The Provincial Nominee Program of Canada (PNP) is a key element in Canada’s immigration strategy. It helps spread the benefits of economic immigration to the provinces and territories while allowing them to address their specific employment needs. The PNP aims to recruit immigrants with skills, education and experience that are required in the individual provinces and territories. Each province sets its own criteria, which could include a points system that prioritizes work experience in a demanded occupation, education credentials, language ability, or family ties to the province.
Some of the programs are aligned with the federal Express Entry system, allowing the provinces to nominate candidates from the pool who meet their requirements. These candidates receive extra points in the system, which can increase their chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
The PNP also offers support to newcomers during the first years of settlement, such as help finding employment, adapting to life in Canada and obtaining their Canadian citizenship. The resulting high retention rates among PNP nominees are proof of the program’s success.
Who is Eligible for PNP in Canada?
The eligibility criteria vary across provinces. For example, Ontario’s PNP stream for skilled workers prioritizes applicants who have completed a Canadian post-secondary program in their occupation and have a job offer from an employer in the province. Other PNP streams prefer immigrants connected to the province, such as a relative, or highly in demand in the workforce.
Some PNP streams operate using a points system, wherein candidates are invited to apply based on their score on the province’s points grid. The grid considers the applicant’s education, work experience, occupation in demand, language abilities and ties to the province.
Most PNP streams require applicants to provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report, which is used to demonstrate the Canadian equivalence of the applicant’s education and credentials. Some provinces also have specific requirements for an ECA report, so it is important to check those in addition to the eligibility criteria of a particular provincial PNP program.
How Can I Get a Provincial Nomination in Canada?
Applicants must meet the specific requirements set by the province or territory in which they wish to settle. These requirements include education, work experience, and a genuine intention to live and settle in the province or territory. Moreover, they must show that they can contribute to the economy and society of the province or territory in which they intend to immigrate. They should also demonstrate that they have the necessary qualifications to work in their chosen occupation in Canada, which includes credential assessment and obtaining a Canadian licence if needed.
Most provincial streams are aligned with Express Entry, and a nomination in one of these provincial programs results in an additional 600 points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which translates into an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence in Canada. However, some provinces offer their own PNP streams that do not require an Express Entry profile, which are often referred to as ‘base’ PNPs.
The best way to find a PNP stream that matches your skill set is to closely monitor all the available provincial and territorial streams, as they change their eligibility criteria on a regular basis.
Can I Apply for a PNP Without a Job Offer?
Some provinces operate PNP programs that do not require a job offer. These streams are often referred to as non-Express Entry streams. For example, if you have a Master’s or Doctoral degree from an eligible Ontario institution, you may be able to apply to the Entrepreneur Stream. You will be placed in a pool and will have to rank against other candidates. Ontario regularly holds draws to invite the highest-ranked candidates to submit an application for provincial nomination.
Other provincial programs operate using a points system, similar to Express Entry. For instance, Saskatchewan’s Occupation In-Demand Stream and Nova Scotia’s Express Entry Skilled Worker Stream both use a points system that evaluates the six selection factors – including education, language skills, work experience, ties to the province or territory and more.
Many of the non-Express Entry PNP streams also require a foreign credential assessment report (ECA) to demonstrate the Canadian equivalence of your academic credentials. Depending on the province, it can cost anywhere between $400 and $2,000. You can find more information about the ECA requirements by visiting the province’s official website.