Canada will boost provincial immigration by 66% in 2026, i.e., the federal government has announced a major increase in Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) targets for 2026. The new goal is to welcome 91,500 permanent residents (PR) through the PNP, up from 55,000 the previous year. This represents a 66% rise and brings renewed optimism for provincial immigration candidates across the country.
The Immigration Levels Plan outlines the number of people Canada expects to admit each year as permanent residents, along with estimated goals for the next two years.
Just two years ago, Ottawa had cut the PNP’s PR admission targets by 50%, leading to major slowdowns in provincial immigration. However, the new 2026 targets almost double those earlier figures. The plan also includes a 67% increase for 2027, signaling a long-term shift toward stronger provincial control over immigration.
Through the PNP, each province and territory can create its own immigration streams and criteria. This allows local governments to select candidates with the skills and experience that match their regional labour needs, even if those candidates would not qualify under Express Entry.
What Does This Increase Mean For Candidates?
Since most provincial programs give priority to candidates who have already worked or studied in their province, this new increase in PNP allocations will mostly benefit temporary residents in Canada, including work permit and study permit holders.
This boost will make it easier for these individuals to transition to permanent residence (PR).
The PNP is also a strong option for those who do not meet the high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores required for Express Entry or do not speak fluent French.
For example, post-graduation work permit (PGWP) holders (former international graduates who are now working in Canada) could see better chances of getting nominated under a PNP.
If these candidates receive a nomination and apply for PR, they can also qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), which allows them to keep working legally while waiting for a decision on their PR application.
Who Will Benefit The Most?
As Canada will boost provincial immigration by 66% in 2026, let us discuss who will benefit the most from this.
Well, the increase in PNP targets will mainly help candidates who:
- Have CRS scores lower than future Express Entry cut-offs.
- Do not qualify under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
- Work in lower-skilled jobs (NOC TEER 4 or 5).
- Want PR through business or entrepreneur streams.
- Are outside Canada but want to settle in a specific province.
- Are international graduates who studied in that province.
The change will also help Canadian employers who are facing ongoing labour shortages.
Since the federal government removed extra CRS points for arranged employment in 2025, the PNP has become even more important for employers wanting to retain international talent already working for them.
How Provincial Nominations Are Determined?
PNP admission targets are not the same as the number of invitations to apply (ITAs) or nominations issued. Instead, they show how many people the federal government expects to admit in a given year.
To meet these goals, IRCC assigns each province an annual nomination allocation, i.e., the number of applicants that province can nominate through its PNP.
Because of processing times, actual PR admissions often happen months after nominations are issued.
When nomination allocations increase, provinces can invite more candidates through provincial draws.
It’s also worth noting that the number of ITAs is usually higher than the number of nominations, since some applications may be refused or found invalid.
PNP Trends In 2025
In the previous Immigration Levels Plan (2025–2027), the federal government had cut PNP admission targets by half compared to the year before.
| Year | Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027 (target published 2024) | Immigration Levels Plan 2024–2026 (target published 2023) |
| 2025 | 55,000 | 120,000 |
| 2026 | 55,000 | 120,000 |
| 2027 | 55,000 | — |
These cuts led to smaller allocations for most provinces and territories at the start of 2025. Many provinces had to pause or limit their nomination programs to fit within federal limits.
Some examples include:
- British Columbia suspended three new graduate streams and wait-listed International Post-Graduate applications submitted after September 1, 2024.
- Nova Scotia prioritized applicants in healthcare, social assistance, and construction, especially those with work permits expiring in 2025.
- Prince Edward Island (PEI) focused on healthcare, trades, and childcare sectors, along with other industries facing worker shortages.
- New Brunswick gave priority to health, education, and construction workers and paused new applications under the Strategic Initiative stream.
- Saskatchewan restricted recruitment from overseas except for workers in healthcare, agriculture, and skilled trades, while introducing a 25% cap on nominations for workers in transportation, retail, and food services.
Since January 2025, however, most provinces (except Ontario and PEI) successfully negotiated higher nomination allocations with the federal government. This reflects a growing demand from provinces to attract and retain workers for critical local industries.
About The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Launched in 1998, the Provincial Nominee Program was created to ensure that immigration benefits reach beyond Canada’s largest cities. It allows provinces and territories to select immigrants who can contribute to their local economies.
Today, it is Canada’s second most popular immigration pathway for skilled workers, after Express Entry.
The PNP has two types of nomination routes:
- Base Streams – These operate outside Express Entry. Candidates apply directly to a province’s PNP stream. If nominated, they then submit a separate PR application to IRCC.
- Enhanced Streams – These are linked to Express Entry. Provinces can select candidates from the federal Express Entry pool. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points, almost guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the next draw.
In both cases, candidates must meet provincial criteria and federal admissibility requirements.
Immigtoronto is dedicated to helping prospective immigrants find their path to permanent residency. Our team is ready to assist you with any inquiries; simply get in touch by sending an email to [email protected].
