01 — Overview
How provincial nomination works
The PNP allows participating provinces and territories to nominate people whose skills, education, work experience or business background fit local priorities and who genuinely intend to live in that jurisdiction.
There are two federal application routes after nomination: an Express Entry process for eligible candidates and a non-Express Entry process. Québec and Nunavut do not operate PNPs.
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Official provincial and territorial programs
Alberta — AAIP
Worker and entrepreneur pathways selected according to Alberta’s economic and labour-market priorities.
Read the complete current AAIP guideBritish Columbia — BC PNP
Worker, graduate, entrepreneur and business pathways administered by British Columbia.
Read the complete current BC PNP guideManitoba — MPNP
Skilled worker, international education and business investor pathways with Manitoba connections and priorities.
New Brunswick — NBPNP
Skilled worker, Express Entry, strategic initiative and business immigration streams.
Newfoundland and Labrador — NLPNP
Express Entry skilled worker, skilled worker, graduate and entrepreneur categories.
Northwest Territories — NTNP
Employer-driven, Francophone and business streams; intake availability must be checked.
Nova Scotia — NSNP
Provincial pathways and selection priorities for workers, graduates and entrepreneurs.
Ontario — OINP
The current Ontario Workforce Priority stream covers TEER 0–5 job-offer pathways and eligible self-employed physicians. Former streams are closed to new registrations.
Read the complete current OINP guidePrince Edward Island — PEI PNP
Workforce and Express Entry pathways, with selection based on provincial labour needs.
Saskatchewan — SINP
Worker, job-offer, sector and entrepreneur options subject to current Saskatchewan criteria.
Yukon — YNP
Employer-supported and business pathways for candidates intending to settle in Yukon.
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Common factors provinces examine
- A genuine intention and realistic ability to settle in the nominating province or territory
- Occupation, work experience, education and language ability
- A qualifying local job offer or current employment where the stream requires one
- Local study, work, family or community connections where relevant
- Employer eligibility and compliance for employer-driven streams
- Available nomination spaces and current provincial priorities
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Two possible federal routes
- 01
Choose the jurisdiction and stream
Start with the province’s current official criteria, not an old stream list or previous draw.
- 02
Obtain a nomination
Complete any expression of interest, invitation and provincial application steps required by that stream.
- 03
Express Entry route
If the nomination is Express Entry-aligned, accept it in the profile and proceed after a federal invitation.
- 04
Non-Express Entry route
If it is a base nomination, apply for permanent residence through IRCC’s non-Express Entry PNP process.
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Important points
- A nomination is not permanent residence. IRCC still decides admissibility and the federal PR application.
- Express Entry nomination normally adds 600 CRS points after it is accepted.
- Provincial streams may pause, reopen, target specific occupations or change employer rules during the year.
- Nominees must maintain a genuine intention to reside in the province or territory that nominated them.
Official sources & application
The practical explanation is on this page; use the official source to verify changes and complete the filing.
Ghasedak explains the program rules in plain language. Because intake status, forms, fees, allocations and filing methods can change, also check the live official instructions on the day you apply. This is general information, not an individual case assessment.