Provincial nomination is an important fast-track option for Canadian permanent residence.
The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada and who are interested in settling in a particular province.
Each Canadian province (except Quebec, which has a different selection system) and two territories have their own unique Provincial Nominee Programs. Participating provinces and territories sign agreements with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that allow them to select immigrants who meet the requirements that they have set forth.
Provincial and territorial governments have been using these programs to more effectively and efficiently welcome newcomers to their region. Each PNP is tailored to the province’s/territory’s specific needs to select nominees who will be able to settle into life and work in the region and to effectively contribute to the community. As of 2015, most PNPs contain at least one immigration stream aligned with the federal Express Entry immigration selection system. These are known as ‘enhanced’ nominations; click here to learn more about how the PNPs function with respect to the Express Entry system.
PNP immigration streams currently available per province or territory
Express Entry
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
- Ontario
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
- Newfoundland
- Prince Edward Island
- Yukon
- Northwest Territories
Browse PNPs by province/territory –
International Graduates
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Newfoundland
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Saskatchewan
Skilled Worker (Professional)
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Prince Edward Island
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Saskatchewan
- Newfoundland
- Northwest Territories
- Yukon
Business Immigration
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Northwest Territories
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
International Graduates
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Newfoundland
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Saskatchewan
Semi-Skilled Worker
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Saskatchewan
- Northwest Territories
- Yukon
Business Immigration
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Northwest Territories
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
International Graduates
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Newfoundland
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Saskatchewan
Before submitting an application to immigrate to Canada, a nominee must first receive a Provincial Nomination Certificate from the province/territory. After a successful nomination by a province/territory, a separate application must be made to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for your Canada Immigration (permanent resident) Visa. Provincial Nominee Program processing times vary from one Canadian immigration visa office to another.
The province of Quebec, where Montreal is located, does not participate in the Provincial Nominee Program. Instead, the Governments of Quebec and Canada have entered into a series of agreements by which Quebec has established its own selection criteria for all economic immigrants with an intention to reside in Quebec.
Contact us for more information about immigration to Canada through a Provincial Nominee Program or fill out a free assessment to learn more about your options for Canadian immigration