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PNP · Province-Specific Streams

Get nominated
by a province -
fast-track your PR

A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points to your Express Entry profile - virtually guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply. Choose the province that matches your skills. Free DIY tools and GetNorthPath features help with the rest, so provincial pathways stay accessible under AI for All.

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+600 CRS points

Applicants

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Provincial Nominee Program

PNP + Express Entry

free CAD

Province matching, form fill, and a walkthrough

free tools - identify your best province + stream

Apply to the province - AI fills all provincial forms

Receive nomination certificate (+600 CRS points)

Get your federal ITA PR application submitted

No obligation · 30 minutes · Province matching included

How it works

Two ways the PNP delivers PR

Provinces run their own immigration streams - but the path to federal PR varies depending on which route you take.

Enhanced Nomination (Express Entry-linked)

Province nominates you through Express Entry · Federal processes in ~6 months

Fastest

You must have an active Express Entry profile. The province reviews your profile and, if you qualify for their stream, issues an enhanced nomination. You add the nomination to your Express Entry profile, receive +600 CRS points, and get your ITA in the next draw.

Create Express Entry profile and enter the federal pool

Apply to provincial stream (or receive provincial interest notification)

Receive provincial nomination certificate – +600 CRS points applied

Receive federal ITASubmit complete PR applicationCOPR in ~6 months

~12–18 months total Check eligibility

Base Nomination (Non-Express Entry)

Province nominates you directly · Separate federal PR stream

Broader access

You do not need an Express Entry profile. The province nominates you through their own stream, outside the Express Entry system. You then apply directly to the federal government for PR through a separate paper-based or online process - no CRS points involved.

Apply directly to the provincial stream (no Express Entry profile needed)

Receive provincial nomination certificate

Apply to the federal government for PR under the Provincial Nominees Class

Federal processingCOPR issued(takes longer than Express Entry route)

18–30 months total Check eligibility

All provinces and territories

PNP Streams by Province

Every province has its own streams targeting workers in different occupations, education levels, and situations. GetNorthPath helps you identify which streams you qualify for across all provinces.

Ontario OINP

Most active

Human Capital Priorities - Express Entry profiles in in-demand NOC codes

Employer Job Offer - Foreign Worker - job offer in NOC TEER 0–3, LMIA or exempt

Employer Job Offer - International Student - graduated from Ontario DLI

Skilled Trades - Red Seal trades, NOC TEER 2

French-Speaking Skilled Worker - CLB 7+ French, outside GTA

In-Demand Skills - NOC TEER 4, job offer from Ontario employer

Score threshold: varies by stream · OINP calculatorEE-linked + Base

British Columbia BCPNP

Tech-forward

Skilled Worker - job offer in BC, NOC TEER 0–3

International Graduate - graduated from BC institution, job offer in BC

Healthcare Professional - nurses, physicians, allied health

Entry Level & Semi-Skilled - NOC TEER 4, hospitality, food service

Express Entry BC - EE-linked versions of above streams with faster processing

Entrepreneur Immigration - business owners with minimum net worth

Points-based BC scoring grid · BC PNP calculatorEE-linked + Base

Alberta AINP

High demand

Alberta Opportunity Stream - working in Alberta with job offer, multiple NOC codes

Alberta Express Entry Stream - EE-linked, draws target specific occupations

Farm Stream - farm managers and operators with job offer

Self-Employed Farmer - purchasing and operating a farm in Alberta

Alberta prioritizes tech, healthcare, and engineering

Software developers, nurses, civil engineers, and accountants regularly receive nominations through Alberta Express Entry draws.

Job offer usually requiredEE-linked + Base

Saskatchewan SINP

No job offer some streams

Express Entry - Occupation In-Demand - EE profile + qualifying NOC

Express Entry - Saskatchewan Job Offer - job offer from SK employer

Occupation In-Demand - Base PNP, specific NOC codes in demand

Existing Work Permit - working in SK for 6+ months with eligible employer

International Student - graduated from SK institution, eligible NOC

Entrepreneur and Farm - business owners and farming operators

Points-based Expression of InterestEE-linked + Base

Manitoba MPNP

Broad NOC coverage

Skilled Worker in Manitoba - working in MB with job offer or employer support

Skilled Worker Overseas - close connection to Manitoba (family, previous stay)

International Education Stream - MB graduates, career employment offer

Business Investor Stream - business owners with net worth + investment intent

Strong ties to MB required for OverseasEE-linked + Base

Nova Scotia NSNP

Labour Market focus

Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry - occupations in critical shortage

