Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program 2024 (PNP Programs)

Applicants for Canadian work visas under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) enjoy a speedy visa application process. Intending immigrants under PNP should have the necessary skills, proper education, sufficient work experience, and a passing language examination result for semi or low-skilled trades or professions.

To qualify under the Provincial Nominee Program, a Canadian province or territory must nominate an applicant. Many Canadian provinces have an arrangement with the national Government of Canada in order to carry out their prerogative of nominating immigrant workers who would like to establish themselves in their respective province.

The VisaPlace Express Entry Application Service will get you into the pool quickly and with a profile that gives you the best chance of being selected. Find out if you are eligible for our Express Entry Service by clicking Get Started.

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What are Provincial Nominee Programs?

PNP Canada programs allow Canadian provinces to nominate individuals for immigration to their province based on criteria set by the provincial government. Successful applicants obtain a provincial nomination, which may then be used to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
  • Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
  • British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)
  • Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)
  • New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
  • Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NSPNP)
  • Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
  • Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
  • Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
  • Quebec Skilled Workers Program (QSWP)
  • Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)

  • Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)

What is the Express Entry Stream of PNP?

The Express Entry stream is aligned with federal express entry system. Under this stream a Canadian provinces are allowed to select the candidates from express entry pool and notify them to apply in their Provincial Nominee Program.

How to Apply for Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)

While the immigration process in general is confusing, the PNP doesn’t have to be. There are several steps that you can take to start the process for applying for a PNP no matter whichever Province you are applying for.

Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility 

Step 2: Start the Application Process

Step 3: Check the Process Times

Step 4: Provide Required Documents

Step 5: Prepare Your Arrival to Canada or Apply Again With Corrections to Application

Express Entry vs PNP: Which One Should I Choose for Canada Permanent Residency?

Many people who are interested in Canadian PR ask this question, which program they should apply for. Express Entry is by far the most popular and typically the fastest program to obtain Canadian Permanent Residency through. The Express Entry program calculates a score for each applicant depending on a collection of categories. However, if your CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) is low, you can plan to apply in any of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for Canada. Many PNPs accept the applicant even with low CRS score.

Find out how to improve your CRS score for Express Entry and PNP.

*Provinces and territories (PTs) that operate a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) can nominate candidates through the Express Entry pool, in addition to nominating foreign nationals to the existing paper-based process. The VisaPlace Express Entry Application Service will get you into the pool quickly and with a profile that gives you the best chance of being selected. Find out if you are eligible for our Express Entry Service by clicking Get Started.

Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR)

Once the IRCC has received your PR immigration application, you will receive an Acknowledgment of Receipt also known as an AOR. This AOR is a confirmation that your application file has been created. You may also be referred to an “AOR date” which is the date from when your 6 months intended processing time begins.

Why Seeking Professional Help with PNPs is Important

The Provincial Nominee Program is a great opportunity for foreigners to gain permanent residence in Canada. However, since the criteria for PNP differ in every province or territory, an applicant cannot afford to make a single error. Consulting with a legal professional from Canada will help you understand what province might be the best option for your application bid, and what specific requirements are necessary.

Which PNP Require the Lowest IELTS Score?

Both Saskatchewan and Manitoba require the lowest IELTS out of all the Canadian provinces.

The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is key selection parameter in Canada immigration system. The immigration authorities verify the English proficiency level of an applicant based on their IELTS Test result. IELTS is a globally recognized and accepted English language proficiency test.

Saskatchewan Province of Canada accepts the applicants with low IELTS score requirement for its Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). The SINP require minimum CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) 4 score in IELTS. Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) of Manitoba Province also need low IELTS level, i.e. CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) 4 score.

What to Expect When Applying for the PNP

Once nominated by a province or territory, the next step is to file a PR (Permanent Residence) application with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). The CIC will then evaluate your application and supporting documents based on Canadian immigration rules.