Do you plan on relocating to Canada and looking for the best PNP province in Canada? I’m here to help!
The Provincial Nominee Program or PNP is a Canadian migration stream and a key part of the Canadian immigration policy. This stream is one of Canada’s fastest-growing economic immigration pathways. In recent years, the Canadian government has gradually increased the annual allocations for provincial PNPs. Research shows that from 2021 to 2023, an estimated 250,000 people are expected to obtain Canadian permanent residence through the PNP stream. This shows the increase of this migration stream to the Canadian economy and the overall Canadian immigration landscape.
What is PNP Canada?
Provinces design the Provincial Nominee Programs streams to meet their individual migration goals. The PNP stream is popular because it’s the easiest way to get Canadian permanent resident status. All Canadian provinces operate several PNP streams. This means that each province’s eligibility criteria and application procedure differ.
If you intend to immigrate to Canada through the Provincial Nominee Program, a Canadian territory or province must first nominate you.
Although PNP nominates you to relocate to Canada, the Canadian government must approve all decisions regarding your Canadian permanent residence. Hence the title of these programs is called “nominee” programs.
How Does PNP Work in Canada?
As stated earlier, all final immigration decisions are made by the federal government, not the provincial government. This goes to show that PNPs are a two-part process. First, to qualify, you must have the skills, work experience, and education you will need to settle in Canada. Then, you have to apply to your best PNP province in Canada for your provincial nomination.
The province will assess if you can meet their labor and economic needs as well as that of Canada in general. A successful application means that the province has nominated you to submit a second permanent residence application to the federal government.
PNP Provinces in Canada
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Yukon
- Saskatchewan
Alberta
Alberta is a Canadian province located in western Canada. The province is home to two of the largest cities in Canada (Calgary and Edmonton), and amongst the three Prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba), Alberta is the most populous. Alberta is home to some of Canada’s famous national parks, such as Banff and Jasper. Hence, the province is considered one of the most beautiful parts of the North American continent.
The province of Alberta operates its PNP, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP), formerly the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program. This program allows prospective immigrants with the right mix of skills, education and work experience needed by the province. The province then proceeds to nominate such immigrants from their list of applicants and offers them the Albertan Provincial Nominee Certificate.
The AAIP has several streams; however, they are grouped under two categories. Streams for Workers and Streams for Entrepreneurs.
Streams for Workers
- Alberta Opportunity Stream
- Alberta General Express Entry Stream
- Alberta Accelerated Tech Pathway
- Rural Renewal Stream
Streams for Entrepreneurs
- Farm Stream
- Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Rural Entrepreneurship Stream
British Columbia
British Columbia is home to Vancouver, the third largest city in Canada. One of the most diverse provinces in Canada.
The province’s economy focuses on its natural resources sector, especially mining and forestry. British Columbia is also one of Canada’s most beautiful provinces due to its natural environments, expansive forests and unique coastal climate.
The province of British Columbia operates its PNP, which is called the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). This program allows prospective immigrants with the right mix of skills, education and work experience needed by the province. The province then proceeds to nominate such immigrants from their list of applicants and offers them the British Columbian Provincial Nominee Certificate.
The BC PNP has three immigration streams, namely;
- Skills Immigration Stream
- Express Entry British Columbia Stream
- Entrepreneur Immigration Stream
Manitoba
The Manitoba province is located in western Canada and is found between Ontario and Saskatchewan, making Manitoba a great crossing point in the region. The province of Manitoba is small and, as such, gets fewer newcomers compared to the other provinces.
Manitoba operates its own PNP, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The province was the first to launch a Provincial Nominee Program in 1998. The province has, however, attained tremendous immigration success in its quest to promote itself as a choice destination for skilled immigrants. The Manitoba PNP has undoubtedly played a major role in Manitoba’s labor force, population and economic growth.
This program allows prospective immigrants with the right mix of skills, education and work experience needed by the province. The province then proceeds to nominate such immigrants from their list of applicants and offers them the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Certificate. Today the province nominates about 5,000 new immigrants each year.
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has five immigration streams, namely;
- Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream
- Skilled Worker Overseas Stream
- Manitoba Business Investor Stream
- International Educational Stream
- Morden Community Driven Initiative
New Brunswick
The New Brunswick province is one of the northeastern Maritime Canadian provinces. New Brunswick is Canada’s only bilingual province, with about 30 percent of its general population speaking French as their first language.
The province of New Brunswick operates its own PNP, the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). This program allows prospective immigrants with the right mix of skills, education and work experience needed by the province. The province then proceeds to nominate such immigrants from their list of applicants and offers them the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Certificate.
