Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are a joint immigration initiative run by the federal, provincial, and territorial administrations. It enables Canada’s provinces and territories to create their own immigration streams, enabling them to better meet the demands of their labour market and objectives for economic development. Through this article, we intend to give our readers a snapshot of the performance of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs in the year 2022.
PNPs play a significant role in Canada’s economic immigration. Several Canadian provinces, like Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, depend on Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) to meet their demographic and labour force requirements. PNPs alone are anticipated to result in the acceptance of more than 93,000 immigrants as permanent residents by 2024. Most participating provinces and territories have at least one PNP stream that is in line with the Federal Express Entry selection system, which serves as Canada’s immigration management system at the federal level, primarily.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) that are linked to Express Entry are often referred to as enhanced PNPs. These streams or programs allow provinces to choose individuals with a valid express entry profile to apply for a provincial nomination. PNP’s has historically been successful in attracting skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and international students to Canada, and has been credited with helping to support the growth of local economies and communities across the country. PNPs have also been an important tool for provinces and territories to attract and retain the workers, entrepreneurs, and students that they need to meet their specific labor market needs and help grow their economies.
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
People are drawn to British Columbia for a variety of reasons, including its natural beauty, business and career opportunities, vibrant economy, etc. The province is home to several thriving cities, including Vancouver, which consistently ranks as one of the best cities to live in globally. In 2022, the province conducted several selection draws to select eligible candidates from its various immigration streams, such as the Skilled Worker, Entrepreneur, and International Graduate categories. The highest number of invitations issued was in the month of September with 1299 invitations and lowest in November with 335 invitations. British Columbia consistently invited higher number of candidates compared to many other provinces, throughout the year. British Columbia issued a total of 8964 invitations in 2022 which is comparatively higher than the invitations issued for Prince Edward Island.
The below chart gives a summary of invitations issued by the province in the past months.
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
Manitoba is a popular destination for a variety of reasons, including its affordable cost of living, strong job market, and rich cultural heritage. The province provides many job opportunities for residents and attracts people who are looking for a stable and growing economy. In 2022, the province conducted several selection draws inviting people from various streams, such as the Skilled Worker, Entrepreneur, and International Graduate categories. The province issued a total of 7469 invitations in 2022. The highest number of invitations issued was in the month of December with 1864 invitations and lowest in March with 311 invitations.
The below chart gives a summary of invitations issued by the province in the past months.
Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
Prince Edward Island (PEI) is known for its unique combination of natural beauty, rich history, and friendly communities. It has a growing economy, with strong industries in areas such as agriculture, fishing, and tourism. This provides a good standard of living for residents and attracts people who are looking for a stable and growing economy. In 2022, several PNP draws were conducted by Prince Edward Island to select eligible candidates from its various immigration streams, such as Skilled Worker, Entrepreneur, and International Graduate categories. The highest number of invitations issued was in the month of October with 204 invitations and lowest in August with 121 invitations. British Columbia consistently invited higher number of people than Prince Edward Island throughout the year. Prince Edward Island (PEI) issued a total of 1854 invitations in 2022 which is comparatively lower than the invitations issued by British Columbia.
The below chart gives a summary of invitations issued by the province in the past months.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
Ontario never fails to flaunt its strong economy, diverse communities, and high quality of life. Ontario is the largest province in Canada and is home to the country’s largest city, Toronto, as well as the nation’s capital, Ottawa. Toronto is a major financial, cultural, and technological hub, with a thriving economy that is driven by industries such as finance, media, and technology. Ontario is also known for its high quality of life, with excellent healthcare, education, and social services. In 2022, the province conducted many draws, selecting eligible candidates from its various immigration streams, such as the Skilled Worker, Entrepreneur, and International Graduate categories. The highest number of invitations issued was in the month of March with 1783 invitations and lowest in July with 2 invitations. The province issued a total of 8707 invitations in 2022.
The below chart gives a summary of invitations issued by the province in the past months.
