Individuals interested in immigrating to a certain Canadian province or territory can use the provincial nominee programs (PNPs) to obtain permanent residence in Canada. 

Each province and territory in Canada has its own PNP, which is tailored to their individual economic and demographic needs. 

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Every year, the Canadian federal government increases the number of invitations for PNP candidates. These programs are the fastest growing route to economic immigration in Canada. As per the statistics, over 200,000 people are expected to obtain Canadian permanent residence through a Provincial Nominee Program between 2020 and 2022. Through the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), almost all provinces can nominate skilled worker candidates for admission to Canada. Altogether, there are more than 80 different provincial nominee programs. The candidates are required to hold specific skills to be eligible for the visa. The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) invites the immigrants who can contribute in the economy of the province. Although, Quebec province got no PNP, but it still has a separate immigration program which is Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

 

Advantages of Provincial Nominee Programs :

• Permanent Residency (PR) in Canada: If you get selected in a provincial nominee program (PNP) of any province, you will get the nomination from that province. This will make you eligible to apply for PR visa to Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada.

• Speedy Processing of application: Several Provincial Nominee Programs offer faster Processing of applications than other programs of immigration.

• No job offer needed: Some provincial nominee programs need no job offer from a Canadian employer to apply for a PR visa as a skilled worker.

• Low Language proficiency required: Some provincial nominee programs like SINP also need a low level of language proficiency which is CLB 4 in order to apply. It is ideal for people who lack a good IELTS score.

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Types of PNP
 

There are two different types of PNP programs.

Skilled Worker PNP - It allows provinces to expedite the processing for skilled workers having employment offers from a local provincial employer in an occupation or business sector that meets local provincial needs.

Business Immigration Program - As the name suggests, for the entrepreneurs to help support the economy of the concerned providences. Business immigration PNP allows expedited immigration processing if the applicant is interested in:

• Establish a new business

• Invest money

• Enter a joint venture with a local business

 

Requirements

 If you have a connection to the province or territory through school or work experience, you will have a greater chance of receiving a provincial nomination. Your skills and work experience will also play a role, as the labour market of every province and territory in Canada are different. 

The requirements are different for each PNP in Canada. Provinces and territories are often looking for applicants with work experience that meets the needs of their specific labour market. 

They also take into consideration language proficiency, education, and skill set. In order to qualify, you must demonstrate that you will be able to contribute to the local economy, and have a genuine intention to settle in that province or territory.

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Canada's provinces cannot grant permanent resident status on their own since all decisions on permanent residency in Canada must be approved at the national level by the federal government. 

As a result, the provincial programs are referred to as "nominee" programs. 

A successful applicant to a PNP will be nominated by the province to apply to the federal government for permanent residency. As a result, obtaining a provincial nomination is always the first step in a two-step process. An interested immigrant must first be authorized at the provincial level before applying to the federal level.

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Steps involved to apply

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1. Firstly find the PNP & determine your eligibility: Consult the list of provinces and territories to determine where you would like to immigrate. Make sure to check the requirements for each PNP to determine your eligibility.

2. Apply: Submit an application directly to your chosen province or territory.

3. Obtain a Provincial Nomination certificate: If your application is successful, the province or territory will nominate you to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

4. Submit your application for permanent residence: Apply to the Canadian federal government for permanent residence. If your chosen PNP is aligned with Express Entry, you can do this online. If not, you must submit a paper-based application.

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*Paper-based applications take substantially longer to process than Express Entry-submitted electronic applications. A permanent residence application submitted through Express Entry takes an average of 6 months to process, while a paper- based application takes an average of 18 months to process. If the PNP is not aligned with Express Entry, the federal permanent residency application must be submitted in a paper-based format, rather than electronically. 

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How Does the Provincial Nominee Program Work?

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Direct Application Process: Under this program, candidates directly submit the application via mail or courier. It is comparatively a long process, which often takes between 15 to 19 months to find out whether or not your application has been successful.

Express Entry Application Process: 

• Expression of Interest – This allows the candidates to express interest in a particular province or territory. Under this program, one can select profile directly from the Express Entry draw pool.

• Provincial Nominee Express Entry – In Canada, almost all provinces offer an Express Entry stream along with the list of in-demand occupations.

 

Required Documents To Apply 

Applying through the Province Nominee Program is quite easy, but needs careful attention on the submission of the visa file. The visa processing needs the following documents to apply for PNP.

• Updated passport with travel history

• Documents to support educational credentials

• Documents to show the working experience in a foreign country

• Recent medical report

• Clearance certificate from police department

• Other supporting documents​