Maple News reports that Canadian provinces and territories—excluding Quebec and Nunavut—issued a combined 3,625 invitations in April 2021 to immigration candidates seeking permanent residence under their respective Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).
These programs allow provinces to tailor their immigration strategies to meet specific economic and labour market needs. By selecting skilled workers through PNPs, provinces can better address workforce shortages and fill key positions that align with their economic priorities.
PNPs operate alongside the federal Express Entry system, serving as a major pathway to Canadian permanent residency for economic immigrants. Canada expects to welcome over 80,000 newcomers annually through PNPs until at least 2023, highlighting the growing significance of this immigration pathway.
In April, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island actively held immigration draws to invite candidates with a variety of skills and professional backgrounds. Receiving an invitation to apply through a PNP is a crucial step in the journey toward obtaining Canadian permanent residency.
Most PNPs operate on an Expression of Interest (EOI) model. Under this system, candidates submit detailed profiles outlining their education, job experience, and language proficiency. These profiles are scored, and the highest-ranked individuals receive invitations through periodic selection draws held by each province.
Once invited, candidates must submit a complete application for provincial nomination within a set deadline. Failure to do so results in the withdrawal of the invitation.
PNPs come in two forms: base and enhanced streams. Base streams operate independently of Express Entry and are administered directly by the provinces, making them more customized to address specific regional needs. Enhanced streams, on the other hand, are integrated with Express Entry and offer faster processing times for qualified candidates.
Recent developments also signal a modernization shift in the application process. Several provinces are transitioning from paper-based systems to digital platforms, streamlining the experience for applicants and reducing processing times.
Maple News will continue to monitor updates from all Canadian provinces as they adapt immigration programs to meet evolving economic demands.