be invited to submit a Business Application.

• Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

This stream is aimed at graduates that have completed a foreign post-secondary credential and who have the intention of operating a business in Alberta. Candidates that meet the minimum requirements will be able to register a profile and submit their Business Application.

Most Common Jobs in Alberta:

• Transport truck drivers
• Supply chain management supervisors
• Petroleum, gas, and chemical process operators
• Natural resource production managers
• Mechanists and tooling inspectors
• Tile setters
• Appliance services and repair
• Railway carmen
• Pulp mill operators

The province of British Columbia is best suited for highly skilled and qualified applicants to fill in the gaps in the market. This program is aimed at in-demand occupations and experienced entrepreneurs.

Immigration Streams:

There are three options to choose from:

• Skills Immigration Stream
• Express Entry BC Stream
• Entrepreneur Immigration

Skills Immigration Stream

• Skilled Workers Category

This is a stream designed to recruit immigrants that possess skills for a job occupation that is currently in demand. Only candidates with the most competitive rankings will be considered.

• Healthcare Professional Category

This stream targets immigrants that have received an offer from a healthcare authority for an eligible occupation in that field. If the healthcare applicant meets the requirements, they will be considered for the job.

• International Graduate Category

This stream is designed for recent graduates that have received an offer or employment from a BC employer. Eligible candidates will be assigned points based on their skills.

• International Post-Graduate Category

This stream is aimed at graduates that have a Master’s or Doctor’s Degree in one of the occupations in demand. Only certain school paths are eligible for this pathway.

• Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker Category

This stream is aimed at immigrants looking for a 9-month work experience in a low-skilled job occupation. In order to qualify, they must receive a job offer from a BC employer.

Express Entry BC:

• EEBC Skilled Worker
• EEBC Healthcare Professionals
• EEBC International Graduate
• EEBC International Post-Graduate

BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration (EI)

This category is operated by the province of British Columbia. This stream targets foreign citizens that possess the skills and experience in owning and operating a business and who wish to invest their finances and expertise in business opportunities in the province of British Columbia.

• British Columbia Entrepreneur

This stream targets experienced business owners as well as managers who wish to live in British Columbia permanently. Applicants must possess management experience as well as significant personal net worth. A successful applicant will become eligible for Canadian permanent residence.

• British Columbia EI Regional Pilot

This stream targets experienced entrepreneurs who are looking to invest in and/or manage a business. Potential applicants must be referred by one of the program’s participating communities in BC.

• British Columbia Strategic Project

This stream targets successful foreign-owned companies that wish to establish a business in British Columbia. Business owners must prove their ability to generate annual revenue and manage large staff teams. Successful applicants will become eligible for Canadian permanent residence.

Other Immigration Options:

• Canadian Experience Class
• Family Sponsorship
• Live-in Caregiver Program
• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Self Employed Persons Program
• Start-Up Visa Program
• Temporary Foreign Worker Program

Most common jobs in British Columbia:

• Payroll Administrators
• Information Systems Analyst and Consultants
• Computer Programmers and Interactive Media Developers
• Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Assistants
• Technical Sales Specialists – Wholesale Trade
• Cooks
• Caretakers
• Material Handlers
• Transport Truck Drivers
• Underground Production and Development Miners

Immigration Streams:

• International Skilled Worker Category
• Saskatchewan Experience Category
• Entrepreneur and Farm Category
• International Graduate Entrepreneur Category

International Skilled Worker Category

This stream encompasses three immigration streams designed to target skilled workers who have the ability to join Saskatchewan’s work force and adapt easily to life in the province. Certain streams prioritise workers that have experience in sectors with labour shortages, while other streams target workers with employment offers from Saskatchewan employers.

• Tech Talent Pathway
• Employment Offer
• Occupations in Demand
• Saskatchewan Express Entry

Saskatchewan Experience Category

This stream is aimed at workers that have already gained employment experience in Saskatchewan. Workers in these streams must have an offer of employment from a Saskatchewan employer in order to continue working in the province.

• 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 and Farm Category

This is a combination of two streams aimed at individuals with business management experience who wish to launch a new business in Saskatchewan. This stream is best suited for general entrepreneurs with business proposals in a range of sectors, while the farm owner and operator stream is designed specifically for entrepreneurs in the farming sector.

• Entrepreneur Sub-Category
• Farm-Owners and Operators Sub-Category

International Graduate Entrepreneur Category

This category is aimed at graduates who are planning to start a business.

Most Common Jobs In Saskatchewan:

• Nurses
• Delivery Service Drivers
• Physicians
• Cooks
• Food and Beverage Servers
• Retail Sales Associates
• Transport Truck Drivers
• Farm and Harvesting Workers
• Underground Production and Development Miner

Overview

The top 5 easiest Canada’s provincial nominee programs are:

• Alberta’s Express Entry Stream
• Saskatchewan’s International Skilled Worker
• Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities Stream
• Nova Scotia’s Labour Market Priorities Stream
• PEI Express Entry

Alberta’s Express Entry Stream

The fact that makes this one of the easiest nominee programs to get into is that it accepts applicants with CSR scores as low as 300. This stream works through the Federal Express system, which means that applicants who receive a provincial nomination may increase their score up to 600 points.

