Choosing between Express Entry and PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) pathways is a crucial decision for those seeking to immigrate to Canada. In 2024, these routes will collectively accommodate 220,770 new immigrants, out of the country’s overall intake of 485,000.
485,000 new immigrants will be welcomed to Canada by IRCC in total in 2024, with 220,770 of them coming via the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) and the Express Entry system. For those who are new to the country looking for permanent residency, these two routes are the main ones.
People who are thinking about immigrating to Canada frequently struggle with the decision of whether to use the PNP or the Express Entry route. Every route has unique benefits, and choosing between Base and upgraded PNPs requires knowledge of their differences.
Understanding Express Entry – Canada’s Immigration Pathway
The Express Entry application management system is a vital route for those seeking economic immigration status in Canada. It is in charge of the admissions process for three different immigration programs: the CEC, the FSTP, and the FSWP. Express Entry is projected to be the primary entry point for immigrants in 2024. Canada aims to admit 110,700 permanent residents through these channels.
For applicants to be eligible to submit a profile to the Express Entry pool of qualified candidates, they must meet the requirements outlined in each of these programs. People are recognized as Express Entry candidates and their profile is added to the applicant pool whenever they satisfy the eligibility requirements and submit their profile under one of the Express Entry programs.
Following profile submission to the Express Entry pool, each applicant is evaluated and given a CRS score. Their professional experience, other relevant traits, and their human capital features are some of the criteria that go into determining this score.
Insights into Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs
Candidates then go into a waiting period till there is an Express Entry draw. These draws may be made exclusively for a certain program or more broadly. Candidates aiming to apply for permanent residency (PR) during a draw must meet a minimum CRS score threshold corresponding to their own CRS score. Only then will they receive an invitation to apply (ITA). It’s crucial to remember that candidates can resubmit their Express Entry profiles after expiration. Express Entry profiles remain valid for a year after submission.
Following the issuance of an ITA, candidates become applicants and must apply for permanent residency to IRCC within 60 days. Successful applicants will receive permanent residency status upon approval of their application, allowing them to establish and live in Canada.
Candidates from the Federal Express Entry pool of qualified individuals may receive invites from Canadian provinces. Enhanced streams, which are specific PNP streams, are usually used to facilitate this. These streams are not to be confused with Base PNP streams or standalone PNP streams.
Candidates must receive an invitation from the provincial/territorial pool of qualified candidates or the Federal Express Entry pool in order to be considered for nomination under an upgraded stream. After receiving an invitation, individuals must apply to the respective province or territory using a specific application tailored for the upgraded PNP. This application is designed specifically for the enhanced PNP stream.
Upon securing a provincial nomination via an upgraded stream, contenders receive an extra 600 CRS points. This large increase in points greatly enhances their prospects of earning an ITA for permanent residency from the federal government. Their chances are significantly boosted by this development.
Understanding Base PNPs in Canadian Immigration
Streams managed by provincial or territorial administrations that do not align with Express Entry are termed base PNPs. These streams operate independently and have their own application processes. Eligibility for base PNPs is determined by each province or territory and may vary depending on local needs. In order to be considered for any of these streams, applicants must meet the requirements set forth by each jurisdiction.
Base Provincial Nominee Programs were first created to help provinces and territories meet labor market and demographic demands locally. They now give these governments the ability to designate qualified immigrants to settle and establish themselves in their designated areas.
Every province and territory in Canada runs its own PNPs, except for Nunavut and Quebec, which have separate, specialized immigration systems. The requirements for eligibility can change depending on the program being applied to. They often include factors such as living, working, or attending school in the province. Additionally, eligibility may be based on working in an area of high demand or possessing skills beneficial to the local economy.
PNPs, which disperse the benefits of immigration around the country, rank as Canada’s second most important immigration route this year. PNPs will admit fewer entrants than Express Entry in 2024. However, they are expected to surpass all other immigration routes in 2025 and 2026 and become Canada’s main immigration gateway by then.
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