Provincial Nominee Programs
Provincial nominee programs (PNPs) offer a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for individuals who are interested in immigrating to a specific Canadian province or territory. Each Canadian province and territory operates its own PNP designed to meet its specific economic and demographic needs. Program requirements and application procedures vary greatly between provinces, so interested applicants should consult each of the provinces in order to determine their eligibility.
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
Alberta
Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
Alberta is located in Western Canada and it is one of Canada’s fastest growing economies. The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is Alberta’s Provincial Nominee Program. Prospective immigrants with a required set of skills and work experience needed by the province may receive an Alberta Provincial Nomination Certificate.
The AINP consists of the following immigration streams:
- Alberta Opportunity Stream
- Alberta Express Entry Stream
Alberta Opportunity Stream
Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS) criteria may apply at the time your application is mailed to the AINP or submitted in the AINP portal, at the time the AINP assesses your application, or both.
Eligibility Criteria
At the time your application is mailed to the AINP or submitted in the AINP portal, and at the time the AINP assesses your application, you must have a valid work permit – not implied status, automatic extension of status, or restoration status – for an eligible occupation.
- Valid work permits are based on one of the following:
- a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
A LMIA exemption for workers based on one of the following exemptions as determine by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC):
- international trade agreements
- workers transferred within a company
- International Experience Canada
- Mobilité Francophone
An open work permit issued by IRCC to:
- vulnerable workers who have demonstrated they are experiencing abuse or are at risk of abuse in the context of their employment in Canada, including under the Vulnerable Workers Open Work Permit (VWOWP) exemption, or
- the family members of a vulnerable worker under the VWOWP exemption
- a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) held by a graduate of an Alberta Advanced Education publicly funded post-secondary institution
How to apply for the Alberta Opportunity Stream
Step 1. Review the eligibility criteria
Step 2. Complete your application online
Step 3. Pay your application fee
Alberta Express Entry Stream
Qualified candidates with an Express Entry profile may be invited by AINP to apply for nomination for permanent residence.
Eligibility Criteria
Based on available profile information in the federal Express Entry portal, Alberta may select candidates and send them a Notification of Interest letter in their federal Express Entry profile. Profile information is self-declared by candidates in the federal Express Entry pool.
You may receive a Notification of Interest letter if you:
- have an active Express Entry profile in the federal Express Entry pool
- have stated an interest in immigrating permanently to Alberta
- are working in an occupation that supports Alberta’s economic development and diversification
- have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 300
How to apply for the Alberta Express Entry Stream
Step 1. Respond to the Notification of Interest (NOI) letter
Step 2. Receive a request from the AINP to apply to this stream
Step 3. Read the terms and conditions
Step 4. Review the assessment criteria
Step 5. Complete your application online and pay your application fee
British Columbia
BC PNP – SKILLS IMMIGRATION
British Columbia’s growing economy requires skilled workers in high-demand occupations. The Skills Immigration (SI) – Skilled Worker category of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is a way for workers in a professional, management, technical, trade or other skilled occupation to gain permanent residence in B.C.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for this category, you must:
- have accepted a full-time, indeterminate job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end date) from a B.C. employer. The job must be in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) skilled occupation (Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B).
- be qualified to perform the duties of the job
- have at least two (2) years of directly related work experience
- show you can support yourself and your dependents
- have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada
- for NOC skill level B occupations, meet minimum language requirements
- have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation
How to apply for the BC PNP – SKILLS IMMIGRATION
Step 1. Registration – The first step is registration with Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).
Step 2. Invitation – Eligible registrants under the Skilled Worker will receive an invitation to apply under the Skills Immigration stream.
Step 3. Application – Submit your Skills Immigration application through BCPNP Online.
Step 4. Nomination – Receive a provincial nomination and apply to IRCC for permanent residence.
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian province bordered by Ontario to the east and Saskatchewan to the west. Its landscape of lakes and rivers, mountains, forests and prairies stretches from northern Arctic tundra to Hudson Bay in the east and southern farmland. Much wilderness is protected in more than 80 provincial parks, where hiking, biking, canoeing, camping and fishing are all popular.
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) seeks recent graduates, skilled workers, businesspeople and their families with the intention and ability to successfully settle and economically establish in Manitoba as permanent residents.
Eligibility Criteria
All applicants to the MPNP who are applying as Skilled Workers Overseas must demonstrate an established connection to Manitoba either through the support of family members or friends, through previous education or work experience in the province or through an Invitation to apply received directly from the MPNP as part of a Strategic Recruitment Initiative.
How to apply for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program
Step 1. Submit an Expression of Interest.
Steps 2. The highest-scoring qualified candidates with a connection to Manitoba are invited to submit an MPNP application.
