Canada Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)
The Canada provincial Nominee program started as a result of skill shortages in the some territories of Canada. Therefore, there are over 80 PNPs in Canada. And each has its individual requirement.
That said, some of these PNPs require applicants who have some connections to the province.
That is, applicants who have either studied or worked earlier in the region. Or those who have a job offer from an employer within the province.
These provinces are able attract international talents and meet the labor shortages through this program.
PNP nominations add extra 600 CRS points to your Express Entry profile. This makes you qualified to apply directly to the IRCC for a Canadian PR visa.
Below is a list of the PNP programs in Canada:
- Prince Edward Island
- British Columbia
- Ontario PNP (known as OINP)
- Saskatchewan immigrant nomination program
- Manitoba
- Nova Scotia
Do you work in the IT, healthcare, education, finance, accounting or marketing sector, this is the best time to expand your options using the PNP.
To get your PR using the PNP, there is a condition attached: You should live within the province and contribute to its economic growth.
How does the PNP work?
To apply under for the pnp program, there are two options:
- Express Entry
- Paper-based process
Express Entry System
Here, you can either contact the province directly to apply for a nomination. OR create an express entry profile and forward it to the province of interest.
Whether you choose the latter or the former, you still need to update or create a new express entry profile.
For you to receive a notification of interest (NOI), you need to satisfy the qualification requirement of these provinces.
Paper based process:
Here you first have to apply to the province through the non-express entry category. It mostly works out for provinces that have occupation-in-demand streams.
So, if you apply, and your occupation is in demand, you have a high chance of getting selected.
Once selected, you can proceed to apply for a Canada PR visa through a paper application. This step takes longer processing time when compared to the express entry system.
In summary, the following steps are involved in your pr visa application through the pnp program:
- File an application to your desired province
- Get a nomination letter from the province if you meet the requirements
- Apply for a Canadian pr visa.
Documents required for the Canada PNP application
Applicants have to present the following documents to apply for Canada pnp:
- Current passport and travel history
- Educational degrees and WES-approved transcript
- Up-to-date medical report
- Police clearance certificate
- Employer-reference letters
- Other supporting documents (depending on the province)