The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is the top Canadian immigration program for skilled foreign workers and their families.
More skilled foreign workers immigrate to Canada through the PNP than through any other Canadian immigration program.
There are 11 provinces and territories that participate in the PNP, however, certain provinces attract more immigrants each year than others.
This article will discuss the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and which province in Canada gives PR easily, so continue reading to learn more!
Table of Contents
Overview of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is the #1 pathway to Canadian permanent residency for skilled foreign workers and their families.
According to the Canadian immigration plan for 2023, the Government of Canada has established a goal to grant Canadian permanent residency (PR) to 105,500 immigrants through the PNP.
By comparison, the official 2023 target set for new Canadian permanent residents via the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) Program is 82,880 immigrants in total.
Eleven Canadian provinces and territories have their own PNP, each of which has its own eligibility requirements and application procedure: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, and Yukon.
Each PNP has been created, in cooperation with the Canadian immigration agency, to meet the local needs of the particular province or territory for skilled foreign workers.
In general, you can apply for a PNP either using the non-Express Entry stream or the Express Entry stream.
The non-Express Entry PNP application procedure basically involves applying to a specific PNP and if you receive a provincial nomination, then you can apply online for Canadian permanent residency with the federal immigration agency.
The Express Entry PNP application procedure tends to be a faster pathway and generally has two options:
Option 1
- You file an Express Entry online profile
- Contact the PNPs of provinces/territories where you want to work in Canada
- If you receive a nomination certificate, you update this on your Express Entry online profile
- If you get an Invitation to Apply, you apply for Canadian permanent residency with the federal immigration agency
Option 2
- You apply to a PNP through its Express Entry stream
- If you receive a nomination certificate, you create an online Express Entry profile and mention the nomination
- If you get an Invitation to Apply, you apply for Canadian permanent residency with the federal immigration agency
When you create an Express Entry online profile (which includes details about your education, work experience, English and French language skills, etc.), a score will be calculated based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), with a maximum of 1,200 points possible.
Candidates in the Express Entry pool who have the highest CRS scores, or who receive a PNP nomination, or who get a qualifying offer of employment in Canada, could be issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residency!
It is important to understand the procedural requirements for immigration to Canada, in order to avoid unnecessary mistakes or delays and to have the best opportunity for a successful outcome.
For example, after the ITA has been issued, the application for Canadian permanent residency must be filed correctly within 60 days, along with the necessary documents and government fees.
According to the Canadian immigration agency, a decision about whether to approve an applicant for Express Entry to Canada is usually made in six months or less after the application for permanent residency was filed properly.
Which Province in Canada Gives PR Easily?
Researching and choosing the right province in Canada is important because:
- Certain provinces can nominate larger numbers of immigrants for PR in Canada
- Some provinces have more available jobs in Canada than other provinces
- Where you live in Canada can affect how much you earn and the quality of life
The top provinces to receive PR in Canada through the PNP are:
- Ontario
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Nova Scotia
- New Brunswick
- Prince Edward Island
- Newfoundland & Labrador
It is worth noting that the French-speaking province of Quebec does not participate in the PNP, but rather has its own Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) through which around 25,000 skilled foreign workers and their family members are approved to receive PR in Canada each year.
This is more than double the number of immigrants approved to receive PR in Canada through the Ontario PNP.
Therefore, Quebec is actually the top province in Canada that gives PR easily in terms of having the most skilled foreign workers and their accompanying family members granted Canadian permanent residency each year.
Ontario is the #1 province in Canada that gives PR easily through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Keep in mind that if you want to live and work in Canada’s province of Quebec, you will need to possess French language skills, whereas you could speak English or French living and working in Ontario.
Finally, when we consider the total number of people who immigrate to Canada through various Canadian immigration programs for skilled foreign workers and their families, along with where they initially settle after being approved for PR, then Ontario gets first place as the prime destination, British Columbia comes in second place and Quebec places third.
Applying for the Provincial Nominee Program
It is important to understand the eligibility requirements and application procedure for the PNP program of the province or territory where you want to live and work in Canada, because each PNP is different.
Many of the PNPs require the skilled foreign worker to have a connection with the province or territory, such as having family or friends living there or previously studying or working there.