The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) has six streams, namely;
- New Brunswick Express Entry Stream
- Skilled Workers Stream
- Business Immigration Stream
- Strategic Initiative Stream
- Critical Worker Pilot
- Atlantic Immigration Program
Newfoundland and Labrador
The Newfoundland and Labrador province is Canada’s easternmost province which, over time, has evolved into one of Canada’s significant economic forces. The province comprises two distinct land masses: Labrador, which is connected to the mainland, and Newfoundland’s island.
The province of Newfoundland and Labrador operates its own PNP, the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP), launched in 1999. This program allows prospective immigrants with the right mix of skills, education and work experience needed by the province. The province then proceeds to nominate such immigrants from their list of applicants and offers them the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Certificate. The province nominates 1,700 new immigrants each year.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) has five immigration streams, namely;
- Newfoundland and Labrador Express Entry Skilled Worker
- Skilled Worker Category
- International Graduate Category
- International Entrepreneur Category
- International Graduate Entrepreneur Category
Nova Scotia
The Nova Scotia province is located in the Maritimes region of Canada. Nova scotia is composed of the Nova Scotia peninsula, Cape Breton Island and over 3,000 smaller islands. Nova Scotia is widely known for its natural sceneries, with its capital city Halifax being the province’s major center for arts and culture. Nova Scotia is widely renowned for its high standard of living and close connection to the sea, its coastal beauties and delicious delicacies.
The province of Nova Scotia operates its own PNP, the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), launched in 2003. This program allows prospective immigrants with the right mix of skills, education and work experience needed by the province. The province then proceeds to nominate such immigrants from their list of applicants and offers them the Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Certificate. Today the province nominates 7,000 new immigrants each year.
The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) has nine streams, namely;
- Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry
- Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities
- Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities for physicians
- Skilled Worker Stream
- Occupation In-Demand Stream
- International Graduates In-Demand
- Entrepreneur Stream
- International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Physician Stream
Ontario
Ontario is Canada’s most populous province, as it is the most popular landing place for most Canadian immigrants. Ontario is home to about 40% of the Canadian population and to Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, and Toronto, Canada’s largest city. Ontario is one of the most diverse provinces in Canada. The province is also filled with numerous job opportunities and high-income jobs, which is why about one-third of all newcomers each year choose to live there.
The Ontario province operates its own PNP, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), launched in 2007. This program allows prospective immigrants with the right mix of skills, education and work experience needed by the province. The province then proceeds to nominate such immigrants from their list of applicants and offers them the Ontario Provincial Nominee Certificate. Today the Province nominates 8,000 new immigrants each year.
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has four immigration streams, namely;
- Human Capital Category
- Masters or Ph.D. Category
- Employer Job Offer Category
- Business Category
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is considered to be Canada’s smallest province. The province is an island but is also made up of several isles and is considered Canada’s birthplace. The province is wildly known for its lush farmlands and beautiful coasts. Its economy is primarily centered around agriculture, tourism and fishing.
The Prince Edward Island province operates its own PNP, the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP), launched in 2001. This program allows prospective immigrants with the right mix of skills, education and work experience needed by the province. The province then proceeds to nominate such immigrants from their list of applicants and offers them the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Certificate. Today the Province nominates 2,000 new immigrants each year.
The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) has three streams, namely;
- PEI PNP Express Entry
- Labour Impact Category
- Business Impact Category
Yukon
The Yukon province is located in the far northwest region of Canada. Yukon is well known for the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 1890s. The province has a population of about 30,000, with most of its residents found in its capital city, Whitehorse. The economy of the province is based mainly on mining and tourism.
The Yukon province operates its own PNP, the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP), launched in 2002. This program allows prospective immigrants with the right mix of skills, education and work experience needed by the province. The province then proceeds to nominate such immigrants from their list of applicants and offers them the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Certificate. Today the Province nominates a few hundred new immigrants each year.
The Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) has five streams, namely;
- Yukon Express Entry (YEE)
- Yukon Skilled Worker Program
- Yukon Critical Impact Worker Program
- Yukon Business Nominee Program
- Yukon Community Pilot
Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan Province is one of the Prairie provinces of Western Canada. Saskatchewan boasts two major Canadian cities, Saskatoon and Regina. The province is home to one of the country’s most rapidly growing economies and populations due to a large number of immigrant arrivals. The province’s economy is primarily based on agricultural and important natural resource sectors like fishing and forestry.
The Saskatchewan province operates its own PNP, the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), launched in 1998. This program allows prospective immigrants with the right mix of skills, education and work experience needed by the province. The province then proceeds to nominate such immigrants from their list of applicants and offers them the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Certificate. Today the Province nominates 15,000 new immigrants each year.
