Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
As Express Entry candidates gear up for the next all-program draw, provinces across Canada continue to issue invitations through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).
Provincial Nominee Programs allow each Canadian province to set the requirements for their own immigration streams. Each Canadian province, except Quebec and Nunavut, has different nominee programs that operate in different ways. Many have programs that target international graduates, businesspeople, or workers. Other targeted factors usually depend on labour market or demographic gaps of the province. For example, Ontario’s French-Speaking Skilled Worker stream targets skilled workers with strong proficiency in French to help increase their Francophone population.
Immigration through a Provincial Nominee Program makes up a large portion of Canada’s total economic immigration. Of a total of 241,850 economic immigrants targeted for 2022, 83,500 are reserved for those applying under a Provincial Nominee Program.
Many Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) hold draws in which they invite candidates to apply to be nominated for Canadian permanent residence. Some PNPs require candidates to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile to be considered in these draws. Other programs invite candidates directly from the Express Entry pool that haven’t even applied for consideration.
The British Columbia Nominee Program (BCPNP) continues to hold targeted draws for healthcare workers and early childhood educators (ECE). This May 2022, the BCPNP held 20 separate Expression of Interest (EOI) draws, 17 of which were for targeted occupations.
British Columbia issued close to 850 invitations to apply for nomination this month. The BCPNP’s draws targeted the following candidates:
British Columbia has also continued to hold general draws, which typically require a higher score than targeted draws.
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) held one Express Entry stream draw this May. The AIIP issued a total of 100 invitations to apply for nomination in the May 19 draw. The CRS score of the lowest-ranking candidate invited was 382.
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) invited 198 candidates to apply for nomination this May.
The score of the lowest-ranking candidate in both the SINP’s Entry and Occupations In-Demand stream draws was 85. In addition to meeting the minimum score requirement, candidates were chosen based on their experience in one of 41 in-demand occupations.
The SINP also issued one invitation in response to the conflict in Ukraine.
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) issued a total of 328 invitations through two nominee draws this month.
Manitoba’s nominee draws invited individuals eligible under three PNP streams:
Manitoba’s Skilled Worker Overseas draw targeted individuals with an invitation from a Strategic Recruitment Initiative.
Manitoba also held a special draw in response to the situation in Ukraine, which did not target a minimum required score.
The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) held an Expression of Interest (EOI) draw on May 20, 2022.
The PEI PNP issued 137 invitations through the Express Entry & Labour streams.
An additional 16 candidates were invited under the Business Work Permit Entrepreneur stream.
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