Nova Scotia Demand: Occupation - Base PNP, in-demand NOC codes

Labour Market Priorities - employer-specific partnerships, targeted draws

Physician Stream - licensed or license-eligible physicians

International Graduates - NSCC or Dalhousie grads with NS job offer

Invitation-only for some streamsEE-linked + Base

New Brunswick NBPNP

Atlantic region

Express Entry Labour Market Stream - EE profile + job offer from NB employer

Skilled Workers with Employer Support - Base PNP, job offer required

Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream - NB graduates launching businesses

Entrepreneur Stream - business owners with active business proposal

Settlement plan requiredEE-linked + Base

Prince Edward Island PEI PNP

Smaller intake

Labour Impact - Critical Worker - full-time job offer from PEI employer

Labour Impact - Skilled Worker - NOC TEER 0–3, job offer required

Labour Impact - International Graduate - UPEI or Holland College graduates

Express Entry - PEI Labour Market - EE-linked with PEI job offer

Business Impact - entrepreneurs with minimum net worth and business plan

Job offer required for most streamsEE-linked + Base

Newfoundland & Labrador NLPNP

Healthcare priority

Priority Skills NL - in-demand occupations, no job offer for some

Express Entry Skilled Worker - EE-linked, job offer from NL employer

Skilled Worker Category - Base PNP, job offer from NL employer

International Graduate - Memorial University graduates

International Entrepreneur - business plan, investment threshold

Healthcare workers often prioritizedEE-linked + Base

Yukon YNP

Territory

Skilled Worker - job offer from Yukon employer, NOC TEER 0–3

Critical Impact Worker - NOC TEER 4–5, employer support

Express Entry - EE-linked, Yukon employer job offer

Business Nominee - entrepreneurs planning to operate business in Yukon

Strong employer relationship neededEE-linked + Base

Northwest Territories NTNP

Territory

Employer Driven - employer in NWT, job offer, NOC TEER 0–3

Express Entry - EE-linked stream, employer-supported

Business - business ownership and operations in NWT

Note on territories

Manitoba and Quebec are not listed above - Quebec runs a separate immigration system (not part of PNP). Nunavut does not have a nominee program.

Limited annual intakeEE-linked + Base

Québec Not PNP

Separate system

Quebec controls its own immigration and does not participate in the federal PNP system

Québec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) - points-based, French prioritized

Arrima Expression of Interest Pool - Quebec's own EOI system

Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ) - required before federal PR application

French strongly preferred · PSTQ calculatorQuebec only

Am I eligible?

PNP Eligibility - What Matters Most

PNP eligibility varies by province and stream. These are the factors that appear across most streams. GetNorthPath helps you match you to the streams where you score highest.

General Requirements

Express Entry-Linked

Base PNP

Job Offer Streams

What most PNP streams require

Skilled work experience - typically NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 (some streams accept TEER 4 for semi-skilled positions)

Language ability - minimum CLB 4–7 depending on province and stream (CLB 7 is most common minimum; higher scores earn more points)

Education - most streams require at least a secondary school diploma; higher education earns more provincial points

Settlement funds - proof you can support yourself and any dependants until established in Canada

Admissibility to Canada - no serious criminal history, no previous immigration bans

Genuine intent to settle and work in the nominating province

Factors that make you competitive

Canadian work experience - especially in the nominating province. Working in BC and applying to BCPNP is far stronger than applying from overseas

Canadian education - graduating from a DLI in the target province is often the strongest single factor for international graduate streams

High language scores - CLB 9+ in all four bands (IELTS 7.0+) significantly boosts provincial scoring in most EOI systems

Family ties - siblings, parents, or children in a province can add points to certain streams (especially Manitoba Skilled Worker Overseas)

In-demand occupation - each province publishes lists of prioritized NOC codes; matching these dramatically increases your chances of a nomination draw

Express Entry-linked PNP requirements

You must have an active Express Entry profile in the federal pool - either FSW, CEC, or FST eligible

Most EE-linked provincial draws have a minimum CRS score threshold (often 300–400) - lower than the all-program federal draw cutoff

Meet the provincial stream's requirements in addition to Express Entry minimums (language, education, work experience, job offer if required)

Once nominated, you must update your Express Entry profile with the provincial nomination code - IRCC will then send your ITA in the next available draw (usually within days)

You have 60 days from ITA to submit a complete PR application - GetNorthPath's AI fills all forms within days

EE-linked strategy tips

Register an Express Entry profile even if your CRS is low - provinces can find you and send Notifications of Interest (NOIs) inviting you to apply

Provinces like Ontario, BC, and Saskatchewan regularly conduct targeted draws from the EE pool for specific occupations - watch their draw histories

A provincial nomination is worth +600 CRS - with any reasonable base score (400+), you will receive an ITA in the next draw after nomination

