Provincial Nominee Programs for Skilled Immigration to Canada

The Provincial Nominee Programs (or PNP) is one of Canada’s key immigration programs. Except for Quebec and Nunavut, provinces and territories have standards and selection streams to look for people they need. Not all PNPs even need a job offer. Applicants are, after all, selected because a province believes they can settle and contribute to the local economy. Once selected, applicants can look forward to a more accessible process for permanent residence.

Currently, there are more than 80 PNP streams. Each PNP has at least one immigration stream aligned with the Express Entry system. Hence, these programs offer an immigration route for:

• Skilled or semi-skilled workers.
• Entrepreneurs.
• International student graduates.
• Business owners.

Take a starter migration service and check if you are eligible to apply to any of the Provincial Nominee Programs.

Express-Entry linked Provincial Nominee Programs

The Express Entry system manages candidates for three federal economic immigration categories. One of these is the Federal Skilled Worker Program. However, some PNPs can draw candidates from the Express Entry pool. These streams are the Entry-linked Provincial Nominee Programs. So, if you meet the criteria set by a PNP then you may receive a nomination certificate from that province.

The nomination will enhance your application with an added 600 points. So with more points, your profile has a better chance of selection during the succeeding Express Entry draws.

Regardless of who issues you a nomination certificate, you still have to apply for permanent residence to IRRC.

Check if you qualify to apply as a Federal Skilled Worker

A Summary of Provincial Nominee Programs/Streams

Applicants interested in settling in specific provinces and territories must meet program-specific criteria. These are skills, work experience, education, and training. Applicants must also show an interest in living in the province that nominates them.

Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)

Alberta’s Immigrant Nominee Program has three main streams.

• Alberta Opportunity Stream, or AOS. Post-graduation Work Permit Holders are a sub-stream of the AOS.
• Alberta Express Entry Stream.
• Self-Employed Farmer Stream.  

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program has three ongoing main streams.

• Skills Immigration.
• Express Entry BC.
• Entrepreneur Immigration Streams.

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)

Manitoba’s Provincial Nominee Program has five main streams. As the MPNP is undergoing renewal, other streams are set to open soon.

• Skilled Worker.
• International Education Stream.
• Skilled Worker.
• Business Investor.
• Morden Community-driven Initiative.

New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)

New Brunswick’s Provincial Nomination Program has four main streams.

• Express Entry.
• Skilled Worker.
• Entrepreneurial Stream.
• Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial.

Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)

At present, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Provincial Nominee Program has three streams. However, the NLPNP intends to add more streams.

• Express Entry Skilled Worker.
• International Graduate.
• Skilled Worker.

Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)

Nova Scotia’s Nominee Program has three Express Entry-linked main streams.

• Demand: Express Entry-Category A.
• Experience: Express Entry.
• Labour Market Priorities. This stream includes the Labour Market Priorities for Physicians sub-stream.

The other, regular streams are:

• Skilled Worker Stream-for Skilled Workers, Semi-Skilled & Low-Skilled Workers.
• Entrepreneur.
• International Graduate Entrepreneur.
• Physician Stream.

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

Ontario’s Immigrant Nominee Program also has several Express Entry-lined main streams. These are:

• Human Capital Priorities. These are for Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates.
• Skilled Trades.
• French-Speaking Skilled Worker. The OINP invites candidates from FSW and CEC candidates.

The other OINP main streams are:

• Employer Job Offer-In-Demand Skills.
• Ph.D. Graduate.
• Entrepreneur.

Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)

Prince Edward Island’s provincial nominee program has three main streams.

• Express Entry.
• Labour Market Impact.
• Business Impact.

People applying to the PEI PNP Labour Market Impact streams need employers. The sub-streams are for Critical Worker, International Graduate, and Skilled Worker.

Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)

Saskatchewan’s Immigrant Nominee Program has several streams dedicated to occupation in-demand categories. The main streams of the SINP include the following.

• International Skilled Worker.
• Saskatchewan Work Experience.
• Entrepreneur and Farm Owners.

The territories of Canada also have their own provincial nominee programs.

Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)

The Northwest Territories has two main PNP streams:

• Employer-Driven.
• Business.

Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)

Most of the Yukon’s Nominee Program requires employment for nomination. These include:

• Express Entry.
• Critical Impact Worker.
• Skilled Worker.

The Business Nominee stream of the YNP does not require an employer.

Discover your options to immigrate to Canada now.

Quebec Skilled Immigration.

Quebec has its own skilled worker programs. Neither of these streams is linked to the Express Entry. These include the following:

• Quebec Skilled Worker Program.
• Quebec Experience Program.