Alberta’s stream is often referred to as the #1 PNP in Canada.

Saskatchewan’s International Skilled Worker

Within this provincial nominee program, there are two streams. The first one is Saskatchewan Express Entry Stream that requires an active Express Entry profile. The second one is the Saskatchewan Occupations In-Demand Stream, which doesn’t require applicants to have an active profile.

Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities

This stream is known for having one of the highest quotas. This province is known for recruiting more and more people each year. A prospective candidate must have a CSR score of at least 400, and an active Express Entry profile.

Nova Scotia’s Labour Market Priorities Stream

This province selects candidates directly from the Express Entry pool. It’s also considered one of the easiest provinces for overseas applicants. A successful nominee will receive an extra 600 points, which guarantee an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in a federal Express Entry law.

PEI Express Entry

In order to receive an Interest Letter, applicants must submit an Expression of Interest. Prior to filling, prospective candidates do not need to have a job offer. Candidates that meet the necessary requirements will be considered.

Overview

Before outlining the application process and explaining the steps, it should be noted that the final decision in Canada is made by the Federal Government, not the Provincial one.

This explains the PNP as a two-step process:

• Applying for the province or territory where you want to live and be nominated.
• Applying to the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) for permanent residence.

Step 1. Gathering The Documents

The first step of the application process would be to gather the necessary documentation. Applicants should make use of the Document Checklist for guidance. Documents that are required are:

• Language results
• Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) reports
• Proof of work experience
• Proof of settlement funds
• Civil documents
• Status documents

Although this is general documentation, applicants should know that additional documents depend on the province they apply for.

Before handing in the application, applicants should thoroughly go through their documentation. In the case that they do not provide everything, the application will be returned to them.

Unless stated otherwise, the documentation should be submitted in English or in French. The translation should NOT be done by the applicants themselves, but by a certified translator. Moreover, applicants should provide certified copies. Authorities that verify the copy differ by province or territory.

Convictions Outside/Inside Canada

If the applicant has been convicted or has committed a crime outside Canada, they can overcome this criminal inadmissibility by applying for rehabilitation, or they may be deemed rehabilitated if ten years or more have passed since the crime.

If the applicant has been convicted or has committed a crime inside Canada, they must seek a record suspension before being admitted to Canada.

Step 2. Completing The Application

After the applicant has gathered the necessary documentation, the next step is filling out the application. This is done by filling out the following series of forms:

• Generic Application Form for Canada
• Additional Dependence/Declaration
• Schedule A: Dependence/Declaration
• Schedule 4: Economic Classes – Provincial Nominee
• Schedule A4: Economic Classes – Provincial Nominee – Business Nominees
• Additional Family Information
• Supplementary Information – Your Travels
• Separation Declaration for Minors Travelling to Canada
• Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union
• Document Checklist
• Use of a Representative

Providing misleading or false information on any of these forms is a serious offence. Moreover, applicants MUST fill out all sections. If the area does not apply to you, you can write N/A (not applicable).

Step 3. Paying The Fees

Applicants may use the table below in order to calculate their fees. The processing fee is included in your application. Paying the right of permanent residence fee (£447) may help applicants avoid delays.

Application per person

• Processing fee and right to permanent fee: £1,184
• Application (without the right to permanent fee): £737

Including your spouse or partner

• Processing fee and right to permanent fee: £1,184
• Application (without the right to permanent fee): £737
• Include a dependent child: £199

Biometrics Fees

• Biometrics per person: £74
• Biometrics per family (2 or more people): £147

Payment Issues

If you pay an insufficient fee, the application will be returned to you. If you pay more than needed, the application will be processed, and you will be refunded as soon as possible.

How can you pay the fees?

In order to pay your fees, you will need the following:

• A valid e-mail address
• Access to a printer (for the receipt)
• Credit Card, Master Card, or Debit Card

Additional fees will be included if there are:

• Medical exemptions
• Police certificates
• Language assessments

Step 4. Mailing The Application

The final step would be to mail the application. Before mailing, the applicant should check that all of his documents are in order. The application must be signed and dated before it is officially submitted.

Here is the explained process after you have applied. The authorities will inspect and check the following points:

• Whether you have filled your application correctly
• Whether you have paid your application fee
• Whether you meet all of the requirements
• Whether you have included all of the necessary documents in the application

If the applicant does not meet one of the above-mentioned sections, the application will be returned to them, and the processing time will not start again until the applicant has corrected the mistake (paid the fee in full, added the necessary documents, filled out every section of the application or met the requirements).

If the applicant provides untrue and inaccurate information in their application, they can be:

• Refused
• Found inadmissible
• Banned for 5 years from applying again

The time it takes for your application to be processed depends on the province you apply for. In order to avoid unnecessary delays, the applicants may inform the authorities about the change in their personal information.

Here are the common causes for delays in your application process:

• Criminal or security problems
• More background checks needed
• An unclear family situation (divorce, adoption, custody)
• Contacting other visa offices in Canada or abroad for checks