French language ability qualifies you for Francophone PNP streams in multiple provinces - some with very low CRS cutoffs

Base PNP (non-Express Entry) requirements

No Express Entry profile required - you apply directly to the province through their own stream

Most Base PNP streams require a job offer from a provincial employer - and often require you to already be working in the province

Language requirements tend to be lower (CLB 4–5) for semi-skilled and entry-level streams compared to EE-linked streams

Education requirements are generally more flexible - some streams accept trade certificates or vocational training instead of post-secondary degrees

After receiving a provincial nomination, you apply to IRCC directly under the Provincial Nominees Class using a paper or online application - not through Express Entry

Base PNP trade-offs

Federal processing under the Provincial Nominees Class (non-EE) takes 18–30 months - significantly longer than the 6-month Express Entry target

The upside: Base PNP is the only PR pathway for workers in NOC TEER 4–5 occupations who don't qualify for Express Entry

Employer support is often mandatory - your employer may need to demonstrate they couldn't fill the role locally

Some Base PNP applicants also become eligible for Express Entry during the process - GetNorthPath will identify if this applies to you

Employer-driven stream requirements

A genuine, permanent, full-time job offer from an employer in the nominating province - not temporary or contract work

Most job offer streams require an LMIA or LMIA-exempt designation - your employer must prove the role couldn't be filled by a Canadian citizen or PR

The offered wage must meet or exceed the provincial median wage for the NOC - ESDC's job bank wage data is the reference

Work experience in the same or closely related NOC code - typically 1–2 years in the past 3–5 years

Language ability meeting the provincial minimum for the specific stream (typically CLB 5–7)

Common mistakes with job offer streams

Using a job offer from a franchise, unregistered business, or employer with IRCC compliance issues - always verify employer eligibility

Job offer is conditional, temporary, or in a different NOC code than the stream requires

Wage offered is below the provincial median for the occupation - this is a common ground for refusal in OINP and BCPNP

Employer submits the Offer of Employment through IRCC Employer Portal before the candidate completes the provincial application

GetNorthPath helps you verify all employer eligibility criteria before you submit - preventing expensive mistakes at the provincial stage

What to gather

Required Documents - PNP Application

Documents required at the provincial stage, then again at the federal stage. AI reads and validates each on upload - tagged fields are auto-filled into your forms.

Identity

Required Valid passport (all pages) AI

Required Birth certificate AI

If applicable Marriage or common-law certificate AI

If applicable Passports for dependants AI

If applicable Current Canadian work or study permit AI

Language Tests

Required IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, or PTE Core (English) AI

If applicable TEF Canada or TCF Canada (French) AI

Note Province may require more recent test results than federal stage

Note Some streams accept CLB 4 - others require CLB 7 or higher

Education

Required Degree, diploma, or certificate AI

Foreign degrees ECA report from designated body (WES, ICAS, etc.) AI

If applicable Canadian transcripts and credential (DLI graduates) AI

If trades Red Seal or provincial trade certificate

Work Experience

Required Reference letters (role, dates, hours/week, salary, responsibilities) AI

Canadian exp. Pay stubs or T4 slips AI

If applicable Employment contracts

If self-empl. Business registration + tax records

Note Provinces may conduct employer verification calls

Job Offer (if applicable)

If required Written job offer letter (employer name, position, NOC, wage, full-time, permanent) AI

If applicable LMIA copy from ESDC AI

If exempt Offer of Employment number from IRCC Employer Portal

Note Wage must meet or exceed provincial median for the NOC

Financial & Background

Required Bank statements (last 3–6 months) AI

Federal stage Police certificates from all countries where you lived 6+ months since age 18

Federal stage Medical examination by IRCC-designated physician

Note Biometrics collected at VAC - $85 CAD if not previously given

What to expect

PNP Timeline - Province to PR Card

free tools + Province Matching

Guides identifies every provincial stream you qualify for, estimates your provincial scoring, and recommends the fastest or most certain route.

Day 0

Documents Prepared + Express Entry Profile Created

Upload all documents. AI validates each. Guides creates your Express Entry profile (if EE-linked stream) and submits your provincial EOI or application.

Week 1–3

Waiting for Provincial Nomination

Provinces conduct draws from their EOI pools or review applications directly. Draw frequency and wait times vary widely by province and stream.

2 weeks – 12 months (depends on province)

Provincial Nomination Certificate Received

+600 CRS points applied to Express Entry profile (EE-linked). ITA received in next draw - usually within days of nomination.

Certificate issued ITA within 1–2 weeks

60-Day ITA Window - AI Fills All PR Forms

AI fills IMM 0008, Schedule A, IMM 5406, IMM 5562, and all supplementary forms within 3–5 days. Medical exam and police certificates coordinated.

