Canada Provincial Nominee Program(PNP) 2020

PNPs (Provincial Nominee Programs) as the name suggest are the immigration programs, which allow the different provinces across Canada to select the immigrants, appropriate for its labour market and economy. The Candidate who wishes to immigrate to and settle in a specific province of Canada can apply in the respective PNP programs.

Every province selects a provinces based on its own needs, criteria and parameters and hence each provinces has different set of requirements as well. The Quebec Province is not enrolled in PNP programs as it has its own selection criteria and system to select immigrants for its region. Each province has a contract with IRCC (Immigration Citizenship Refugee Canada) that permits them to choose permanent residents for their own province.

What are the key benefits of applying to a PNP program for Canada Immigration?

The PNP programs are different from the main stream federal immigration programs of Canada. Depending on the PNP programs, you get many relaxations as an applicant, i.e.

• Liberty to choose a province to settle
• No job offer requirement,
• Points allocated for area of training,
• No hassles of pool selections, etc.

If you apply in any of the PNP(See bottom of the page) and get selected, you receive a nomination from that particular province, which makes you eligible to apply for permanent residency in Canada.

How to Apply in a PNP (Provincial Nominee Program)?

There are two basic pathways to apply for a PNP Program of a particular province in Canada:

   ⇒ Apply to a PNP of a Province directly: You have chosen a province in Canada to settle, you can directly apply in its Provincial Nominee Program. Here are the steps you need to follow in direct PNP application:

• Choose a province and apply in its PNP program.
• Your Applications will be reviewed based on the selection criteria/point system of that particular province.
• If you are selected you will get a nomination lettter from the province.
• Based on the nomination, you can apply for permanent residency in Canada to IRCC (Immigration, Refugee Citizenship Canada).

On receipt of the application, IRCC usually does the formalities, i.e. verification of the medical and character certifications of a candidate, etc. And second

   ⇒ Apply via Express Entry System: If you register on Express entry and make it to the Express entry pool, your profile can be viewed and selected by the different provinces or territories of Canada. If your profile is picked by any of the province, you will get invitation to get in touch with the province to be considered for their program. If you are invited in such a way by a province, you become eligible to get an online ITA for Permanent residency visa, based on the nomination/invitation from the province.

Express Entry Vs PNP- Which is best to apply Canada PR?

Well, this is the most common question every Canada immigration and PR applicants asks more than often. Express entry system is largest and most popular immigration system of Canada. It assess the profile of the applicants based on their total points scored based on age, education, work experience, language skills, etc. criteria. If your point score is high enough (442 CRS points as per latest EE draw launched on February 21) you will get invitation to apply Canada PR from IRCC.

However, if your CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) is low, you can plan to apply in any of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for Canada. Many PNPs accept the applicant even with low CRS score. For instance, Ontario accepts the applicant with CRS score 400 points or above. Canadian Provinces also invite the applicants from express entry pool, under Express Entry Stream of their PNP, based on CRS score and eligibility.

What is Express Entry stream of a PNP?

The Express Entry stream of a PNP is the stream aligned with federal express entry system. Under this stream a Canadian provinces are allowed to select the candidates from express entry pool and notify them to apply in their Provincial Nominee Program.

If an applicant applies and get selected, he/she becomes eligible to get the provincial nomination and subsequently receives 600 additional CRS points in federal express entry system. The 600 CRS points ensures the ITA (Invitation to Apply) for Canada PR from IRCC in the subsequent draw of federal Express Entry System.

Which is best Provincial Nominee Program to get Canada PR

Well, in Canada, there are multiple Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which invite the applicants and subsequently nominate the selected applicants for Canadian permanent Residency. A few largely popular Provincial Nominee Programs of Canada are:

• Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP): OINP- Express Entry- Human Capital Priorities (HCP) Stream is largely popular among the applicants.
• Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
• Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
• British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP), etc.

OINP invites applicant with 400 CRS points, while SINP has low IELTS Score requirement.

Here are the Key Provincial Nominee Programs of Canada:

Nova Scotia PNP

Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)

New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program

OINP- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program

Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)

Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)

Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)

Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)

Provincial Nominee Program FAQs

Which PNP require lowest IELTS score?

The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is key selection parameter in Canada immigration system. The Immigration authorities verify the English proficiency level of an applicant based on their IELTS Test result. Hence, ILTS is a globally recognized and accepted English langue proficiency test.

• Saskatchewan Province of Canada accepts the applicants with low IELTS score requirement for its Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). The SINP require minimum CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) 4 score in IELTS.
• Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) of Manitoba Province also need low IELTS level, i.e. CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) 4 score.

CLB Vs IELTS

Find below the comparison table for CLB Vs IELTS test level in all four abilities: