PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM
PNP Provincial Immigration
Every Canadian province runs immigration programs shaped by its own economy and labour market. Collectively these provincial routes are known as the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
ABOUT PNP
What is PNP provincial immigration?
Each province operates the PNP with its own requirements and its own set of streams, and some of those streams are aligned with federal Express Entry. Together they give you a far wider choice of routes to Canadian immigration.
PROVINCES
Main provincial immigration destinations
-
British Columbia
On the Pacific coast in western Canada. Its mild climate and the range of outdoor activities its natural setting allows make it a favourite destination for immigrants.
-
Alberta
The AAIP provincial program has no age limit and comparatively low language requirements. Home to Banff National Park in the Rocky Mountains, it is a fine place to enjoy Canada's vast natural landscape.
-
Saskatchewan
Canada's largest wheat-growing region, with agriculture and a manufacturing sector built on abundant forestry resources. Its wide range of provincial programs makes it one of the more accessible provinces for immigration.
-
Ontario
Home to the capital, Ottawa, and to Toronto, the country's economic and cultural centre. Strong schooling for children and a large job market make it a popular choice.
-
Nova Scotia
To address labour shortages and an ageing population, the province opens opportunities to unskilled as well as skilled workers. Its requirements are comparatively less demanding than other provinces'.
-
New Brunswick
To offset the labour shortage caused by an ageing population, the province plans to attract 7,500 economic immigrants a year and grow its population to one million by 2040.
BC EMPLOYER
Employer requirements for BC PNP support
- A corporation operating in BC for at least one year
- Metro Vancouver: 5 or more full-time employees
- Outside Metro Vancouver: 3 or more full-time employees
- The employer complies with Canadian law and is in sound financial standing
- Wages paid are appropriate to the applicant's occupation as set by Canadian labour authorities
BC SKILLS IMMIGRATION
BC Skills Immigration requirements
If you apply through Express Entry BC (EEBC), the language requirement rises to CLB 7 or above for NOC 0 and A and CLB 5 or above for NOC B, and you must also meet the requirements of one of the EE programs.
| Stream | Experience / Education | Language | Job offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | At least 2 years of full-time experience within the past 10 years (overseas experience accepted) / NOC 0, A, B | CLB 4 (not required for NOC 0 and A) | Full-time, permanent job offer from a BC employer |
| Entry & Semi-Skilled | At least 9 consecutive months of Canadian experience in a designated occupation in BC / NOC C, D | CLB 4 or above | Full-time, permanent job offer from a BC employer |
| International Graduate | Graduation from a Canadian university or college within the past 3 years / NOC 0, A, B | CLB 4 (not required for NOC 0 and A) | Full-time, permanent job offer from a BC employer |
| International Post-Graduate | Completion of a master's or doctoral program at a designated BC university within the past 3 years | — | — |
| Healthcare Professional | At least 2 years of relevant experience — physician, specialist, nurse, psychiatric nurse, diagnostic medical sonographer, clinical pharmacist, medical laboratory and radiation technologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, midwife | CLB 4 (not required for NOC 0 and A) | Full-time, permanent job offer from a BC employer |
| BC Tech | At least 2 years of full-time experience within the past 10 years (overseas experience accepted) / one of BC's 29 designated tech occupations | CLB 4 (not required for NOC 0 and A) | Full-time job offer of 1 year or more from a BC employer (at least 120 days remaining at the time of application, at or above the labour authority's average wage) |
ENTREPRENEUR
Key entrepreneur immigration requirements by province
The BC Base Category requires at least 3 years as a business owner or 4 years as a senior manager within the past 10 years, or 1 year as a business owner plus 2 years as a senior manager, and you must employ at least one permanent resident or citizen.
