Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and PEI Invite Candidates Through PNPs
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are immigration programs designed to select individuals whose skills and experience align with the labour market needs of specific Canadian provinces and territories. Established in 1998, PNPs aim to spread the economic benefits of immigration more evenly across Canada by allowing provinces to nominate candidates who wish to settle in their region.
This week, four provinces held immigration draws through their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), selecting candidates for economic immigration based on factors like work experience, current employment, education, etc.
Being nominated by a province does not guarantee permanent residence. Candidates must still go through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC’s) immigration formalities. However, it significantly boosts their application, as those who receive a provincial nomination secures an additional 600 CRS points, guaranteeing an ITA in an Express Entry draw.
Last week, the province conducted two selection draws. In the first draw, covering three separate immigration streams, the province issued seven invitations, where the minimum required scores varied depending on the stream.
The second selection draw was conducted on November 26. The targeted candidates in this draw belonged to the Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams, including the EEBC option. At least four candidates were invited based on their employment in in-demand sectors, with minimum scores varying by sector.
On 21 November, Alberta, through its Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), held a draw under the Alberta Express Entry – Priority Sectors stream, targeting a total of 96 candidates with a full-time job offer in Alberta's healthcare sector.
Recommended by LinkedIn
To be eligible, candidates needed to meet certain criteria:
On 21 November, Prince Edward Island (PEI) held its first immigration draw in nearly a month through the Prince Edward Island PNP (PEI PNP), under the Labour and Express Entry stream, inviting a total of 59 candidates. To be eligible, candidates needed to be employed in PEI's healthcare or construction sectors, or working in the manufacturing industry with a work permit expiring in 2024. Over the past 12 months, the province has issued a total of 1,113 invitations.
On 22 November, Manitoba, through its PNP the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), held a draw under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba stream, issuing 89 invitations to candidates with a minimum score of 840. Candidates also needed a Manitoba supporter, a close relative who is a permanent resident or citizen and has lived in the province for at least a year.
In the second draw under the Skilled Worker Overseas stream, a total of 25 candidates were invited and the minimum score required to be invited was 617. In addition to meeting the stream's eligibility requirements, candidates had to have been invited by the MPNP through a strategic recruitment initiative.
The third draw, under the International Education Stream, invited 165 candidates who met the stream's eligibility requirements. Out of the total 279 candidates invited across all three draws, 55 had a valid Express Entry profile.
Check if you qualify for a Canadian PNP Program. Check out Owlspriority Immigration’s Canada Settlement Resources to learn about finding employment in Canada, making your initial days stress-free, etc.