Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

About visa:

Provincial nomination is an important fast-track option for Canadian permanent residence.

The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada and who are interested in settling in a particular province.

Each Canadian province (except Quebec, which has a different selection system) and two territories have their own unique Provincial Nominee Programs. Participating provinces and territories sign agreements with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) that allow them to select immigrants who meet the requirements that they have set forth.

Provincial and territorial governments have been using these programs to more effectively and efficiently welcome newcomers to their region. Each PNP is tailored to the province's/territory's specific needs to select nominees who will be able to settle into life and work in the region and to effectively contribute to the community. As of 2015, most PNPs contain at least one immigration stream aligned with the federal Express Entry immigration selection system. These are known as 'enhanced' nomination system.

Persons coming in through this program are provided permanent resident status and ultimately the opportunity to apply for Canadian citizenship.

Basic features:

• Provincial Nomination Scheme visa is a quicker route to Canadian immigration.
• It is not a points-based system unlike the Federal Skilled Worker Program.
• Applicants have the same benefits as those of a Federal Skilled worker holder.
• Successful applicants will have access to government-subsidized health care, free education and social benefits.
• Successful applicants can work or pursue further study or invest in a business.
• Applicants are restricted to working in the province sponsoring their application.
• Permanent residence visa holders have the option to apply for Canadian nationality.

Requirement :

All the Canadian Provinces do not provide Provincial Nomination Schemes; however, most provinces have an agreement with the Government of Canada that allows them to nominate immigrants who wish to settle in that province.

To be eligible to apply for the Provincial Nomination Scheme, the applicants have to pass three stages:

• Job Offer - Applicants must have a valid job offer from a Canadian company based in the province to which the candidates intend to migrate. Alternatively, candidates can obtain a nomination certificate if they have a close relative living in that province.
• Provincial Government Approval - The job offer should be approved by the relevant provincial government. The applicants are assessed against the migration requirement of the particular province. Candidates will also need to be able to prove that they have a genuine interest to reside and work in the province.
• Application for Permanent Residency - Once the applicant receives a nomination from the particular province, they should make their application for permanent residency with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

Applicants need to prove that they have enough money to support themselves and their dependants after they arrive in Canada.

Provincial Nominee applications are given preference over other skilled visa applicants by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

At present, the following provinces and territories in Canada have Provincial Nomination Schemes:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

Before submitting an application to immigrate to Canada, a nominee must first receive a Provincial Nomination Certificate from the province/territory. After a successful nomination by a province/territory, a separate application must be made to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for your Canada Immigration (permanent resident) Visa. Provincial Nominee Program processing times vary from one Canadian immigration visa office to another.

The province of Quebec, where Montreal is located, does not participate in the Provincial Nominee Program. Instead, the Governments of Quebec and Canada have entered into a series of agreements by which Quebec has established its own selection criteria for all economic immigrants with an intention to reside in Quebec.