The Regional Pilot requires a business plan for a designated smaller community in BC with a population under 75,000, together with a mandatory visit to that community. Additional partners cannot apply for BC PNP immigration under this stream.
| Province / Stream | Investment | Personal net worth | Ownership | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BC — Base Category | Invest $200,000 or more in a new or existing business | Personal net worth of $600,000 | At least 33.33% ownership of the Canadian business | CLB 4 |
| BC — Regional Pilot | Invest $100,000 or more in a new or existing business | Personal net worth of $300,000 | At least 51% ownership of the Canadian business | CLB 4 |
| Alberta — Intl Graduate Entrepreneur | — | — | Establish or acquire a business with at least 34% ownership | CLB 7 |
| Alberta — Foreign Graduate Start-Up | At least $100,000 in urban areas / at least $50,000 in regional areas | — | At least 34% in urban areas / at least 51% in regional areas | CLB 5 |
| Alberta — Self-Employed Farmer | Proof of ability to invest at least $500,000 in a farming business | — | — | — |
| Saskatchewan — Entrepreneur (SINP) | Invest $300,000 or more | Proof of at least $500,000 in net assets | — | — |
| Saskatchewan — Intl Graduate Entrepreneur | — | — | Operate the business for one year with at least 33% ownership | CLB 7 |
| Saskatchewan — Farm Owner and Operator | Invest at least $150,000 | Proof of $500,000 or more in net assets | — | — |
| Ontario — Entrepreneur Stream | At least $600,000 in the Greater Toronto Area / at least $200,000 elsewhere | $800,000 or more in the Greater Toronto Area / $400,000 or more elsewhere | At least 33.3% ownership of the company | CLB 4 |
| Nova Scotia — Entrepreneur | Invest $150,000 or more | Proof of $600,000 in assets | At least 3 years operating a business with 33.3% or more ownership, or 5 years as a senior manager | CLB 5 |
| New Brunswick — Business Immigration | Invest at least $150,000 (excluding taxes) | — | At least 33.33% ownership | CLB 5 or above |
BY PROVINCE
Provincial skilled immigration programs in detail
Alberta — Alberta Opportunity Stream (AOS)
Education: high school graduation or above. Experience: 12 months of experience in Alberta within the past 18 months / 24 months of Canadian or overseas experience within the past 30 months / for PGWP holders, 6 months in the same position in Alberta within the past 18 months. Occupation: open to all but certain excluded occupations. Language: CLB 5 for NOC 0, A and B / CLB 4 for NOC C and D / CLB 7 for NOC 3413. You must hold a valid work permit; PGWP holders must have graduated from an Alberta institution and may only apply in an occupation related to their field of study.
Alberta — Alberta Express Entry Stream (AEES)
An Express Entry-aligned stream: invitation letters are sent to candidates who select Alberta as their intended province when registering in EE. Requirements: meet one of CEC, FSW or FST, hold an EE score of 300 or more, and intend to live in Alberta. Your chances of an invitation improve with an Alberta job offer or Alberta work experience, graduation from an Alberta school, or a parent, child or sibling living in Alberta as a permanent resident or citizen. Conversely, they fall if your EE profile has 5 months or less remaining, if you work in an occupation Alberta excludes, or if you apply in an occupation with a high volume of AAIP applicants.
Saskatchewan — International Skilled Worker
Employment Offer: 1 year of experience within the past 10 years, NOC 0, A or B, a permanent full-time job offer, CLB 4 or above. Saskatchewan Express Entry: graduation from a program of one year or more (an ECA is required for study outside Canada), a SINP score of 60 or above, and registration in the EE pool. Occupations In-Demand: graduation from a program of one year or more, at least 1 year of experience related to the field of study, CLB 4 or above. Hard-to-Fill Skills Pilot: high school graduation, 1 year of overseas experience within the past 3 years or 6 months or more of experience in Saskatchewan, a designated occupation (9619, 9617, 9612, 9536, 9526, 9461, 9431, 9416, 8431, 7611, 7521, 7511, 7452, 6733, 6731, 6711, 6525, 6513, 4412, 3414, 3413, 1525, 1521), CLB 4 or above. The employer must be a business that has been actively operating for at least one year.
Saskatchewan — Worker with Saskatchewan Work Experience
Skilled Worker With Existing Work Permit: 6 months or more of experience in Saskatchewan, NOC 0, A or B, a permanent full-time job offer, CLB 4 or above. Semi-skilled Agriculture Worker: NOC 8431 General Farm Worker / NOC 8432 Nursery and Greenhouse Worker. Health Professionals: 6 months or more of Saskatchewan experience in a designated occupation. Hospitality Sector Project: for NOC 6513, 6711 and 6731, with 6 months or more of work under a SINP-approved employer. Long-Haul Truck Driver Project: 6 months or more of experience with a SINP-approved trucking company and a Saskatchewan Class 1A driver's licence. Students: graduates of Saskatchewan institutions, or graduates of institutions in other provinces with 6 months or more of Saskatchewan experience on a PGWP.
