Recently, two Canadian provinces have issued invitations for candidates to apply for nominations through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Established in Manitoba in 1998, the PNP aims to spread the economic benefits of immigration to regions of Canada that may not typically attract newcomers. Today, every province and territory, except Quebec and Nunavut, has its own PNP.
This program enables provincial governments to select candidates for economic immigration who are most likely to thrive within their local economies. Each province receives a specific quota of nominations as part of the federal Immigration Levels Plan. The 2025 plan, released on October 24, has significantly reduced the total number of available PNP nominations from 110,000 in 2024 to 55,000 for next year.
Obtaining a provincial nomination enhances a candidate’s application for permanent residency, especially for those in the Express Entry system, as it provides an additional 600 points to their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This makes the PNP one of the most desirable pathways for newcomers seeking permanent residency in Canada.
Results of provincial immigration from October 26 to November 1
British Columbia
On October 30, British Columbia issued more than 83 invitations to apply for nominations through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).
In addition, the province conducted a general draw, inviting 31 candidates from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate, and Entry Level and Semi-Skilled streams. All candidates were required to achieve a minimum score of 134, except for Entry Level and Semi-Skilled candidates, who needed a minimum score of 117.
Moreover, B.C. conducted four targeted draws for candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams, focusing on specific occupations: Childcare occupations received 20 invitations with a minimum score of 90; Construction occupations received 20 invitations with a minimum score of 96; Healthcare occupations received 12 invitations with a minimum score of 104; and Veterinary occupations received fewer than five invitations, requiring a minimum score of 80.
Prince Edward Island
The PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) invited 89 candidates in its Labor and Express Entry categories, specifically targeting individuals currently working in the healthcare, construction, and manufacturing sectors in Prince Edward Island.
Additionally, two candidates were invited from the Business Work Permit Entrepreneur category, both of whom achieved a minimum score of 92.
Furthermore, over the past 12 months, PEI has issued a total of 1,237 invitations through the PEI PNP, with 98% of these invitations going to applicants in the Labor and Express Entry streams.
