After Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program is the most popular pathway to immigrate to Canada as a permanent resident. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate eligible foreign workers, students, and entrepreneurs. Once candidates get a provincial nomination, they can apply to the IRCC for a Canada PR visa through the PNP program within 6 months. 

Each Canadian province and territory has its own Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

• Alberta – The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)
• British Columbia – The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
• Manitoba – The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
• Ontario – The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
• Saskatchewan – The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
• New Brunswick –  The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NB PNP)
• Newfoundland and Labrador – The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)
• Nova Scotia – The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
• Prince Edward Island – The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
• Yukon – The Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
• Northwest Territories – Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)

Note: Even though Quebec is a Canadian province, it does not have a Provincial Nominee Program. The province selects eligible applicants through the Quebec-Selected Skilled Worker (QSSW) program. 

Nunavut is the only Canadian territory that does not have any specific nomination or selection program. You can still settle here after arriving in Canada as a Permanent Resident.

How Does the Provincial Nominee Program Work?

There are two kinds of Provincial Nominee Programs – the Express Entry streams and the non-express streams. Both work differently. 

The Express Entry PNP Streams

Each Canadian province has an Express Entry stream that nominates candidates with an eligible Express Entry profile. This means that you need to be eligible for Express Entry and have an active profile in the pool to qualify for provincial nomination.

If you are applying through any of the Express Entry PNP streams, follow the steps below.

• Be eligible for one of the three pathways managed by the Express Entry system – the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
• While creating a profile, select the particular province you want to settle in.
• Have an active profile in the Express Entry pool with a CRS score out of 1,200 points. 
• Apply to the Provincial Nominee Program of the province you want to settle in. For example, if you aim to settle in Ontario, apply to the OINP Human Capital Priorities stream. 
• In some provinces, you might not need to contact the province. In this case, the province will select the eligible candidates from the Express Entry pool and send them a Notification of Interest (NOI). Once you get a NOI, you can then apply to the province for provincial nomination. 
• Once you get the provincial nomination, accept the nomination in your Express Entry profile. 
• You will then get an additional 600 CRS points by the Comprehensive Ranking System
• Get an ITA or Invitation to Apply in the latest Express Entry draw.
• Apply for a Canada PR visa through the Express Entry program within 60 days of getting the ITA. 

The Non-Express Entry or Base PNP streams

If you do not have an active Express Entry profile, you can apply to the non-Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams. This involves the following steps.

• Select the province you want to settle in and apply to.
• Create an Expression of Interest (EOI). This will notify the province that you are interested in working and settling there. While creating an Expression of Interest (EOI), you will get a score based on your language proficiency, work experience, education, age, and many other factors.
• In most cases, the provinces announce PNP draws and invite the most suitable EOIs to apply for provincial nomination. 
• If you are invited to apply in the PNP draw, you can then apply for the provincial nomination.
• If the nomination application is approved by the province, they will issue you a provincial nomination certificate. You will then become a provincial nominee.
• As a provincial nominee, apply to IRCC for Canada PR through the Provincial Nominee Program. 

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for every province are different. However, there are some mandatory requirements for almost all cases.

• Be at least 18 years old or above
• Candidates must have completed their high school education. If your education is not from Canada, you must submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.
• Score at least CLB/NCLC 4 in English or French language tests. Most provinces accept IELTS, CELPIP, and PTE-Core for English tests, and TEF and TCF for French tests. 
• A relevant work experience of 1-3 years in an in-demand occupation is required by most provinces. The pathways exclusively for students might not require prior work experience.
• Many provinces have a points-based system to rank candidates based on their Expression of Interest (EOI). Score the minimum score if applicable.
• Aim to settle and work in the province permanently.
• Clear the medical exam (IME) and get the Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
• Be admissible in Canada. 

Documents Required for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Every Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) requires specific documents according to the eligibility requirements and applicant’s profile. However, some documents are required by most PNPs. This mandatory document checklist is given below

• Valid Passport – This is required by all the PNPs. You will need to upload the personal details page and all the pages that include any visa in your passport. 
• Proof of Language Proficiency –  You will need to upload language test results to prove proficiency in French or English. The test results are valid for 2 years.
• Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) – If your education is not from Canada, upload the ECA report. The ECA report is valid for 5 years. 
• Academic Proficiency – You will need to upload copies of your diploma, degrees, or certificates. 
• Proof of Work Experience – In most cases, you will need to upload proof of previous work experience such as your designation, date of employment, and salary.
• Proof of Settlement Funds – You will be required to demonstrate that you have enough money to sustain yourself and your family after settling in the province.
• Medical Examination Report 
• Police Certificates (PCC) 
• Passport size photographs 
• Provincial Nomination certificate (specifically for Express Entry PNP streams)

Canada PNP: Step-by-Step Application Process

The application process for the Provincial Nominee Program has two stages:

1. Getting the provincial nomination from the province. This entirely depends on the provincial government.
2. Becoming a provincial nominee and applying for the Canada PR visa. This is managed and controlled by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Latest PNP Draw

Provincial Nominee Program – Total Nominations allocations for 2024

IRCC has allocated nominations for each province. This means that every province can nominate only a set number of eligible candidates. The nomination allocations of each province are given below. 

The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) and their Streams

Each Canadian province and territory has its distinct nomination program. Below are all the Provincial Nominee Programs and their sub-streams. 

Which PNP is the easiest to get in Canada?

The easiest Provincial Nominee Program depends upon your profile. What makes PNP one of the easier pathways to get in Canada is the variety of programs and options available to applicants. Canada PNP offers as many as 80 streams through which you can get a nomination in one of the provinces. 

Does PNP guarantee PR?

No. Getting a nomination certificate from a Canadian province only improves your chances of getting a Canada PR visa. It does not guarantee a PR. The decision to grant a PR visa solely depends on the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Once you become a provincial nominee, you will still need to apply to the IRCC for Permanent Residence. 

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