If you want to become a permanent resident of Canada and are exploring options beyond federal immigration programs alone, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) may be a strong pathway. PNP allows provinces and territories to nominate people who have the skills, education, and work experience needed in their local economy and who want to live in that province or territory.
At Immivara Immigration Consulting, we work with you to understand which PNP pathway may fit your background, whether you may qualify through an Express Entry or non-Express Entry stream, and how to prepare your application more confidently.
What is the Provincial Nominee Program?
The Provincial Nominee Program is a Canadian immigration pathway that allows provinces and territories to select and nominate people who meet local labour market and economic needs. Each province and territory has its own PNP streams, and requirements can vary widely depending on the type of applicant, occupation, job offer, work experience, education, language ability, and connection to the province.
Please be aware that Quebec and Nunavut do not have a PNP.
There are generally two main ways to apply through PNP:
- Express Entry PNP, where the nomination is connected to your Express Entry (EE) profile. This means you will have to be eligible for at least one of the three streams in the EE program (Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades).
- Non-Express Entry PNP, where you apply through a base provincial stream and then submit a federal permanent residence application after nomination.
Who this service is for
This service is for:
- Skilled workers who want to apply for permanent residence through a province or territory.
- Applicants who may not have a high enough CRS score for Express Entry alone.
- People with ties to a specific province, such as work, study, family, or a job offer.
- International graduates, workers, and, in some cases, business applicants, depending on the province and stream.
How the PNP process works
The PNP process usually starts with identifying the province or territory that may be the best fit for your profile and your long-term plan. We look at factors such as your work experience, education, language level, job offer, current location, and whether you have ties to a specific province.
If you appear to meet the requirements of a provincial stream, the next step is usually to apply to the province or territory first, or to create or update an Express Entry profile if the stream is aligned with Express Entry. If you receive a nomination, you then move forward with the federal part of the process for permanent residence, where IRCC reviews admissibility requirements such as medical, criminal, and security checks.
Key things to know:
- Each province and territory has its own PNP streams and eligibility rules.
- Some streams require a job offer, while others may focus more on skills, education, work experience, or ties to the province.
- To qualify for an Express Entry PNP, you must be eligible for both the provincial stream and one of the federal Express Entry programs.
- A provincial nomination through an Express Entry-aligned stream can add 600 CRS points to your profile.
We help you understand which details matter most in your case and whether a province-specific strategy may be stronger than relying solely on federal options.
What help we provide
When you work with us on a PNP application, we:
- Review your background to see which province or territory may be the best fit.
- Help you understand whether you may qualify through an Express Entry or non-Express Entry PNP stream.
- Explain the requirements in plain language, including job offers, work history, language, and settlement plans.
- Help you prepare and organize your application documents.
- Support you through the process so you understand what comes next at both the provincial and federal stages.
How it works:
- We review your profile: We look at your work experience, education, language proficiency, immigration goals, and connections to different provinces.
- We identify possible PNP options: We help you understand which province or stream may fit your situation best, including whether an Express Entry or base PNP option may be more realistic.
- We prepare your application: We organize your documents and make sure your application clearly matches the stream requirements.
- We guide you through the next stage: If you receive a nomination, we help you understand the next step toward your permanent residence application with IRCC.
Thinking about applying for permanent residence through PNP? Book a consultation with us and let’s explore which province, stream, and strategy may be the best fit for your goals.