This week, applicants are asked to file for provincial nomination in four Canadian provinces.
With the exception of Quebec and Nunavut, every province and territory in Canada has a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Provincial governments can choose economic immigrants through the PNP based on their likelihood of establishing a business and assimilating into the local labor market and economy.
It is quite possible that PNP candidates will be chosen based on a quality that the province needs filled. For instance, the majority of provinces conduct draws to choose applicants for particular jobs, like Alberta’s dedicated healthcare pathway for Express Entry candidates, or they may invite applicants based only on language proficiency, like in the case of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program’s (OINP) French-speaking skilled workers stream. To facilitate the retention of international students, the majority of PNPs also provide tracks in the province specifically for international graduates.
Following their selection, provinces propose these applicants for permanent residence status with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). applicants do not earn PR from a province nomination, but it does improve their application; this is especially true for Express Entry applicants who receive an extra 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for a nomination on top of their initial score.
Provincial immigration figures for January 13–19
The Ontario
984 applicants from the Express Entry French Speaking Skilled Workers stream were invited by OINP on January 18. Since it was a general draw, no specific employment was mentioned.
Every applicant in the Express Entry pool has to have a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score of 317–469 in order to be taken into consideration.
British Columbia
More than 193 applicants from the BC PNP’s skilled worker and international graduate streams were invited on January 16. Five distinct lotteries were conducted, each focusing on a different vocation, to invite candidates.
The greatest number of applicants was 91 in the technology sector. A minimum of 103 was required to be taken into consideration. Additionally, 20 applicants with a minimum score of 75 in construction jobs were invited by the province.
To be eligible for the three remaining occupation-based draws, candidates had to have a minimum score of 60.
- 53 applicants for childcare
- Healthcare: 29 applicants
- Veterinary treatment: under five
Alberta
The outcomes of three drawings held throughout January for the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) were recently made public by Alberta. Every candidate was included in the Express Entry pool of applications.
Two drawings were conducted by the government for applicants in the specific healthcare pathway that includes the Alberta employment offer stream. First, on January 2, 42 individuals with a minimum CRS score of 309 were invited. In order to be considered, applicants had to obtain at least 312 in the second exam, which took place on January 16.
The 44 applicants who were invited on January 11 in a lottery for those who satisfied the requirements for the Priority sector – Agriculture vocation with an Alberta employment offer had the same minimum score.
Island of Prince Edward
On January 18, PEI sent out invitations to 134 candidates for the Express Entry, Skilled Worker, and Critical Worker Streams of the PEI PNP. To be considered, candidates had to score at least 65 points.
For PEI in 2024, this was the inaugural Express Entry draw. 2,199 candidates were nominated by the province between February and December of 2023.
