This article will provide an overview of Canada’s 11 Provincial Nominee Programs.
Provincial nominee programs (PNPs) are available in almost all Canadian provinces, territories, and territories (except Quebec and Nunavut). They allow each region to nominate candidates for immigration interested in settling down in a specific area of Canada.
This program aims to spread the benefits of immigration across Canada, especially since Canadian immigration has been historically disproportionate to Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec. There are currently more than 80 PNP streams for potential Canadian immigrants.
Below is a summary of the specific PNP for each province or territory.
Note: Many streams have unique and varying fees, application criteria/requirements — including whether the PNP stream requires candidates to have an existing job offer — and steps involved with the application process.
The following hyperlinks will give you more information than the overviews.
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program offers eight streams for workers and entrepreneurs interested in making Canada’s most populous “prairie provincial” their new home.
These streams include:
- For workers: Alberta Opportunity Stream and Alberta General Express Entrance Stream. Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway. Rural Renewal Stream.
- For entrepreneurs: Farm Stream, Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream, and Rural Entrepreneur Stream
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program – BC PNP
Three streams are provided by the British Columbia Province Nominee Program (BC PNP). They offer three main streams for potential newcomers to Canada who would like to live in one of Canada’s most beautiful provinces.
These streams offer different pathways to immigration for other groups.
- Skills Immigration Stream: Divided into individual categories for Skilled Workers, Healthcare Professionals, International Graduates, International Post-Graduates, and Entry-Level/Semi-Skilled Workers
- Express Entry British Columbia: Stream: Separated into categories for skilled workers, healthcare professionals, international graduates, and international post-graduates
- Entrepreneur Immigration: Separated into a Base category, a Regional Pilot category, and a Strategic Projects section
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program – MPNP
Manitoba’s Provincial Nominee Program can be used by anyone who wants to travel to the country’s most central province via the five PNP routes:
- Skilled Worker in Manitoba: This stream includes a Manitoba Work Experience Program as well as an Employer-Direct Recruitment Pathway
- Skilled Worker Overseas: Includes a Manitoba Express Entry Pathway, and a Human Capital Pathway
- Manitoba Business Investor Stream: Includes a Farm Investor Pathway and an Entrepreneur Pathway.
- International Education Stream: This includes a Career Employment Pathway, a Graduate Internship Pathway, and an International Student Entrepreneur Pathway
- Morden Community Driven Initiative – To add workers to specific roles (welders and carpenters, cooks. plumbers. pipe fitters.) specifically for the town of Morden in Manitoba.
New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program – NBPNP
The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) offers five routes for anyone who wants to immigrate to Canada to live in the largest Maritimes Province.
These streams include:
- Express Entry Stream – For those candidates who are most likely to meet New Brunswick’s specific needs/goals both demographically and concerning the labor market
Notice: As of the date of writing, this stream has suspended receipt of applications (as of May 20, 2020)
- Skilled Workers Stream – For those with a permanent, full-time job offer
- Business Migration Stream: Who plans to manage and own a business
- Stream strategic initiative: For Francophone workers who want to live and work permanently in New Brunswick and have the skills, education, and experience to help the province.
- Atlantic Immigration Program – To address the generalized Atlantic Canada labor shortages in New Brunswick.
Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program – NLPNP
There are five possible routes for an immigrant who wants to make Canada’s easternmost province his home.
These are the streams of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Provincial Nominee Program.
- Newfoundland and Labrador Express Ent Skilled Worker – For skilled workers with a job offer and an Express Entry profile through IRCC
- Skilled Workers Category: This category is for skilled workers who have been offered a job and candidates who are in the province already with a valid work permit.
- International Graduate Class: This category is for recent graduates who have received both a job offer and a post-graduate work permit.
- International Entrepreneur Category – For those who have had their business operating for at least one year under a Temporary work permit and are looking to co-manage or buy a business.
- International Graduate Entrepreneur Category: This category is for graduates of provincial postsecondary institutions who want to start, co-own, or run their businesses.
