Maple News reports that four Canadian provinces—British Columbia, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island (PEI), and Quebec—have issued new rounds of invitations through their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), giving skilled workers and graduates another opportunity to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
British Columbia issued approximately 125 invitations on October 22 through targeted draws under the Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). These invitations were extended to candidates in specific occupational categories requiring job offers in BC. The breakdown includes 41 invitations in childcare (minimum score: 83), 10 in construction (score: 89), 11 in healthcare (score: 99), 60 in tech (score: 117), and fewer than five in veterinary care (score: 80). Each category had a distinct minimum score requirement based on labor market priorities.
Manitoba held its 231st Expression of Interest draw on October 24, issuing a total of 253 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) across several streams. The Skilled Worker in Manitoba stream issued 50 invitations with a minimum score of 872. The International Education stream sent out 156 invitations with no minimum score specified. Additionally, 47 LAAs were sent to Skilled Worker Overseas candidates with a minimum score of 703, provided they were invited through a strategic recruitment initiative. Out of the total, 43 were issued under enhanced PNP streams aligned with Express Entry, while 210 came from the base PNP.
Prince Edward Island and Quebec also issued invitations during the same period, although specific figures from these provinces have not yet been publicly released. These draws are part of an ongoing effort by provincial governments to address regional labor shortages by selecting skilled immigrants who can fill in-demand roles across Canada.
The Provincial Nominee Program allows provinces to nominate individuals who meet their labor market needs for permanent residence. Candidates selected under enhanced PNP streams receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points in the federal Express Entry system, significantly boosting their chances of being invited to apply for permanent residence.
As Canada continues to target high-skilled immigration to support economic growth, these provincial programs play a crucial role in welcoming newcomers who bring valuable skills and experience to their local communities.
Stay tuned with Maple News for timely, factual updates on PNP rounds and other immigration developments across Canada.