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Provincial Nominee Programs across Canada

By: Janice Bandick

Published On: November 2, 2015

The Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) allows provinces to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada and who are interested in settling in a particular province.

Each Canadian province and one territory has its own unique Provincial Nomination Program (except for Quebec, which has a different selection system).

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.

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Each province and territory has its own “streams” (immigration programs that target certain groups) and criteria for their PNP.

To apply for the PNP applicants must:

  • apply to a province or territory for a nomination,
  • be nominated by that province or territory, then
  • apply to CIC to become a permanent resident.

By their very nature, Provincial Nominee Programs are a dynamic and constantly evolving set of Canadian immigration programs. These programs often have relatively small intake caps, and provincial governments are entitled to make changes to them in order to respond to local labour market needs.

ALBERTA
Effective August 27, 2015, the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) will not be accepting new applications under any AINP Streams or Categories until January 27, 2016. This temporary pause will help the AINP assess existing applications in the queue and prevent the queue from growing further.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Effective September 1st, 2015, new applications will no longer be accepted for the majority of BC PNP Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC categories.

The BC PNP will only continue to accept applications under the following categories:

  • Health Care Professional – Skills Immigration
  • Health Care Professional – Express Entry BC
  • Northeast Pilot Project
MANITOBA
Program Streams:

  • Skilled Workers in Manitoba – Applications are accepted from qualified temporary foreign workers and international student graduates who are currently working in Manitoba and have been offered a permanent job with their Manitoba employer.
  • Skilled Workers Overseas – Applications are accepted from qualified skilled workers who can demonstrate a strong connection to the province through family or friends, past education or employment, or by invitation of the MPNP, and be assessed sufficient points for five eligibility factors – age, English proficiency, work experience, education and adaptability.
  • Provincial Nominee Program for Business – Allows Manitoba to recruit and nominate qualified business people from around the world who have the intent and ability to move to Manitoba and establish, purchase a business or become partners in an existing business.
NEW BRUNSWICK
Program Streams:

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) has developed and launched its Express Entry Labour Market Stream (EELMS). This stream allows the NBPNP to use CIC’s Express Entry system to meet New Brunswick’s specific labour market and demographic needs.

NBPNP staff will evaluate submissions and invite the most suitable candidates to apply to the EELMS.

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
Program Streams:

  • Skilled Worker Category – Applicants have a full-time job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer, or a job or job offer that has compensation in the form of a salary and benefits package that meets provincial employment standards and prevailing wage rates;
  • International Graduate Category – The NLPNP International Graduate Category is for international students who have graduated from a recognized post-secondary educational institution in Canada, to be considered for nomination for permanent residence in Canada.
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Applicants can be nominated for permanent residency under the Employer Driven or Business Streams.

Employer Driven Streams

  • Critical Impact Worker – This stream is intended to assist employers with critical labour shortages that cannot be filled by local or Canadian residents.
  • Skilled Worker – This stream is designed to attract qualified individuals that will assist with shortages of skilled workers in the Northwest Territories. This stream is for skilled occupations for which formal education and/or specialized training is required. These occupations are within the National Occupational Classification, Skill Levels 0, A, and B.
  • NWT Express Entry

Business Driven Streams (currently under review)

  • Entrepreneur
  • Self Employed
NOVA SCOTIA
Program streams:

  • Skilled Worker – The Skilled Worker stream helps employers recruit and hire foreign workers and recently graduated international students whose skills are in limited supply in Nova Scotia. The employer can only hire foreign workers for positions they have been unable to fill with permanent residents or Canadian citizens.
  • Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry – The Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry selects highly skilled individuals who wish to live in the Province of Nova Scotia permanently and who have at least one year of experience working in Nova Scotia in a high skilled occupation. This stream will have an intake cap of 750 applications.
  • Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry
  • Family Business Worker – The Family Business Worker stream helps employers hire workers who are close relatives. They must also have the work experience and required skills for positions employers have been unable to fill with a permanent resident or Canadian citizen.
ONTARIO

Program streams:

  • Investors (Closed effective October 29, 2015)
  • Corporate Stream (coming Fall 2015)
  • Entrepreneur Stream (coming Fall 2015)
  • Masters Graduates
  • PhD Graduates
  • Foreign Workers
  • International Students With a Job Offer
  • Ontario Human Capital Priorities
  • Ontario French-Speaking Skilled Worker

Once they are recruited by an employer, individuals who meet all of the OINP requirements may be nominated by the province for permanent residence as Provincial Nominees. Individuals applying in the International Students: Masters graduate or PhD graduate stream can apply directly to OINP.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Labour Impact Category

  • Skilled Worker Stream – Potential nominees who possess the necessary skills and fall under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level O, A or B are eligible provided they have obtained a post-secondary degree/diploma and experience in the intended profession.
  • Critical Worker Stream – helps to facilitate filling labour market shortages through enabling foreign workers to apply to become permanent residents. The job being offered must fall under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level C or D which requires the completion of a minimum of 12 years of education – equivalent to a high school diploma or on the job training.
  • International Graduate Stream – Provides opportunity for Prince Edward Island employers to hire a recent graduate from a recognized accredited Prince Edward Island university or college.

Business Impact Category

  • Business Impact Category – Provides the opportunity for foreign nationals to be nominated providing they invest in and actively manage a business in Prince Edward Island.
  • Partial Ownership Stream – Designed for applicants who wish to transition into the Prince Edward Island business community by becoming a part owner in a business.
  • Work Permit Stream – Allows applicants to come to Prince Edward Island and begin working and learning about the business they will be investing in prior to nomination by the Province of Prince Edward Island.

PEI PNP Express Entry Stream

SASKATCHEWAN
International Skilled Worker Category – The International Skilled Worker category is for skilled workers who want to work and live in Saskatchewan.

  • With an Employment Offer – Will accept 3,849 more applications in 2015
  • Express Entry – reached application quota, no longer accepting applications for 2015
  • Occupations in Demand – reached application quota, no longer accepting applications for 2015

Saskatchewan Experience Category – The Saskatchewan Experience category is for foreign nationals currently working and living in Saskatchewan.

  • Existing Work Permits & Health Professionals – Will accept 679 more applications in 2015
  • Students – Will accept 768 more applications in 2015
  • Hospitality Workers – Will accept 159 more applications in 2015
  • Long Haul Truck Drivers – Will accept 223 more applications in 2015

Entrepreneur and Farm Category- The Entrepreneur and Farm category is for applicants who wish to invest their management talent and capital in a Saskatchewan business or farm operation.

  • Farmers – Will accept 33 more applications in 2015
YUKON
Program streams:

  • Skilled Worker Program – qualified workers who fit into National Occupational Classification (NOC) 0, A or B categories.
  • Express Entry – Skilled workers who fit into National Occupational Classification (NOC) A, 0 and B.
  • Critical Impact Worker Program – Qualified workers who fit into National Occupational Classification (NOC) C or D categories. Business Nominee Program – Individuals with proven business skills who want to own and operate businesses in Yukon.

 

Please note, this information was compiled on October 30, 2015. For the most up to date information, visit the individual province's website, as PNP changes occur on a regular basis.

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The information contained in this post is considered true and accurate as of the publication date. However, the accuracy of this information may be impacted by changes in circumstances that occur after the time of publication. Ashton College assumes no liability for any error or omissions in the information contained in this post or any other post in our blog.

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