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
Saskatchewan is considered a hot spot for migration due to its strong economy, affordable cost of living, and excellent quality of life. Saskatchewan is known for its rich natural resources, including oil, natural gas, and potash, which drive its strong and growing economy. This provides many job opportunities for residents and attracts people who are looking for a stable and growing economy. The province is a beautiful place to live, with a stunning natural landscape that includes rolling prairies, pristine lakes, and scenic countryside. This attracts people who appreciate the great outdoors and are looking for a high standard of living with access to world-class amenities. In 2022, several selection draws were conducted by Saskatchewan to select eligible candidates from its various immigration streams, such as the Skilled Worker, Entrepreneur, and International Graduate categories. The province issued a staggering 10578 invitations in 2022. The highest number of invitations issued was in the month of July with 2859 invitations and lowest in November with 35 invitations.
The below chart gives a summary of invitations issued by the province over the last several months.
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)
Alberta is known for its high quality of life, natural landscapes, and affordable housing options, making it easier for residents to find a suitable home within their budget. Its strong economy provides a range of job opportunities in industries such as energy, finance, technology, and healthcare, allowing residents to pursue their career goals. In 2022, the province conducted several selection draws, selecting eligible candidates from its various immigration streams, such as the Skilled Worker, Entrepreneur, and International Graduate categories. The province issued a total of 1970 invitations in 2022. The highest number of invitations issued was in the month of January with 600 invitations and lowest in April with 100 invitations. The province did not conduct anymore draws till the end of the year.
The below chart gives a summary of invitations issued by the province over the last several months.
What are Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) & How Do They Work?
Provincial Nominee Programs are fast-tracked Canadian immigration programs and provide a unique pathway to immigrate to Canada.
There are two types of provincial nomination programs:
Base nominations: these streams work outside of the Express Entry system and are managed by provinces themselves. Base nominations are subject to streams and processing standards. The candidates opting for base nomination should meet the criteria for a PNP pathway, then apply and if successful receive a nomination certificate. Once the nomination certificate is received the candidate can apply for permanent residence status with the IRCC.
Enhanced nominations: these streams are linked with the Express Entry system. Provincial immigration officials search for suitable candidates who match specific criteria. These provinces then invite the eligible candidates to apply for provincial nomination.
What is Express Entry & How Does it Work?
Express Entry is an electronic selection system used by the Federal as well as Provincial governments of Canada [to select], as well as designated Canadian employers [to nominate] candidates for Canadian permanent residence under three of its popular economic [skilled] immigration programs:
Candidates eligible for any of the above programs are given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in the Express Entry Pool. It is based on their Core/Human capital factors such as age, work experience, education, and language ability in English and/or French, etc. And, based on scores, candidates are periodically invited (or nominated) for permanent residence.
The below chart helps you understand various provinces’ invitation stats throughout the year 2022. As we can see Saskatchewan tops the chart, followed by Quebec, British Columbia, and the rest of provinces.
Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs gives each province the freedom to establish its own standards for various immigration streams. Except for Quebec and Nunavut, every Canadian province has unique nomination programmes that run in different ways. Many of them have initiatives geared toward employees, entrepreneurs, or graduates from other countries. Other targeted elements mostly depend on the province’s labour market or demographic inequalities. For example, to help boost its Francophone population, Ontario, for instance, has a French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream that targets skilled employees with a high level of French fluency.
A significant part of economic immigration to Canada comes through provincial nominee programmes. About 83,500 slots are set aside for individuals applying through Provincial Nominee Programs. In 2022, there were a total of 48,660 applicants who received notifications through various PNP programs.
According to latest reports the Canadian government is looking to welcome approximately 1,500,000 new immigrants by the end of 2025, in accordance with the newest immigration plans that were set for the upcoming years. The National Occupation classification (NOC) version was updated to its latest, allowing for a number of new occupational categories to be eligible for immigration.
Contact us today to know if you qualify to migrate to Canada. Check out Owlspriority Immigration’s Canada Settlement Resources to learn about finding employment in Canada, making your initial days stress-free, etc.
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