Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Each province and territory in Canada has its own Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which allows them to nominate individuals who have the skills, education, and work experience needed to contribute to their economy.

There are two types PNP’s:

  • Express Entry-Linked: These streams are connected to the federal Express Entry system. Candidates who receive a provincial nomination through these streams automatically earn an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This significantly improves their chances of being invited to apply for permanent residence.

  • Non-Express Entry: These streams operate independently of Express Entry and applicants are required to submit a direct application to the province or territory.

Each province or territory sets its own criteria, however, there are some general eligibility requirements common across most PNPs:

  • Age: Typically, applicants must be between 22 and 55 years old.

  • Language Skills: Applicants usually need to demonstrate proficiency in English or French by achieving specific Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels, often a CLB level of 7 or higher.

  • Education: Most PNP streams require a minimum of a high school diploma, but some may need higher educational qualifications.

  • Work Experience: Applicants must have relevant skilled work experience, often a minimum of one year. The required experience varies depending on the stream.

  • Intent to Settle: Applicants must show a genuine intent to live and work in the nominating province or territory.

  • In addition, each province may have additional conditions such as job offers or family connections to the province.
  • Generally speaking, the following are the most basic documents provinces would require to submit; however, each province may require additional documents such as a proof of job offer or family ties to the province.

To apply for a PNP, applicants need to provide various documents to support their application. Most provinces would require the following documents:

  • Identity Proof: A valid passport or travel document for both the applicant and for the accompanying family members.

  • Language Test Results: Official results from approved language tests like IELTS or TEF that demonstrate English or French language proficiency.

  • Educational Documents: Degrees, diplomas, or certificates from educational institutions. If the education was completed outside of Canada, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) may be required to confirm its equivalency to Canadian standards.

  • Proof of Work Experience: Letters of reference from employers, as well as other supporting documents like pay stubs or tax returns to verify your work history.

  • Police Clearance Certificates: Criminal background checks from all countries where the applicant has lived for more than six months since turning 18.

  • Medical Examination Results: A medical examination from a panel physician approved by the Canadian government to confirm the applicant’s health status.

  • Proof of Settlement Funds: Documentation such as bank statements or investment certificates showing that you have enough financial resources to support yourself and your family when you settle in Canada.

  • Recent Photographs: Passport-sized photos that meet IRCC’s specifications.

It is crucial that applicants submit complete and accurate documentation for a successful application. At Lakin Afolabi Law, we ensure that you are well versed with the requirements, help you identify which province’s PNP is the best fit for your profile, and guide you through the application process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not all PNP streams require a job offer. Some PNP’s focus on candidates with specific skills, work experience, or education, others may prefer those who already have employment in the province.

Language requirements vary by stream, but typically you will need to meet a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level, which is often CLB 7 or higher.

Processing times are dependent upon the province. It may take several months for the province to process your nomination, followed by federal processing for permanent residence.

Yes, you can include your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children in your application.

Once you receive a provincial nomination, you can apply for permanent residence through the federal government. If your nomination is through an Express Entry-aligned stream, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Disclaimer

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