The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is designed to:

1. 1. enable provinces and territories to support the immigration of people who have expressed an interest in settling in their province
   2. or territory the province or territory believes will be able to contribute to the economic development and prosperity of that province or territory and Canada.

Quebec has a different selection system. 

Provinces and territories that operate a PNP can nominate people through either of the following:

• The non-Express Entry application process for “base” nominations (paper-based or online)
• Express Entry(EE) electronic application (e-application) process for “enhanced” nominations

How to apply?

To be nominated by a province or territory, an applicant must follow the instructions on their website and contact them directly.

1. an application to the province for nomination: obtain Provincial Nomination Certificate first

2. Submit an application to a federal visa officer for permanent residency: submit a separate application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for your Canada Immigration

3. The certificate of nomination is required for the visa officer’s assessment, but the final decision rests solely with the Federal department

The common criteria:

• Job offer in the province
• Education
• Work experience in critical industries or In-Demand industries
• English and/or French language skills
• Close relations in that province
• Ability to adapt to life in that province

Summary of PNP– Made by Canrely 

Provinces	Number of programs	Streams/categories
Alberta	3	Strategic Recruitment Stream   Compulsory and optional trades category   Engineering occupations category   Post-graduate worker category Employer-Driven Steam– Skiller Worker Category Semi-skilled worker category International graduate category–the post-secondary institution  Self-employed farmer stream
British Columbia	3	1. Skills Immigration  2. Express Entry BC 3. Entrepreneur immigration
Manitoba (MPNP)	2	The MPNP for skilled worker   Skilled workers in Manitoba  Skilled workers Overseas MPNP business investor stream The entrepreneur pathway  The farm investor pathway
New Brunswick (NBPNP)	4	Express entry Entrepreneurial Skilled worker with Employer support Skilled worker with Family support
Newfoundland and Labrador	3	Express entry skilled worker  Skilled worker International graduate
Northwest Territories	2	Nominee Program for Employers Nominee Program for business stream
Nova Scotia	5	Entrepreneur International Graduate Entrepreneur Skilled worker Nova Scotia Demand: Express entry   Nova Scotia Experience: Express entry
Ontario(ONIP)	Basically, 3 programs but each of the three has subcategories :	Business category   Corporate stream  Entrepreneur Stream Employer Job Offer Category Foreign Worker Stream  International Student Stream In-Demand Skills stream Human Capital Category  Masters Graduate Stream  PhD Graduate Stream  Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream   Express Entry Human Capital priorities stream   Express entry skilled trades
Prince Edward Island	3	Atlantic Immigration Pilot  Immigrate to PEI as a worker  Immigrate to PEI as an entrepreneur
Saskatchewan	4	International Skilled Worker Category Saskatchewan Experience Category Entrepreneur Category Farm Category
Yukon	4	Skilled worker Express entry Critical impact worker Business nominee

Refusing the application

•  The applicant does not intend to live in the province that has nominated them
•  Unlikely to be able to successfully establish economically in Canada
• Is participating in, or intends to participate in, a passive investment or an immigration-linked investment scheme
•  The applicant has failed to meet the requirement of A11. 2, the express entry minimum entry criteria
• Section 11.2 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) includes a new authority that supports the Express Entry system.
  Under section A 11.2 , an officer may not issue a visa to an applicant who did not or does not meet the Express Entry minimum entry criteria (MEC) or did not or does not possess the qualifications for which they received their CRS score at the time when
  • the invitation to apply (ITA) was issued; or
  • the e-APR was received by IRCC.

When reviewing an application, processing offices must determine if
• the applicant possesses the qualifications that they declared in their e-APR, as corroborated by the applicant’s supporting documentation; and
• when the applicant submits their e-APR, the information provided in their Express Entry profile has not materially changed to the degree that the applicant would not have been issued an ITA in that round of invitations.
Accordingly, officers should refuse an application under section A11.2 if it is determined that
• at the time of the ITA or e-APR, the applicant did not or does not meet the MEC, which includes the requirements of the program to which they were invited to apply; or
• the applicant’s recalculated CRS score has fallen below that of the lowest-ranked candidate invited to apply in that round of invitations.