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What is Provincial Nominee Program?
Provincial Nominee Program are devised by provinces of Canada to meet their demand of listed occupations for the respective year. They nominate/invite Permanent Resident applicants for their province. The applicants need to meet the skill, age, language proficiency and adaptability requirements or any other prerequisites listed by the province.
Provinces and territories operate the Provincial Nominee Program Canada and nominate applicants through the Express Entry pool. Applicants who are selected by the PT (Provinces and Territories) nomination receive an additional 600 CRS – Comprehensive Ranking System points that will trigger an Invitation to Apply.
Each province has specific immigration programs and criteria. This means that you will have to meet the tailored criteria to be nominated for the particular province. Provinces like Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and Manitoba have their own Occupation in Demand list. Applicant should fall under that occupation list to be able to apply for that province. Applicants are required to portray their intention to live in that Province.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are a key part of Canada’s immigration policy, with more than 200,000 people expected to obtain Canadian permanent residence through a Provincial Nominee Program between 2020 to 2022.
Provincial Nominee Program is the fastest-growing economic Canadian immigration pathway. Over the recent years, the federal government has gradually increased provinces’ annual allocation for their respective PNPs, portraying the increasing significance of immigration on Canada’s economy.
Who Can Apply for Provincial Nominee Program?
Under Provincial Nominee Programs, provinces and territories in Canada can nominate individuals and families who wish to settle in their province or territory based on the criteria set by the provincial government.
Each province and territory sets their own eligibility criteria for Provincial Nominee Programs. For instance, one province might prioritize bringing in provincial nominees with experience in a certain occupation, while another province might prioritize bringing in provincial nominees with French-language experience. It depends on the needs of each specific province and territory.
In order to become a provincial nominee, applicants must show that they meet the set criteria. These criteria involve showing that the applicant has the relevant skills, education and work experience to be able to make a positive impression and contribution to the local economy and community. The province or territory will consider the application based on the needs of the specific province, as well as the applicant’s genuine intention to settle there.
Within each PNP, there are multiple sub-programs and categories, usually known as “streams”.
How Do I Apply for a Provincial Nominee Program?
In Canada, all final immigration decisions are made by the federal government, not the provincial government. For this reason, PNPs are a two-part process. First, you have to apply to the province for your provincial nomination.
Then, if you get an approval, you have to submit a second application addressed to the federal government for your Canadian permanent resident status.
Here’s how you can apply for the Provincial Nominee Program of your choice:
1) Find out your eligibility.
As each PNP has different eligibility and requirements, determine your eligibility for the many options available.
2)Complete a Provincial Nominee Program application.
Submit your application to the province or territory where you’ve decided to live in.
3) Receive your Provincial Nominee Certificate.
If you are application is complete and you are eligible, you will receive an official Provincial Nomination Certificate, allowing you to continue to the next step.
4) Permanent Residence Application Submission
You have to send an application for Canadian permanent residence addressed to the federal government. If you were nominated through an Express Entry-aligned PNP, you can apply through Express Entry.
Some PNP streams operate on a first-come, first-served basis, while other PNP streams require potential applicants to first register an Expression of Interest. Further, some PNP streams operate outside the federal Express Entry immigration system – these are known as “base” streams – while other PNP streams are aligned with Express Entry.
Canada Provincial Nominee Program Express Entry
Most provinces and territories have streams that are connected with the federal Express Entry selection system, through which “enhanced” nominations are available that award nominees 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points.
A provincial nomination is the single most valuable factor in the CRS, effectively guaranteeing that the candidate receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA) at a subsequent draw from the pool.
The CRS is a score out of 1,200 assigned to Express Entry candidates, which decides who should get an ITA for permanent residency. In almost every round of Express Entry draws, these 600 bonus points would guarantee that the applicant would receive an ITA.
Individuals who wish to apply for a provincial nomination under an enhanced PNP stream must first create an Express Entry profile and enter the pool.
What is the Processing Time for Provincial Nominee Programs?
Processing times for Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs largely depend on whether or not the application has been submitted under an Express Entry-linked PNP stream, or one of the other streams not linked with Express Entry.
Applicants should expect a processing period for the initial application to the province, plus an additional processing period for the final application to the federal government for permanent residence.
Most provinces have brought their processing times down to a few months, or even weeks. For Express Entry-linked applications, the federal processing time remains for most applications is six months. Non-Express Entry linked applications, also called paper-based applications, usually take between 1-2 years to process at the federal stage.
