Provincial Nominee Program

The Provincial Nominee Program, usually called the PNP, lets provinces and territories nominate people for permanent residence. IRCC says it is for people who have the skills, education and work experience to help the local economy, who want to live in that province or territory, and who want to become permanent residents of Canada.

A nomination is not permanent residence by itself. It is a step: after a province or territory nominates you, you apply to IRCC for permanent residence.

Eleven provinces and territories have programs: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Yukon.

Quebec and Nunavut do not have programs under the PNP. If you want to go to Quebec, look at the other immigration options IRCC lists.

Each province and territory sets its own requirements, and each decides how many people it can nominate each year. IRCC does not give a single list of criteria. You need to read the streams on the website of the province or territory you are interested in, and check which one fits your job, your experience and your plans.

There are two routes, and the province or territory tells you which one applies to you:

• The Express Entry route is for people who qualify for both a provincial or territorial stream and a federal Express Entry program. If you are nominated, you create an Express Entry profile and receive 600 extra points, which helps you get invited to apply for permanent residence.
• The non-Express Entry route is for people who qualify for a provincial or territorial stream but not for a federal Express Entry program.

Our Express Entry guide explains how the points system works and why 600 extra points matters so much.

On the non-Express Entry route, once a province or territory has nominated you, you apply online for permanent residence through the IRCC portal. The steps are:

• Create an account or sign in.
• Pay your application fees and upload the receipt. IRCC returns your application if you do not pay the full fees.
• Submit your application. If it is incomplete, IRCC rejects it and you must fix the errors and submit again.

You pay processing fees for yourself and anyone you include, and the biometrics fee when you submit. The right of permanent residence fee is paid when your application is approved. Depending on your situation you may also pay third parties for medical exams, police certificates and educational credential assessments. Check the IRCC fee list for the current amounts.

IRCC does not give a single timeframe. It says processing depends on the type of application, whether it is complete, how fast applications are handled, how easily your information can be checked and how quickly you respond to any request. Times can also increase if more people apply than the Immigration Levels Plan allows.

Start with the places where your occupation is in demand and where you can realistically settle. Read each province stream page in full, because eligibility rules, documents and costs differ. Keep your documents ready, and check the websites regularly, since provinces and territories can change their streams.