- Atlantic Immigration Pilot – A federal program to fast-track immigration that hires foreign nationals for jobs not available locally
Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
Nova Scotia is known for its 13,000 km of coastline.
If you are interested in moving to Canada’s second-smallest province, this is the place for you. Here are nine streams that can be accessed through the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program:
- Nova Scotia Experience: Expedited Entry
- Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities
- Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities for Physicians
- Skilled Worker Stream
- Occupation In Demand Stream
- International Graduates On-Demand Stream
- Entrepreneur Stream
- International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Physician Stream
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
Ontario is Canada’s most populous province and historically the most popular for immigration. For Canadian newcomers who are eligible, there are four categories in the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP).
These are the categories:
- Human Capital Category: This is the general name for a group that includes the Federal Skilled Workers Program and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Skilled Trades, for candidates who have experience in eligible trades and French-Speaking Skilled Workers. These programs operate the same programs as Human Capital Priorities, but applicants must be fluent in English and French.
- Master’s or Ph.D. Category: As the name implies, there is one stream to Masters Grads and one to Ph.D. Grads.
- Employer Job Description Category: Three distinct programs are offered to job seekers. They include the Foreign Workers Stream, the Program for International Students, and the In-Demand Skill Stream.
- Categories for Businesses: The Entrepreneur Stream is included.
Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program – PEI PNP
Canada’s smallest province offers potential newcomers three options to settle in Canada’s potato-famous region. Through Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP),
These are your options:
- PEI PNP Express Entry: This is for candidates who have a valid Express Entry profile
- Labour Impact category: This includes a Skilled Workers Stream, a Critical Workers Stream, and an International Graduate stream
- Business Impact category: This category is for candidates who wish to invest in local PEI businesses
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
Saskatchewan’s Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) offers potential newcomers to Canada four streams through which they may immigrate to Saskatchewan.
These streams include:
- The International Skilled Worker category includes a Tech Talent Pathway and an Employment Offer Pathway. There is also an Occupations in Demand pathway. You can also access a route to Saskatchewan Express Entry.
- Saskatchewan Experience Category: Six pathways for Skilled Workers with Work Permits, Semi-skilled Agriculture Workers With Existing Work Permits, Health Professionals, Hospitality Sector Projects, Long Haul Truck Driver Projects, and Students
- Category for Entrepreneurs and Farmers: This category includes an Entrepreneur subcategory and a subcategory for Farm Owners and Operators
- International Graduate Entrepreneur category: This category is for international students of eligible Saskatchewan postsecondary institutions interested in starting their businesses.
Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
The Northwest Territories nominee program (NTNP) offers two distinct streams that allow interested Canadians to explore the possibility of settling in the region. It is home to two of North America’s largest freshwater lake systems and one of the most prestigious national parks in the country.
These streams include:
The Northwest Territories Employer-Driven Program
- Express Entry System to Skilled Workers
- Skilled worker: Candidates who have been offered employment in a professional job and have worked there for at least six months.
- Entry-Level/Semi-Skilled Jobs: Candidates who have worked at an entry-level job for at least six months. The territory may also consider candidates capable of filling entry-level employment gaps.
The Business Immigration Program:
- Business Stream – For those who can start, acquire or invest in a Northwest Territories company.
Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
The Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) is Yukon’s version of the PNP. It has five streams that allow Canadian newcomers to settle in the territory.
These streams include:
- Yukon Express Entry – For those with permanent and full-time employment offers
- Skilled Workers: To be sponsored by a local employer to obtain permanent residence in Canada
- Critical Impression Worker: Sponsored by an employer in high-demand jobs, this position is for semi-skilled and unskilled candidates
- Yukon Business Nominee Programme: This program is for candidates who have business experience and are looking to start a business, partner with an established company or buy and run an existing one.
- Yukon Community Pilot: Allows candidates already nominated to work for multiple employers simultaneously
