Permanent Residence: (Provincial Nomination)
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is another major Canadian immigration program for skilled workers, after Canada Express Entry. Most Canadian provinces and territories run PNP immigration programs to attract skilled workers from all over the world to grow and strengthen their provincial economies.
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) permits the territories and provinces of Canada to nominate individual candidates who wish to immigrate to Canada and who wish to settle in a particular province. Nunavut and Quebec are the only territory and province that do not have a nominee program. Quebec instead has the authority to establish its own selection criteria for economic immigration.
Almost every Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) has at least one immigration stream that is aligned with the federal Canada Express Entry immigration selection system. ‘Enhanced Nominations’ are the provincial nominations issued under these Canada Express Entry-aligned streams. A candidate nominated through an enhanced stream receives an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, which will usually be enough to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence under Canada Express Entry. The application for permanent residence is then processed through Canada Express Entry.
The other way to obtain permanent residence through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is under a ‘base’ stream. Here, you apply to a PNP stream directly and the federal government will process your permanent residence application once you obtain a provincial nomination.
Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
Alberta issues provincial nominations to foreign nationals who meet program-specific criteria and demonstrate an intention to reside in the prairie province. The program is now called the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). It has streams for workers, including the Alberta Opportunity Stream and the Alberta Express Entry Stream, and separate streams for entrepreneurs and farmers.
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
The BC PNP offers pathways for skilled workers and international graduates with the experience, skills and qualifications needed in B.C. (Skills Immigration), and Entrepreneur Immigration streams for people who want to start or buy a business in the province.
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
Manitoba’s provincial immigration program includes streams designed to nominate skilled workers and their families who are planning to work and live in the province of Manitoba permanently. The MPNP has three streams: the Skilled Worker Stream, the International Education Stream for graduates of Manitoba schools, and the Business Investor Stream.
New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
The NBPNP is New Brunswick’s provincial immigration program. Its streams are the New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream, the New Brunswick Express Entry stream, the New Brunswick Strategic Initiative and the New Brunswick Business Immigration stream.
Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)
The NLPNP receives immigration applications from international graduates, skilled workers and entrepreneurs who meet program-specific criteria such as a job offer or intent to reside, and who have the ability to become economically established in the province. Its categories are Express Entry Skilled Worker, Skilled Worker, International Graduate, International Entrepreneur and International Graduate Entrepreneur. The separate Atlantic Immigration Program also serves Newfoundland and Labrador.
Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
The NSNP is Nova Scotia’s program for the nomination of eligible international graduates, skilled workers, professionals and entrepreneurs who wish to reside permanently in the province. Nova Scotia has been consolidating its streams; the program currently lists Skilled Worker, Nova Scotia Graduate, Entrepreneur and Nova Scotia: Express Entry streams.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
Ontario redesigned the OINP in 2026. Its earlier streams, including the Human Capital, Employer Job Offer and Entrepreneur streams, are closed, and the program now runs through the Ontario Workforce Priority stream. That stream is for skilled foreign workers with a qualifying job offer from an Ontario employer: the employer starts the process, the worker registers an expression of interest, and those who are invited may apply for nomination. Ontario has said more changes are coming.
Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
Prince Edward Island nominates workers, graduates and entrepreneurs who want to settle on the Island. The PEI PNP works through expressions of interest and includes PEI Express Entry, streams for skilled workers in PEI and outside Canada, critical workers and international graduates of Island institutions, and a Work Permit Stream for business owners. The separate Atlantic Immigration Program also serves Prince Edward Island.
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
Saskatchewan nominates workers who have the skills and experience the province needs and who intend to live and work there. The SINP has two worker categories: International Skilled Worker, and Worker with Saskatchewan Work Experience. Saskatchewan permanently closed its Entrepreneur and Farm Owner and Operator categories in March 2025.
Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
The Northwest Territories takes economic immigration applications from candidates who want to settle in Northern Canada. The NTNP has an Employer-Driven Stream, which includes an Express Entry option for skilled workers, a Business Stream and a Francophone Stream.
Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
Yukon’s nominee program, the territory’s equivalent of a provincial immigration program, helps eligible employers in this northern territory of Canada to nominate experienced foreign workers for permanent residence in Canada. The YNP has Skilled Worker, Critical Impact Worker and Express Entry streams, and the separate Yukon Business Nominee Program is for foreign entrepreneurs.
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