Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Jobs That Could Get you a Provincial Nomination
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) have become an increasingly popular way for overseas foreign workers to obtain Canadian permanent residence. Since most PNPs are designed to respond to regional labour market needs, there are many that target specific occupations to help respond to job shortages.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) vary from province to province. Many PNPs require a connection to the host province, however, certain programs target overseas candidates who have never even set foot in Canada.
Here are the three provincial nominee programs that invite overseas candidates with experience in certain occupations:
1. Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) hosts a program called the Human Capital Priorities stream, which invites candidates with experience in high-demand occupations to apply for nomination. The Human Capital Priorities Stream operates using the Express Entry system. This means that, in order to be considered, eligible candidates must have an active Express Entry profile.
The Ontario Human Capital Priorities Stream holds two main types of draws:
1. Tech Draws
Ontario’s tech draws target candidates with experience in one of six tech occupations. To receive an invitation in a Tech Draw, candidates must also meet minimum stream and draw-specific requirements.
Targeted tech occupations include:
Human Capital Priorities Tech Draw Occupations
| NOC Code | Title |
|---|---|
| NOC 2173 | Software engineers and designers |
| NOC 2174 | Computer programmers and interactive media developers |
| NOC 2147 | Computer engineers |
| NOC 2175 | Web designers and developers |
| NOC 2172 | Database analysts and data administrators |
| NOC 0213 | Computer and information systems managers |
2. Priority Occupation draws
Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities Stream also hold draws that target certain Priority Occupations. These occupations change from draw to draw in response to labour market needs. Follow our news page to keep up to date on the latest occupations selected in Priority Occupations draws.
In addition to occupations, each draw typically targets a CRS range and certain timeframe when express entry profiles were created. Candidates in the Express Entry pool that meet the stream and draw criteria may be invited to apply for nomination.
2. Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Priority Skills NL stream is aimed at recruiting candidates with in-demand skills that can help respond to labour market gaps in the province. Overseas candidates with at least one year of work experience in an in-demand occupation may submit an profile to Newfoundland’s Priority Skills In-Demand Work Path. When submitting a profile, candidates are invited to upload documents to support their experience, which are viewable by Newfoundland and Labrador employers. Profiles with the highest amount of interest from both employers and the province will receive an invitation to apply for nomination.
To submit a profile, candidates must meet minimum stream requirements and have work experience in one of the following occupations:
In-demand Health Care sector occupations:
| In-demand Health Care sector occupations: |
|---|
| Physician - Family Medicine; Psychiatry; Pathology; General Internal Medicine; Radiology; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Anesthesia; Pediatric Intensivists (PICU); Neonatologists (NICU); Pathology (Hemopathology) |
| Nurse Practitioner (NP) |
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) |
| Personal Care Attendant (PCA) |
| Clinical Psychologist |
| Medical Physicist |
| Radiation Therapist |
| Dosimetrist |
In-demand Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector occupations:
| In-demand Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector occupations: |
|---|
| Software Developer |
| Biomedical Engineer |
| UI/UX Developer |
| Electrical Engineer |
| AI Developer |
| Mechanical Engineer |
| Python Developer |
| Web Developer |
| .NET Developer |
| Infrastructure Engineer |
| Security Specialist |
| Cloud Specialist |
| Bioinformatician |
| Computer Network Support |
| Research Associate |
| Data Analytics |
| Offshore Technician |
| ROV Operator |
| Ocean Mapping Specialist |
| Technical Writer |
In-demand aquaculture sector occupations:
| In-demand aquaculture sector occupations: |
|---|
| Captain (FM4 certification required) |
| Farming and Feeding Manager |
| Facility Technician |
| Assistant Manager |
| Cage Site Technician |
| Site Manager (with water quality expertise) |
| Area Manager |
Note
The In-Demand Work Path is not currently accepting new Expression of Interest profiles. Newfoundland and Labrador will announce when the program resumes accepting new Expression of Interests.
3. Nova Scotia Nominee Program
The east coast province of Nova Scotia operates a PNP called the Labour Market Priorities stream. This program targets candidates with experience in various in-demand occupations. The challenge of this program is that they do not publish a list of in-demand occupations ahead of each round of invitations. Instead, NSNP invites candidates in response to current labour market needs.
The criteria for Labour Market Priorities stream draws changes from draw and draw, and often also targets a minimum education and language level. In order to qualify for this program, a person must also have an active profile in the Express Entry pool.
In past draws, Nova Scotia has targeted occupations such as nurses, financial officers, marketing professionals, accountants, social workers, early childhood educators, and carpenters.
While having experience in one of these occupations does not guarantee an invitation from Nova Scotia, it is possible they may target the same occupations again.
To increase your chances of receiving an invitation from Nova Scotia under this program, it is important to ensure your profile is visible to the province. Submitting strong language results may also help improve your chances with this program, as they often target candidates with proficiency above CLB 7.
Interested in learning more about your Canadian immigration options, including possible Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)? Complete our online assessment and one of our legal representatives will contact you with next steps.
Free assessmentDiscover your Canadian immigration options. Get your free assessment now!