Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) allows various provinces and territories to nominate foreign skilled workers and professionals, who are willing to work and stay in a particular Canadian province. The skilled workers, professionals and candidates must meet eligibility criteria as well as demands of regional labour markets and different industries.
Around ten Canadian provinces have created a system which is in sync with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in order to get approval of the government to nominate foreign skilled workers and immigrants to meet diverse province specific needs. Since most of the PNP work on first come, first serve basis, it is important to understand how does the Provincial Nominee Program work in order to successfully migrate to Canada. Read on to know more about PNP, eligibility criteria, different PNP streams, documents required, processing time and so on.
Under Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the Canadian provinces have adopted specific point system and eligibility criteria. Eligible candidates are nominated by the specific Canadian province after gaining certain points. Since most of the Canadian provinces have their own list of in-demand occupations, they select and nominate candidates having relevant education, skill set and prior work experience in specific domain or occupations. It is important to note that candidates must be willing to work and stay in particular Canadian province under PNP.
Various streams under PNP nominate foreign skilled workers, young professionals, international students, entrepreneurs and immigrants as per their personal and professional credentials, including age, education, language proficiency, skill training, prior work experience, and adaptability etc.
Barring Quebec, other Canadian provinces are permitted to nominate skilled workers, immigrants and professionals under Canada PNP. It is important to note that Quebec has its own set of eligibility requirements.
Since PNP streams evaluate applications of candidates and then nominate skilled workers and professionals to join industries and domains in order to fulfil needs of labour markets, every province has designed its own specific business immigration streams. These province specific immigration categories promote foreign skilled workers and immigrants to work in Canada for long duration. This step also promotes productivity in different industries, sectors and domains, thereby strengthening the nation’s economy. This is termed as one of the major advantages of PNP.
For convenience of employers and immigrants, each province has designed and framed its own immigration streams of plans for certain groups. These streams are meant to fulfil requirements of industries and domains in particular province. Most of the Canadian provinces offer specific immigration streams to skilled and semi-skilled workers, business people, professionals, entrepreneurs and students.
Who are Eligible for PNP?
This program aim to nominate skilled workers, professionals and immigrants, who meet following eligibility criteria:
- Education and skill training
- Prior work experience in relevant field
- Sufficient funds
- Valid job offer
- Willingness to settle in a Canadian province
- Have plans to apply for Canada Permanent Residence
The Provincial Nominee Program immigration pathway also helps skilled workers, young professionals and job seekers to secure Canada Permanent Residence (PR) visa. The eligible candidates can apply under Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in order to work and stay in Canada for limited period with particular Canadian employer. The skilled workers, professionals and immigrants are selected and nominated according to their education, skill training, age, language proficiency, previous work experience and adaptability. It is important to note that various Canadian PNP gateways are designed and framed to fulfil requirements of labour markets and different industries in the provinces, hence relevant work experience, education and skill training play important role in securing Canada PNP.
Which Documents are Required for Canada PNP Applications?
Candidates seeking Canada PNP must provide the set of compulsory documents before submitting application in province. It saves time, money, energy and resources of candidates. In order to secure PNP, candidates must maintain the following set of documents –
- Valid job offer from authentic Canadian employer
- Relevant work experience certificate
- Academic credentials – Senior Secondary Education (Class 12)
- Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5: Reading – 4 band, Listening – 5 band, Speaking – 5 band and Writing – 5 band
- Sufficient funds
- Medical report
- Settlement plans in Canadian province
- Police clearance certificate
Which Provinces Nominate Skilled Workers and Professionals in PNP?
Skilled workers, professionals and immigrants are nominated under ten PNP gateways. Candidates must note that the eligibility criteria of PNP may differ and can change without notice.
Here is a list of provinces that offer PNP —
- British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program
- Ontario Provincial Nominee Program
- Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program
- Alberta Provincial Nominee Program
- Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program
- Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program
- New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program
- Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program
- Saskatchewan Provincial Nominee Program
- Northwest Territories Provincial Nominee Program
How Does Canada PNP Work?
There are two options of filing applications in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams. These processes are –
- Paper based process
- Through Express Entry
Paper based application filing: In this process, candidates should apply to the province in order to get nominated under the non-Express Entry stream. The province nominates skilled workers and professionals if their occupation is on the National Occupation Classification (NOC) list. It is important to understand that candidates must meet all eligibility criteria in order to qualify In-demand Occupation PNP stream. Candidates are allowed to apply for Canada Permanent Residence Visa in future.
Through Express Entry System: This immigration pathway has two sub categories. There are two ways of application filing. Candidates can apply for a nomination by contacting specific province or apply for a nomination under the Express Entry stream. In case of receiving provincial nominee certificate or provincial nomination, candidates can create an Express Entry profile or update their existing profile in the Express Entry pool.
In second option, candidates can create an Express Entry profile (file online application) and mention name of province of their choice (or interest) in the application. If the province sends a ‘notification of interest’, candidates can directly contact the province and update profile through the Canada Express Entry program. In all the cases candidates must fulfil all eligibility criteria in order to successfully get Canada PNP.
Eligible candidates, who are nominated by the province or secure provincial nomination certificate can create an Expression of Interest (EOI) (or online application) in Express Entry pool. It is important to note that the provincial nomination certificate helps candidates gaining extra 600 CRS points in the Express Entry pool, hence helping them to secure PNP and Permanent Residence successfully in Canada.
It is interesting to note that to allow foreign skilled workers, professionals, job seekers and immigrants, some provinces are linked with Express Entry Program. It means that candidates can be directly selected from Express Entry pool draws that are conducted twice in a month.
Benefits of Canada PNP
The Canada PNP is the best gateway for skilled workers, job seekers, professionals and entrepreneurs to secure immigration in hassle-free and fast manner. The processing of documentation and applications is done on fast track mode if the case file of candidates is organised. These are the benefits of PNP –
- Option to get selected from Express Entry pool
- Chances to gain extra CRS points (or 600 CRS points) in Express Entry pool, if provincial nomination is secured by candidates
- Option to work and stay in a province of candidate’s interest
- Some provinces like Alberta have open list of in-demand occupations
- Some provinces like Manitoba and Saskatchewan offer provincial nomination certificate to candidates having language proficiency score below benchmark
- Some provinces offer very good options to businessmen, entrepreneurs and start up enthusiasts
How Candidates Can Apply for Canada PNP?
Candidates should follow these key steps while applying to secure PNP:
➡ Apply to any Canadian province after understanding eligibility criteria stated by the province
➡ Get points allocated by the authorities after evaluating applications of candidates
➡ Receive nomination certificate by the province (if all eligibility criteria are met by candidates)
➡ Eligible candidates are allowed to apply for Canada Permanent Residence visa
➡ Candidates, who have online profile in Express Entry pool, earn additional CRS points (or 600 additional CRS points) under Express Entry aligned PNP stream. It is important to note that candidates must fulfil all eligibility criteria to secure immigration.
Why us?
A trusted immigration consultant, Key Global Immigration Services, always evaluates the application of candidates in order to confirm their chances of Canada immigration. The team always explains candidates PNP streams that suit them according to their personal and professional credentials. This helps candidates to select the best immigration pathways in order to achieve their dreams and goals. Need guidance, Contact us NOW!