Step 3. Following a thorough assessment, the MPNP nominates successful candidates to make a separate application to the Government of Canada for permanent resident visas for you and your family.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime Provinces and one of the four Atlantic Provinces. It is the only province with both French and English as its official languages.
New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream
The New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream is designed for Foreign Nationals who possess the skills, education and work experience needed to contribute to New Brunswick’s economy. Candidates must meet the program’s minimum eligibility requirements, have a genuine offer of employment from a New Brunswick Employer and have the full intent to live and work in the province on a permanent basis.
This program will also help New Brunswick employers, unable to fill job vacancies with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, recruit foreign nationals and international graduates whose skills are needed in the province.
How to apply for the New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream
Step 1. Determine if you are eligible to apply to an immigration program stream to obtain your permanent resident status and assess which stream best suits your needs.
Step 2. Apply to the most promising New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program Stream.
Step 3. Get your credential assessed, find work, if you have not done so already, and improve your English or French linguistic skills.
Step 4. Do your research on Canada and New Brunswick.
Step 5. Receive your provincial nomination certificate or refusal letter. Consider applying for a work permit or waiting for the application process to be completed.
Step 6. Upon nomination, your application will be sent to Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada. They will further analysis your application and decide if you can become a permanent resident. During this process, they will ask you to pass medical exams, and they will perform a criminal record check.
Step 7. Prepare financially before you leave and develop a realistic budget for the next three to six months in New Brunswick.
Step 8. Relocate
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities
The Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities stream selects candidates in the federal Express Entry system who meet provincial labour market needs to apply for nomination. Only candidates who receive a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration may apply.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply you must:
- receive a Letter of Interest from the Nova Scotia Nominee Program within the Express Entry system;
- submit your application within 30 calendar days of the date on which your letter of interest was issued;
- meet the minimum work experience requirements of the Express Entry stream for which you have qualified;
- demonstrate sufficient funds to successfully establish yourself and your family in Nova Scotia and to pay your immigration costs and travel expenses;
- have legal status in your current country of residence;
- meet eligibility criteria in place at the time you are issued a Letter of Interest; and
- have a valid Express Entry number and meet all IRCC criteria for the Express Entry pool.
How to apply for the Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities
Create account
Step 1. Fill out application
Step 2. Print a copy for your records
Step 3. Attach supporting documentation
Step 4. Submit and wait to get updates from Nova Scotia
Ontario
Ontario is the nation’s wealthiest province, having a substantial share of the country’s natural resources and it’s most mature and diversified industrial economy. It is at once Canada’s economic pacemaker and a major force in national politics.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
The OINP manages three immigration categories: Human Capital, Employer Job Offer and Business Immigration. Each category is further divided into several streams. Almost all of them follow the same process.
Application Process
Step 1. Check your eligibility
Step 2. Create a profile and receive an invitation to apply or a notification of interest
Step 3. Apply to be nominated by the OINP
Step 4. Apply to the Government of Canada for permanent residence
Prince Edward Island
PEI is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, but the most densely populated. Its capital and largest city is Charlottetown. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. According to Statistics Canada, the province of PEI has 158,717 residents.
Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program
If you are seeking permanent residency in Prince Edward Island, one pathway is to be nominated to the federal government through the PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Individuals are selected for nomination based on their intention to live and work in PEI and their economic ability to establish here.
Application Process
Step 1. Create an account and submit your profile to the Expression of Interest system.
Step 2. The highest-scoring, qualified candidates with a connection to Prince Edward Island will be invited to submit an application to the PEI PNP by our Office.
Step 3. Following a thorough review of the paper application submitted to the Office of Immigration, Prince Edward Island nominates successful candidates to apply to the Government of Canada for permanent residency.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan, province of Canada, one of the Prairie Provinces. It is one of only two Canadian provinces without a saltwater coast, and it is the only province whose boundaries are all wholly artificial (i.e., not formed by natural features). It lies between the 49th and 60th parallels of latitude, it is bounded on the west by longitude 110° west of Greenwich, and its eastern limit, with minor adjustments, is longitude 102° W.
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is a way to immigrate to Canada. Through the SINP, the Province of Saskatchewan. The Occupations In-Demand (OID) and Express Entry (EE) programs are for those who have education and work experience in an in-demand occupation. Eligible occupations must fall under the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) Matrix levels:
NOC A: jobs that usually require university education
NOC B: jobs that usually require college education or apprenticeship training
NOC O: management
Application Process
Step 1. Create your profile on the online portal of SINP.
Step 2. Once you have completed all the formalities, it will be scrutinized by the authorities of Saskatchewan immigration.
Step 3. You will then be given a specific time to upload your documents in PDF format.
Step 4. If they find you suitable, they will provide you with a provincial nomination.
Step 5. Apply for being a permanent resident.