The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is a set of Canadian immigration programs operated by the Government of Canada in partnership with individual provinces, each of which having its own requirements and 'streams' (i.e., target groups).[1] In a program stream, provinces and territories may, for example, target: business people, students, skilled workers, or semi-skilled workers.
While provincial governments manage PNPs according to their individual objectives, the federal government's immigration department, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, ultimately administers and decides on permanent residence applications.[2]
The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is an economic immigration program that nominates people for permanent residence (PR) in Alberta.[2]
To be eligible, nominees must either have skills that satisfy job shortages in Alberta or be preparing to buy or begin a business in the province. Those nominated through the program may apply for PR status together with their spouse or common-law partner, and dependent children, but must also be able to provide for their families.[2]
The AINP has 2 streams for foreign workers who are living and working—or plan to live and work—in Alberta:[2]
The AINP has 2 streams for entrepreneurs who plan to live in Alberta and buy or begin a business in the province:
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) began as a pilot program in 2017, but IRCC plans to make it permanent.[5][6] Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island are the four Atlantic provinces where the AIPP operates.
Employers are not required to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment under the AIPP.[7] The quota for the Atlantic Provinces Program was 2,000 people in 2017;[8] it was increased to 6,000 people in 2021.[9]
AIPP offers 2 categories for people who qualify for a nomination:
The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is an immigration program for British Columbia that gives "high-demand foreign workers and experienced entrepreneurs" the opportunity to become a permanent resident in BC.[11]
The BC PNP offers 2 pathways to obtain a permanent residence in BC, each containing different streams one can apply under, depending on their National Occupational Classification skill level, job, or international-student status:[12]
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) is the immigration program for the province of Manitoba.[15] The MPNP allows Manitoba to nominate qualified applicants for Canadian permanent resident status, and is primarily divided into 3 streams with each stream subdivided into categories for different types of candidates: the Skilled Worker Stream, the International Education Stream, and the Business Investor Stream.[16]
The program accounts for more than three-quarters of all new immigrants arriving in Manitoba, and is seen as the main driver for the increased population growth.[17] The program has enabled a resurrection of immigration from Ukraine to Manitoba, which had almost stopped in the early 1990s. An estimated 250 people a year have emigrated from Ukraine in the last 12 years.[18]
The program is primarily divided for different types of candidates into 3 streams, with each stream subdivided into categories, each with their own sets of eligibility criteria:[16]
In addition, there are federal standards for immigration that can make a person inadmissible for reasons such as posing a security threat, having a history of criminal behaviour, or having a medical condition that poses a threat to public safety.[23]
Application procedure for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program varies depending on the stream and program to which a person is applying. Generally, all streams follow a 3-step application process:
If an applicant's federal application is approved, they are granted Canadian permanent resident status for themselves and any accompanying family members included on their application.
Manitoba regularly conducts Expression of Interest (EOI) draws to issue Letter of Advice to Apply (LOAA) to eligible candidates.
The Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) provides opportunities to immigrate to the Northwest Territories through the following two streams:[31][32]
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) provides opportunities for foreign workers, international students, business owners, and entrepreneurs to apply for permanent residency in Ontario, as well as enabling Ontario businesses to recruit international talent. It is facilitated by the provincial government's Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, and is regulated by: Ontario Immigration Act, 2015, Ontario Regulation 421/17, and Ontario Regulation 422/17.[35]
The OINP offers 3 categories for people to qualify for a nomination:[35]
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) has 4 categories for immigrating to Saskatchewan:[36]
The Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) is an economic-based immigration program for the Yukon, administered by the territorial government’s Department of Economic Development (Immigration Unit) in partnership with IRCC under the Agreement for Canada-Yukon Co-operation on Immigration.[37]
The YNP offers three streams for foreign workers:
British Columbia