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) has four streams, namely;
- International Skilled Worker Category
- Saskatchewan Experience Category
- Entrepreneur and Farm Category
- International Graduate Entrepreneur Category
The Best PNP Province in Canada
Ontario is considered to be the best PNP province in Canada because of its popularity in the country. The province is Canada’s most popular province and the most popular destination for immigrants. The province is diverse and home to about 40% of the entire Canadian population. The province is home to cities like Ottawa and Toronto, whose bustling natures and high job opportunities are somewhat attractive to newcomers. The province also has a large quota for its PNP programs, with about 18,000 slots now open to help newcomers immigrate to Canada.
Ontario offers its immigrants and permanent residents a high quality of life due to its mass scenery and amazing cities. Although the cost of living in Ontario is slightly higher than other famous provinces like Alberta and Quebec, as well as the general Canadian average, the province is known to offer high-paying jobs to aid its workers in coping with their expenses.
Ontario is home to one of Canada’s economies. The province is one of Canada’s richest provinces, generating about 38.12% of the Canadian national GDP. The economic growth in the province is largely due to its enormous workforce, the revenue generated from combined resources, exports and manufacturing expertise, and their growing tech industries.
Education in Toronto is highly rated as the province is home to world-renowned colleges like the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo, McMaster University, and Western University, among others. All these universities attract a great number of international students on a yearly basis. As basic education is made compulsory in Canada, children are made to start school once they are about or above four years of age.
Ontario is home to some hospitals with state-of-the-art healthcare facilities. These facilities attract patients from all across the globe and help reduce the mortality rate in the province and the country. After you are issued permanent resident status, you can easily apply for health insurance.
Although some cities in Ontario are known to have higher crime rates than usual, most Ontario cities are pretty safe. Toronto, waterloo, Ottawa, and Guelph are some of Ontario’s most famous cities known to have relatively low crime rates and are very diverse, which makes them a welcoming environment for other immigrant families and young immigrants.
Many immigrants consider Ontario one of the best PNP provinces in Canada because of its large immigrant population. The amount of PR issued to them is larger than most Canadian provinces.
Besides Ontario, provinces like Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Nova Scotia are also considered to be some of the best PNP provinces in Canada.
Why Ontario is the Best PNP Province in Canada?
The province is home to about one-third of all new arrival immigrants in Canada and has one of the highest Canadian PNP quotas. The province offers many opportunities to immigrants wishing to live and work in Canada. The province is multicultural and has a stable economy, low unemployment and crime rates in most of its cities, standard education and healthcare facilities and high quality of life.
How to Apply for PNP Canada?
Provincial Nominee Programs’ application process is almost the same in every province. Let’s take a look at the steps on how to apply to your PNP of choice;
1. Find the PNP suitable for you
Look for the list of provinces and territories available to determine where to immigrate to.
2. Find out if you’re eligible
Ensure you check the requirements for each PNP to know which one to apply for and which you are eligible for.
3. Apply for a Provincial Nominee Program
Proceed to submit an application directly to your chosen territory or province.
4. Receive your Provincial Nominee certificate
Suppose your application is complete, eligible, and successful. In that case, you will be nominated by a province or territory and receive an official Provincial Nomination certificate, allowing you to apply for permanent residence.
5. Apply for permanent residence
For the final step, apply to the Canadian federal government for permanent residence. You could do this online if you were nominated through the Express Entry-aligned PNP, you could do this online. If it isn’t, you must submit a paper-based application.
What are the Benefits of PNP?
The Provincial Nominee Program, as stated earlier, is one of the easy routes for immigrants to migrate to Canada. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits the PNP has to offer:
- The PNP encourages skilled migration.
- The PNP provides the opportunity for immigrants to settle in different Canadian provinces.
- The PNP offers job opportunities to skilled immigrants by placing them in provinces where their skills are needed.
- The PNP is the easiest route to settling in your desired Canadian province.
- PNP Streams, like the direct nomination, can allow the application process to be done in less than six months.
- A few Express-Entry PNP streams have no mandatory requirement for employment.
Wrapping Up on The Best PNP Province in Canada
When choosing the best PNP province in Canada, it all comes down to you. What are your skills, educational background, and work experience? There are quite many provinces and PNPs to choose from as an immigrant. So how do you know the best PNP province in Canada? Research is vital in times like this. The best PNP province in Canada for you would depend uniquely on what you can do. Once you’ve figured out your skills and what you can offer, choose a PNP that best suits you in the Canadian province you desire and apply.