The PNPs generally require the skilled foreign worker to first receive a provincial nomination before applying for Canadian permanent residency with the federal immigration agency.
Receiving a provincial nomination certificate means that the provincial or territorial immigration authorities believe that the skilled foreign worker meets their PNP requirements and, therefore, they are nominating him or her to the federal Canadian immigration agency to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
If you are approved by the federal immigration officials for Canadian permanent residency (PR), then you and your family will be allowed to live, study and work in the province or territory that nominated you!
Conclusion
Knowing which province in Canada gives PR easily may be helpful when applying for Canadian immigration through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), since certain provinces generally have larger numbers of skilled foreign workers approved for permanent residency.
The largest number of skilled foreign workers and their accompanying family members are approved for Canadian immigration to Quebec through the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) and to Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan via their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).
Please note that skilled foreign workers who are approved for Canadian permanent residency through the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) are allowed to live, study and work in any province or territory in Canada except Quebec, so if flexibility about where to live in Canada is important to you, then you might want to consider the FSWP.
There are many Canadian immigration programs for different types of skilled foreign workers and each has unique criteria and application procedures.
Since 2012, Canadian Visa Experts specialized in evaluation the eligibility for immigration to Canada and also guide you through each step of the application procedure if you qualify.
Discover Frequently Asked Questions from Our Support
What is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)?
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is a Canadian immigration program for skilled foreign workers which allows the 11 participating provinces and territories to create their own criteria based on local labor market needs and in cooperation with the federal immigration agency. Each PNP is different, but they generally require a skilled foreign worker to receive a provincial nomination certificate before being able to apply for Canadian permanent residency with the federal immigration agency. If approved for Canadian immigration through a PNP, the skilled foreign worker and his or her family will live in the province or territory that issued the provincial nomination.
How does the PNP help in obtaining permanent residency in Canada?
A skilled foreign worker who satisfies the unique requirements for a particular PNP and receives a provincial nomination certificate is allowed to apply to the Canadian immigration agency for permanent residency (PR) in Canada. In some cases, the criteria for PNPs is easier to satisfy than for other Canadian immigration programs. After receiving the provincial nomination certificate, the skilled foreign worker will have up to 60 days to file a complete Canadian permanent residency application with the required documents (including medical exam results, police certificates, proof of funds, etc.) and to pay certain governmental fees.
Which are the top 9 provinces in Canada for PR?
The top 9 provinces in Canada for PR via the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) are #1 Ontario, followed by British Columbia, Manitoba, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador. The French-speaking province of Quebec does not participate in the PNP, however, its Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) approves twice as many immigrants for PR in Canada than the Ontario PNP. Thus, the top three provinces in Canada that give PR easily are Quebec (through its QSWP), Ontario (via the Ontario PNP) and British Columbia (with the BC PNP).
What advantages does British Columbia offer for PR applicants?
British Columbia nominates over 10,000 skilled foreign workers for Canadian permanent residency through its PNP each year, making it a top province in Canada that gives PR easily. British Columbia has thousands of good-paying job openings, plus the unemployment rates in Victoria, Vancouver and other cities in British Columbia are among the lowest in Canada. British Columbia offers a high standard of living in Canada and Vancouver was named the #5 Most Livable City in the World for 2023 by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in its evaluation of 173 cities worldwide.
What advantages does Nova Scotia offer for PR seekers?
Nova Scotia nominates around 2,000 immigrants for Canadian permanent residency each year through its PNP. Nova Scotia is a beautiful province with easy access to the ocean and a low cost of living in Canada. Nova Scotia is seeking skilled foreign workers for various occupations, so if you satisfy the criteria for the Nova Scotia PNP, you could receive a provincial nomination for PR in Canada.
How can I apply for the Provincial Nominee Program and what are the benefits of receiving a nomination?
The first step is to check if you meet the eligibility requirements for one of the 11 Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), preferably for a province or territory where you would like to live and work in Canada. In general, you can apply for a PNP using the non-Express Entry stream or through the Express Entry stream. Each PNP is different, but an applicant must generally receive a provincial nomination certificate which then allows the skilled foreign worker to apply for Canadian permanent residency with the federal immigration agency which will make the final decision about PR in Canada.
