Provincial Nominees Programs (PNPs) allow the Canadian provinces or territories (except Nunavut and Quebec*) to select immigrants who want to live in that province. Within a provinces’ provincial nominee program, there are multiple ‘streams’ which have been designed to meet the provinces’ self-identified economic and demographic needs. Provinces’ set the selection/eligibility criteria for their different streams. Hence, each province or territory has its own distinct provincial nominee program. In total, there are more than 70 different provincial streams. In general, streams are designed to target students, skilled and semi-skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and farmers.

How can I obtain permanent residency through PNPs?

In general, PNP streams can be classified into two types, Express Entry and non-Express Entry streams.

Eligibility requirements of the Express Entry streams will normally ask you to create an Express Entry profile and qualify for one of the federal economic immigration programs, namely, Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). If you meet those and other requirements of your selected stream, you can submit your federal permanent residency (PR) application through the online Express Entry (EE) system, after you receive the nomination from the province. IRCC conducts draws to invite provincial nominees to submit their PR application.

If you apply through a non-Express Entry stream, you will be submitting a paper-based PR application after you get nominated by the province.

What is the processing time of the paper-based PR application and the PR application submitted through Express Entry system?

Processing time of the paper-based PR application is around 15-19 months while the application submitted through Express Entry system generally gets processed within 6 months.

Note: These processing times do NOT include the processing time of your PNP application. Processing time of PNP applications vary greatly and it may take few months for your application to be assessed.

What are the general steps of obtaining PR through paper-based application?

Note: These steps have been greatly generalized. Process steps may vary depending on the PNP stream.

For Paper-based application:

  • Find out the stream which you think is best suitable for you and check whether you meet the eligibility requirements of that non-Express Entry PNP stream.
  • If you meet the eligibility requirements, you may submit your application.
  • If your application gets approved, you will get nominated by the province and will receive a nomination certificate.
  • Prepare and submit your paper-based PR application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
  • IRCC will conduct medical, criminal and security checks.
  • If IRCC approves your application, you will need to complete your landing.

What are the general steps of obtaining PR through Express Entry system?

This application process varies by province but generally, there are 2 ways to apply:

  • Find the PNP stream with Express Entry component that is most applicable to you and check whether you meet the eligibility requirements of that Express Entry PNP stream.
  • Depending on the stream, you may need to create an Express Entry profile and obtain Express Entry profile number and job seeker code before applying to the Express Entry PNP stream.
  • If meet the other requirements of the Express Entry PNP stream and you have obtained the Express Entry profile number and job seeker code, you may be able to submit you PNP application to the province.
  • If your application gets approved, you will get nominated by the province and 600 CRS points will be added to your Express Entry profile. These additional points essentially guarantee you that you will receive an invitation-to-apply from IRCC.
  • If you receive an Invitation-to-Apply (ITA), submit you PR application to the IRCC through the online Express Entry system.
  • IRCC will conduct medical, criminal and security checks.
  • If IRCC approves your application, you will need to complete your landing.

Second process:

  • Create and submit an Express Entry Profile and choose the province or territory of your interest.
  • If you meet the criteria of the applicable stream of your province of interest, the province may send you a Notification of Interest (NOI) through your Express Entry profile.
  • If you receive NOI, check whether you meet the other eligibility requirements of the stream
  • If you meet all the requirements, submit your application to the province
  • If your application gets approved, you will get nominated by the province and 600 CRS points will be added to your Express Entry profile. These additional points essentially guarantee you that you will receive an invitation-to-apply from IRCC.
  • If you receive an Invitation-to-Apply (ITA), submit you PR application to the IRCC through the Express Entry online system.
  • IRCC will conduct medical, criminal and security checks.
  • If IRCC approves your application, you will need to complete your landing.

Please note that the above process flow has been vastly generalized, your own process may differ. Also, the provinces’ frequently make changes to their programs and stream requirements. They may introduce new streams or suspend existing ones.