Unlike Express Entry (EE), which operates on the federal level, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is designed to meet the requirements set out by each of the participating provinces or territories, which are unique to their leading industries and internal labour market needs. Each province has different categories, or “streams” which target specific types of individuals. Thanks to the PNP, permanent residence becomes attainable for those who are not eligible to apply for EE, such as applicants whose occupations are semi-skilled, or in some cases where applicants cannot attain sufficient scores on language tests. Similarly, for those who have high-skilled occupations but whose profiles are not high-ranking in EE, the PNP could provide a solution. Although the provinces select the applicant based on their own requirements, the PNP operates in conjunction with the Federal government. The province issues a “nomination certificate” to the applicant, which, depending on the category, is then used to apply for permanent residence either as a stand-alone PNP application, or to boost your EE application. For those candidates who must apply through EE, receiving a nomination drastically increases your EE ranking, almost always guaranteeing an invitation to apply. Eligibility criteria are constantly changing to adapt to current demand, with unique procedures for each program and stream (for example, first-come first-served, draws, and passive selections). The PNP may seem daunting, considering that at any given time there may be about 80 active streams; however, our team can help you efficiently navigate the PNP and other programs to find the best pathway to Canada.
