The Provincial Nominee Program allows provinces and territories in Canada to nominate individuals or families who would like to settle in their province. The criteria for nomination are set by each province respectively. They are becoming a key part in the Canadian immigration policy, with the federal government gradually increasing the budget for their PNPs.
Your eligibility for a PNP will largely depend on the Province’s criteria. For instance, certain provinces may prioritize language skills, while other provinces might prioritize a certain type of professional skill. Your application will be evaluated based on the needs of the province you have chosen. Your genuine intention to settle in that particular province will also be taken into consideration. Each PNP has several different categories and sub-programs called streams, and you can select the stream that works best for you.
Your application for a PNP will consist of two steps. The first step is applying for the provincial nomination to the province itself. The second step is submitting an application to the Federal Government for permanent residency, because the final decisions regarding immigrations are made by the Federal Government and not the by each individual province.
If your application is successful, you will receive a Provincial Nomination Certificate, and you can proceed to the next stage of your application. If you have received an Express-Entry aligned PNP, you can apply online through the Express Entry portal. If not, you must complete and submit a paper-based application.
Certain provinces and territories have PNPs that are aligned to the Express Entry application system. These provinces can provide enhanced nominations that can provide you with 600 additional points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS.) This makes a Provincial Nomination Certificate the most sought-after factor in the CRS, since it guarantees that the candidate will be invited to apply for permanent residency and successfully complete their immigration to Canada. You should create an Express Entry profile before applying for a provincial nomination under an enhanced stream.
There are over 70 different Provincial Nominee Programs, which can be grouped into three categories:
i. First-come first-servedIn this type of PNP, applications are processed and accepted in the order in which they are submitted, till a set limit or quota is reached. The limit is usually reached very fast, since the demand for Provincial Nominee Certificate is very high. This is why you should invest in a good immigration consultant, who can help you submit your application as quickly and as easily as possible. Examples include Ontario’s Masters Graduate Program and Workers in Newfoundland and Labrador.
ii Expression of Interest: Applicants opting for this stream should submit an Expression of Interest form, which will be scored. Minimum scores required to receive a PNP varies with time, so make sure that you have submitted your application to the correct group since your application will be selected based on your references. An example of this stream is the Manitoba Skilled Worker Overseas program.
iii. Passive: This stream is used by applicants who are Express Entry candidates but cannot declare interest or apply actively. These candidates will be contacted by a specific province and asked to apply. Examples of this stream include the Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities program and the Alberta Express Entry Program.
The processing time for a PNP is mostly dependant on whether or not the candidate applied under an Express Entry aligned flow or a non-Express Entry flow. Several provinces have greatly reduced their processing times, but the Federal processing time for Express Entry is still approximately six months.
A skilled Visa Consultant can help you select the appropriate type of Provincial Nominee Program and submit a successful application. It would be smart to invest in a good Visa Consultant, like Lalani & Associates. We are a group of experienced and skilled immigration consultants in Karachi and Lahore, and we can help you gain the vital 600 points you need in order to obtain Permanent Residency in Canada.