Recently, four Canadian provinces conducted draws through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). As per the latest immigration levels plan, PNP is the principal pathway for economic immigrants to gain entry into Canada. The program intends to distribute the benefits of immigration across the country and help provinces address the specific labour and demographic challenges they face.
Moreover, the Canada PNP has Express Entry-aligned streams known as enhanced PNP nominations, which accept candidates from the federal Express Entry pool. Eligible candidates can apply to a specific province’s enhanced Provincial Nominee Program streams and receive a provincial nomination or Notification of Interest (NOI). After that, they can receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, which almost certainly guarantees them an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to the specific enhanced PNP stream.
Express Entry Draws for Enhanced PNP Nominations
The fifth and sixth Express Entry draws of 2023 were exclusively for candidates in the enhanced PNP streams, resulting in a total of 1,366 ITAs issued.
Provincial Nomination Program Results – March 17-24
Ontario
On March 23, the Ontario PNP (OINP) held a draw for its Skilled Trades stream and issued 746 NOIs to candidates with CRS scores ranging from 250-489. The candidates who received an NOI had created profiles in the Express Entry pool anywhere between March 23rd, 2022, to March 23rd, 2023.
The draws under the economic streams of the OINP are specifically for targeted professions, which have been specified within the OINP program updates.
British Columbia
On March 21st, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) held a draw and issued at least 254 NOIs to candidates across 6 streams. Within the Skilled Worker International Graduate stream, the BCPNP held three targeted draws for early childhood educators and assistants, healthcare professionals, and candidates in other priority occupations.
Manitoba
On March 23rd, the Manitoba PNP (MPNP) held a draw and issued a total of 566 NOIs (known under the Manitoba PNP as Letters of Advice to Apply). The NOIs issued by the stream are as follows:
- Occupation-specific selection: 266 NOIs, targeting candidates in specific in-demand professions, with a minimum CRS score of 612.
- All occupations: 200 NOIs, with consideration to profiles not selected in the specific profession draw, with a minimum CRS score of 672.
- International Education Stream: 52 NOIs.
- Skilled Worker Overseas Stream: 48 NOIs to candidates who were invited by the MPNP under a Strategic Recruitment Initiative, with a minimum CRS of 708.
Saskatchewan
On March 23rd, the Saskatchewan Provincial Nominee Program (SINP) held two draws, inviting candidates from both the Express Entry and Occupations in-demand streams. A total of 184 Express Entry candidates with a minimum score of 82 were issued NOIs. Comparatively, the Occupations in-demand stream issued 312 NOIs to candidates, also with a cut-off score of 82. To be eligible for the Occupations in-demand stream, a candidate’s profession must NOT be included on the SINP excluded occupation list.
Provincial Nominee Programs and Future Immigration Plans
A recent meeting of the Forum of Ministers Responsible for Immigration (FMRI) has recognized the importance of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) in Canada’s immigration system. The meeting announced that provincial immigration will now have its own multi-year levels plan, allowing provinces to plan their immigration allocation years in advance. This move highlights the growing importance of Canada’s PNP system, as they are anticipated to play a larger role in Canadian immigration in the coming years.
Following the FMRI meeting, several provinces were given an increase in their future immigration allocations. Alberta saw a significant increase in their allocation to 9,750 spots this year, while Manitoba’s allocation for 2023 increased to 9,500 spots. Ontario noted an increase in allocations to 18,000 spots by 2025, and Saskatchewan will see an increase in allocations to 8,500 in 2025.
These increased allocations are good news for those interested in applying for the Canada PNP. Eligibility criteria for the PNP streams vary by province but generally require applicants to have a valid job offer in the province, meet language proficiency requirements, and have sufficient work experience in a relevant field. By receiving a nomination from a province, applicants receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points towards their Express Entry application. This almost guarantees them an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to the specific enhanced PNP stream.
If you’re interested in immigrating to Canada through the PNP, it’s essential to check the eligibility requirements for the specific stream in the province you’re interested in. You can also consult our RCIC to help you navigate the application process. With the Provincial Nominee Program receiving increased focus and allocations, now is an excellent time to explore the possibilities of immigrating to Canada through this program.
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