Canada’s provincial nominee programs (PNPs) saw a surge of activity last May, with various provinces across the country constantly sending out a steady stream of invitations to apply for provincial nomination.
Thus far, a wide variety of applicants, from entrepreneurs, to international graduates, and skilled foreign workers, were able to receive invitations for provincial nominations from their PNPs of choice in May.
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is currently holding Express Entry draws focused on welcoming candidates who have already settled in Canada in order to meet their immigration goals for 2021. Since choosing to focus on inviting candidates through Express-Entry linked PNP streams and the Canadian Experience Category (CEC), the IRCC remains on track to welcoming 108,500 immigrants through the federal Express Entry system.
PNPs are a major pathway to permanent residency in Canada. In the next three years, provincial nominee programs are set to be responsible for welcoming roughly 80,000 immigrants per year.
Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program
PNPs first began in 1998 with 200 admitted applicants, and has grown to facilitate the intake of over 80,000 permanent residents each year. Just this November alone, 3,744 immigration candidates received a provincial nomination through a number of immigration pathways available in different provinces.
At least 11 provinces and territories are currently participating in the Provincial Nominee Program, with most having developed their own to suit their needs. At least 80 different streams focused on aspiring immigrants who can supplement the labor market and economic needs of different provinces have been created.
As mentioned earlier, most PNPs have streams linked to the federal Express Entry system. The federal Express Entry system manages the pool of economic immigration candidates, and is Canada’s primary source of immigration.
Provincial nominees with profiles in the Express Entry system automatically receive an additional 600 points to their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, effectively guaranteeing them an invitation to apply for permanent residency during the next Express Entry round.
Candidates nominated through ‘base’ provincial nominee programs, also known as programs outside of the Express Entry system, may also choose to pursue permanent residency through other options apart from Express Entry.
Highlights: Provincial Nominee Programs in May 2021
The IRCC tends to hold Express Entry draws focused on provincial nominees every two weeks. For the month of May, these draws were held on May 12 and May 26. A total of 1,057 candidates were invited to apply for permanent residency, twice more than usual, and at lower Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score requirements.
Individual provinces also had successful months for each of their own provincial nominee programs:
Alberta
The province of Alberta held two draws in May, inviting a total of 500 candidates. The province has decided to set a goal to allocate 6,025 nominations for the year 2021.
British Columbia
BC, on the other hand, has an active and extensive provincial nominee program, as demonstrated by the 915 candidates they invited to apply for nomination last month. They also recently announced that their Tech Pilot program, which was set to end in June 2021, has now become a permanent pathway to the province.
Manitoba
Meanwhile, after issuing over 1,000 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) in April, Manitoba slowed it down in May, inviting only 382 candidates to apply for provincial nomination. Of these candidates, at least 32 were in an Express Entry-linked stream.
Ontario
Ontario held six different draws in May, including their first-ever Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker and Employer Job offer: International Student stream draws. A total of 45 foreign workers and 296 international graduates were invited to apply for provincial nomination. The province has allocated 8,350 nominations for 2021.
Prince Edward Island
PEI tends to hold only one pre-scheduled draw every month, and for May, the province invited a total of 155 immigration candidates to apply for nomination, majority of which were from Express Entry and Labor Impact streams.
Saskatchewan
Lastly, Saskatchewan held three draws through their International Skilled Worker category, inviting a total of 528 candidates to apply for provincial nomination. Applicants were either invited through the Express Entry or Occupations In-demand stream.
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