Day 1–55 of 60-day window

COPR Issued - Permanent Resident

Confirmation of Permanent Residence issued. You land in Canada, activate PR status. PR card received in 6–8 weeks.

~6 months after federal submission (EE-linked)

Total Timeline Estimates

EE-linked (strong CRS 400+)12–18 months total

EE-linked (lower CRS, targeted draws)18–24 months total

Ontario OINP (Employer Job Offer)18–24 months total

BC PNP - Skills Immigration18–24 months total

Base PNP (non-Express Entry)24–36 months total

Federal processing after nomination~6 months (EE)

GetNorthPath processes PNP applications in parallel

While you wait for a provincial nomination, we prepare your federal documents, book your medical exam, and gather police certificates - so the moment your nomination arrives, your federal application is ready to submit within days.

Provincial processing times change frequently

Draw frequencies and NOI volumes shift with provincial labour market conditions. Your check official IRCC processing times - the estimates above are general guides.

What's included

Features and free tools for every province and stream.

Province matching, form fill, and free tools through the federal file.

Provincial Nominee Program - All Provinces

EE-linked + Base PNP · IMM 0008 federal application · All nationalities

free CAD

IRCC government fees are separate

What's included

Join the waitlist - province matching, stream shortlisting, score estimate

Provincial EOI submission or direct application to nominated stream

AI Document Validator - 10-second checks on every upload

Express Entry profile creation and monitoring (EE-linked streams)

AI auto-fill of all federal PR forms after ITA is received

My Details intake - travel history, background declarations

Parallel document preparation - medical, police certs, biometrics coordinated

Full review of provincial + federal application

One-click IRCC submission + real-time status portal from nomination to COPR

Additional IRCC costs (not included)

IRCC PR processing fee (principal)$850 CAD

IRCC PR processing fee (per dependant)$230 CAD

Right of Permanent Residence Fee$515 CAD

Biometrics (if not previously collected)$85 CAD

Medical examinationVaries by country

ECA report (foreign credentials)~$250 CAD

LMIA-exempt employer compliance fee$230 CAD

GetNorthPath helps confirm which fees apply to your province and stream with the free tools.

Stripe · No subscription · Receipt emailed immediately

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Which province should I apply to?

The right province depends on your occupation, education, language scores, current location, and whether you have a job offer or Canadian connections. Generally: if you're in Canada already and working, apply to the province you're already in. If you're overseas, target provinces where your occupation is in high demand. GetNorthPath helps you map your profile against all provincial EOI scoring grids to identify where you rank highest - often across multiple provinces simultaneously.

Can I apply to multiple provinces at the same time?

Yes - in most cases you can maintain an EOI in multiple provincial systems simultaneously. However, once you receive and accept a nomination from one province, you are expected to intend to settle there. You should withdraw or decline nominations from other provinces once you've accepted one. Your provincial guides help you compare options and whether applying to multiple is appropriate for your situation.

Do I need a job offer to get a provincial nomination?

Not always. Some streams - particularly Express Entry-linked "human capital" streams in Ontario, BC, and Saskatchewan - nominate candidates based on their profile (language, education, work experience, NOC code) without requiring a job offer. However, job-offer streams tend to be faster and more predictable because they bypass the competitive draw system. GetNorthPath helps you assess both options for your profile.

What if I receive a nomination but my CRS is below the cut-off for the next draw?

This doesn't happen with PNP. A provincial nomination adds exactly 600 CRS points to your profile - which brings virtually every candidate above any historical all-program draw cutoff. Once you have a nomination, you will receive an ITA in the next regular Express Entry draw, typically within 1–2 draws (2–4 weeks) of the nomination being applied to your profile.

Am I obligated to stay in the nominating province after getting PR?

Legally, as a permanent resident, you have the right to live and work anywhere in Canada - the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees this. However, when you apply for a provincial nomination, you must genuinely intend to settle in that province. If IRCC finds evidence that you had no genuine intent to live there (e.g., you moved immediately after receiving PR), it can affect your application or future PR renewal. In practice, many PNP recipients relocate to other provinces within a few years - and this is generally fine once you are established as a PR.

How is PNP different from Express Entry without a nomination?

Without a PNP nomination, your Express Entry rank depends entirely on your CRS score - which must be competitive enough to beat hundreds of thousands of other candidates in each draw. A PNP nomination bypasses this competition entirely by adding 600 CRS points, guaranteeing you an ITA regardless of your base score. The trade-off is the additional step of the provincial nomination process, which adds time - but the federal processing is the same 6 months once you submit your PR application after receiving your ITA.

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