Ontario — Employer Job Offer Category
Foreign Worker Stream: at least 2 years of experience in the same occupation within the past 5 years, NOC 0, A or B, and a permanent full-time job offer at or above the median wage for the occupation. International Student Stream: graduation from a Canadian program of two years or more, or a program of one year or more, studied full-time, NOC 0, A or B, at or above the low wage level. In-Demand Skills Stream: high school graduation or above, 9 months or more of experience in Ontario within the past 3 years, specific NOC C and D occupations, at or above the median wage, CLB 4 or above. Employer requirements in the Greater Toronto Area are annual revenue of $1,000,000, 5 or more full-time permanent resident or citizen employees, and 3 years or more in operation; outside that area, annual revenue of $500,000, 3 or more employees, and 3 years or more in operation.
Ontario — Human Capital Category
Master Graduate Stream: completion of a master's program of one year or more within the past 2 years at a designated Ontario university, CLB 7 or above, and at least 1 year of residence in Ontario within the past 2 years. PhD Graduate Stream: completion of a doctoral program in Ontario, applying within 2 years of graduation. French-Speaking Skilled Worker: a bachelor's degree or above, CLB 6 or above in English and CLB 7 or above in French. Human Capital Priorities: a bachelor's degree or above, at least 1 year of experience within the past 5 years or 1 year of Canadian experience within the past 3 years, CLB 7 or above in English and French. Skilled Trades: at least 1 year of full-time experience in Ontario within the past 2 years, NOC Minor Group 633 or Major Group 72, 73 or 82, CLB 5 or above. All of these streams also require you to meet the EE requirements.
Nova Scotia — NSNP skilled immigration
Skilled Worker: high school graduation or above, at least 1 year of relevant experience, 6 months or more with the same employer, a permanent full-time job offer, CLB 5 for NOC 0, A and B or CLB 4 for NOC C and D, age 21 to 55, and proof of settlement funds. Occupations in Demand: NOC 3413 nursing occupations, 6513 servers, 6711 kitchen helpers and baristas, 6731 cleaners, 7511 truck drivers, 7521 heavy equipment operators, 7611 construction labourers, CLB 4 or above. International Graduates in Demand: graduation from a Nova Scotia institution within the past 3 years, NOC 3413 or NOC 4214 early childhood educators, CLB 5 or above. Physician: NOC 3112 general practitioners and NOC 3111 specialists, with an employment contract from the NSHA or IWK. Nova Scotia Experience Express Entry: at least 1 year of NOC 0, A or B experience in Nova Scotia, a registered EE profile, age 21 to 55.
New Brunswick — Skilled Worker / NB Express Entry
Skilled Worker: high school graduation or above, age 19 to 55, CLB 4 or above. Occupations are high-skilled NOC 0, A and B / semi-skilled NOC C / low-skilled specific NOC D occupations (skill types 7, 8 and 9 / 6711 Food Counter Attendants / 6731 Light-duty Cleaners). You must demonstrate your intention to settle in New Brunswick, assessed on factors such as your current job, length of residence, community involvement and family ties. NB Express Entry: high school graduation or above, living in New Brunswick and either employed in a NOC 0, A or B occupation or enrolled at a public post-secondary institution (with proof of at least 1 year of prior experience), CLB 7 or above, meeting the EE requirements, and an employment letter from the employer. Business immigration requires at least 65 points out of 100 on the EOI and a business exploratory visit to New Brunswick of 5 days or more.
AIP — Atlantic Immigration Program
Atlantic Intermediate Skilled: high school graduation or above, at least 1 year of experience (1,560 hours) within the past 3 years, NOC 0, A, B or C, full-time permanent employment (30 hours or more per week), CLB 4 or above. Atlantic High Skilled: high school graduation or completion of a one-year college program or above (varies by province), at least 1 year of experience within the past 3 years, NOC 0, A or B, a full-time job offer of 1 year or more, CLB 4 or 5 or above. Atlantic International Graduate: graduation from a program of two years or more at a designated public institution in the four Atlantic provinces, NOC 0, A, B or C, a full-time job offer of 1 year or more, CLB 4 or above.
A happier move to Canada, made together with SP Consulting.
Ask us anything about immigrating to Canada. We treat every client’s move as if it were our own.