Immigrating to Canada via the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

One of the most popular methods for immigrating to Canada is through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Each Canadian province, under agreements with the federal government, has the authority to accept immigrants based on its unique needs and regulations. As a result, individuals interested in obtaining a provincial visa can choose a province where their qualifications and experience align with local demands and apply for a provincial nomination accordingly.

Steps to Obtain a Provincial Visa

To begin, you must first secure a provincial nomination certificate from your chosen province. This process starts by submitting an application to a reputable employer in that province. If the employer accepts your application, a request for a provincial visa is submitted to the provincial immigration office as an employee of a Canadian company based in that province.

The provincial immigration office reviews your qualifications, and if they match the province’s needs and immigration criteria, your application is approved. Once you receive the provincial nomination certificate, you must then submit your visa application to the federal Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). At this stage, the accuracy of your information, payment of fees, and compliance with stated requirements are verified. Upon approval, you will be asked to provide additional documents, such as medical test results, a police clearance certificate, and proof of financial stability. Finally, after submitting your passport to the Canadian embassy and completing the pickup process at a designated immigration center in a neighboring country, your visa will be stamped and issued within a maximum of two weeks.

Express Entry and Its Connection to the PNP

Express Entry is an online immigration application system launched in 2015, allowing applicants to test their eligibility for permanent residency under programs like the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). This system evaluates applicants’ qualifications for permanent residency based on a points-based scoring system.

With provinces adopting the Express Entry system, applicants can apply for residency either directly through a province or via this platform. However, Quebec and Ontario exclusively accept immigrants through Express Entry and do not offer separate permanent residency programs. Other provinces that have agreements with the federal government have aligned their PNP streams with Express Entry. Consequently, individuals who earn points in the Express Entry pool can submit their scores along with their resumes to their preferred province for evaluation.

Provincial Immigration Programs

Canadian provinces attract skilled workers through various methods. One option is obtaining a job offer from a Canadian employer and applying for a Permanent Resident (PR) card. However, this route is challenging, as employers must provide compelling reasons for hiring a foreign worker. An alternative is leveraging provincial immigration programs, where each province publishes a list of in-demand occupations and selects immigrants based on a points system.

Provinces Participating in the PNP

• Yukon
• Saskatchewan
• Manitoba
• Nova Scotia
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Alberta
• British Columbia
• New Brunswick
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island