Recently, four provinces in Canada have issued invitations to apply for provincial-led programs that can lead to permanent residency.
British Columbia
On October 22, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) issued approximately 125 invitations through category-based draws under the Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams. All these draws targeted specific occupations, and candidates were required to have job offers in British Columbia to qualify. The minimum scores varied by category.
Manitoba
Manitoba held its 231st expression of interest draw for its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) on October 24, issuing a total of 253 Letters of Advice to Apply. Of these, 210 invitations were part of the base PNP, while 43 were from the enhanced PNP. Candidates in the Skilled Worker Overseas stream had to be invited through a strategic recruitment initiative to be considered.
Prince Edward Island
On September 20, Prince Edward Island (PEI) issued 48 invitations in its PNP draw, with a minimum points threshold of 97 for business invitations. The invitations were granted to candidates in several sectors, including healthcare, construction, and trucking and transportation, specifically those with work permits expiring this year, along with international graduates in a similar situation. Out of the total, only 2 invitations were issued for business candidates, while the remaining 46 went to Labour and Express Entry candidates.
Quebec
Quebec issued 1,650 invitations on September 19 under the Regular Skilled Worker Program. To qualify for an invitation, candidates needed to demonstrate an oral French proficiency level of 7 on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français (NCLC) and meet one of the following criteria: either achieve a minimum score of 573 or hold a valid job offer outside Montreal. Quebec typically releases information about its invitations retrospectively.
Overview of Provincial Nominee Programs
The invitations from British Columbia, Manitoba, and PEI are part of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), a collaboration between Canada’s federal government and the provinces and territories, including Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Through the PNP, provinces can nominate foreign nationals for permanent residency. The federal government allocates a specific number of nominations to provinces, which then set their own nomination processes and criteria.
Base PNPs vs. Enhanced PNPs
There are two types of PNPs: base and enhanced. In base PNPs, candidates apply directly to the province, and if successful, receive a provincial nomination that typically leads to an invitation from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to apply for permanent residency. Enhanced PNPs, on the other hand, are linked with the Express Entry system. Candidates must have a valid Express Entry profile to be eligible for these programs. A provincial nomination under an enhanced PNP grants the candidate an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, increasing their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from IRCC. Generally, applications through enhanced PNPs are processed faster, with recent processing times averaging around six months, compared to about 12 months for base PNP applications.
Quebec’s Immigration Program
Quebec manages its own immigration targets independently, without needing an allocation from IRCC. Individuals seeking to immigrate to Quebec must apply through one of the province’s immigration programs. If accepted, candidates receive a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) from Quebec’s immigration ministry, which they can then use to apply to IRCC for permanent residency.
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