Four Canadian provinces announce Provincial Nomination Results and Invite Applicants to Apply for Permanent Residency.
British Columbia
On October 22, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) conducted targeted draws based on specific categories, inviting around 125 candidates from its International Graduate and Skilled Worker Streams. These draws focused on individuals with skills and education in high demand, allowing them to apply for provincial nomination and enhancing their prospects for permanent residency in Canada.
The breakdown of invitations issued is as follows:
- Childcare: 41 invitations with a minimum score of 83
- Construction: 10 invitations with a minimum score of 89
- Healthcare: 11 invitations with a minimum score of 99
- Tech: 60 invitations with a minimum score of 117
- Veterinary Care: Fewer than 5 invitations with a minimum score of 80
Each draw was tailored to specific categories, targeting workers in designated occupations. Also, candidates were required to hold job offers from employers in British Columbia to qualify, and the minimum scores varied across different occupational categories.
Manitoba
On October 24, Manitoba conducted its 231st Expression of Interest (EOI) draw for the Provincial Nominee Program, issuing a total of 253 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs).
The distribution of LAAs was as follows:
- Skilled Worker in Manitoba: 50 LAAs issued with a minimum score of 872
- International Education: 156 LAAs issued with no minimum score requirement
- Skilled Worker Overseas: 47 LAAs issued with a minimum score of 703
Among these invitations, 210 were issued under the base PNP, while 43 were granted under the enhanced PNP. To be considered in the Skilled Worker Overseas stream, candidates were required to receive an invitation through a strategic recruitment initiative.
Prince Edward Island
On September 20, Prince Edward Island (PEI) conducted a PNP draw, resulting in the issuance of 48 invitations. Candidates in the Business category had to achieve a minimum score of 97 to qualify.
Invitations were extended to candidates in the following categories:
- Healthcare sector
- Construction sector
- Trucking and Transportation, specifically for individuals with work permits set to expire this year
- International Graduate stream, also for individuals with work permits expiring this year
The Business category received only two invitations, while Labor and Express Entry candidates accounted for the other 46 invitations issued.
Quebec
On September 19, Quebec issued invitations to 1,650 candidates under its Regular Skilled Worker Program.
Moreover, to be eligible, candidates were required to have an oral French proficiency level of 7 on the Échelle québécoise des niveaux de compétence en français (NCLC). They also needed to meet one of the following criteria:
- A minimum score of 573, or
- A valid job offer located outside the Montreal region.
Quebec usually provides details on the invitations issued retroactively.
An Overview of Provincial Nominee Program
There are two primary categories of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): base PNPs and enhanced PNPs.
In a base PNP, foreign nationals submit their applications directly to a specific province or territory. If they are successful, they receive a provincial nomination, which typically leads to an invitation from IRCC to apply for permanent residency, as this nomination enhances their application.
On the other hand, enhanced PNPs are connected to Canada’s Express Entry system. To be eligible for an enhanced PNP, an individual must have an active profile in the Express Entry pool. If an Express Entry candidate is nominated through an enhanced PNP, they receive an additional 600 points in the CRS, greatly increasing their total score. This nearly ensures that they will get an ITAs for permanent residency in the next eligible IRCC draw.
Applications for permanent residency submitted via enhanced PNPs generally experience quicker processing times compared to those under base PNPs. Currently, IRCC processes applications through enhanced PNPs in about six months, whereas applications under base PNPs take approximately twelve months to process.
About Quebec’s immigration program
Quebec’s invitation process is unique, as the province establishes its own immigration targets independently from IRCC. The selection of candidates for immigration to Quebec is managed by the province’s immigration ministry, the Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration.
Foreign nationals interested in settling in Quebec must apply through one of the province’s specific immigration programs. If successful, candidates are awarded a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) from Quebec’s immigration ministry, which serves as proof that Quebec has chosen them for immigration.
With the CSQ in hand, candidates can then apply to IRCC for permanent residency, beginning the final steps of their immigration process to Canada.
