PROVINCIAL NOMINEE
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows provinces and territories to nominate immigrants. Eligibility for these provincial nominee programs is based on the needs and projected demand for labour within that province or territory. Applicants for the Provincial Nominee Programs must have the skills, education and work or business experience assessed by the province or territory to ensure that that nominees can make an immediate economic contribution to the nominating province or territory, as well as an intention to settle in that particular province or territory.
Each province and territory has its own “streams” (immigration programs that target certain groups) and criteria for their PNP. For example, in a program stream, provinces and territories may target students, business people, skilled workers or semi-skilled workers. Some streams may specify particular occupations as being ‘in demand’. While this can include skilled worker occupations there often opportunities available within the semi-skilled or low-skilled worker categories, for example, in the trades, primary and manufacturing industries, as well as other categories.
IRCC retains the final authority to select nominees who can establish economically in Canada, and verifies that nominees meet all admissibility requirements before issuing permanent resident visas.
Since January 1, 2015, many provinces and territories have also launched new Express Entry streams. Some provincial nominee candidates are eligible to be considered under express entry, if they meet the criteria in one of the skilled worker categories.
Provincial nominee programs continue to provide excellent opportunities for many people, who may not otherwise be eligible through the skilled worker streams, to immigrate to Canada. However, provincial nominee programs have a limited number of places and are subject to change.