Four Canadian provinces have invited candidates to file for provincial nominations this week.
All provinces and territories in Canada, except Quebec and Nunavut, have a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Through the PNP, provincial governments can select economic immigrant candidates who are most likely to become economically established in the province and integrate into the local labour force and economy.
Candidates in the PNP are highly likely to be selected based on a specialty in demand within the province. For example, most provinces hold draws that select candidates in specific occupations, such as the dedicated healthcare pathway for Express Entry candidates in Alberta, or they will be invited based on their language abilities such as the French-speaking skilled worker stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). Most PNPs also have streams for international graduates in the province to encourage retention of international students.
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Once a province selects these candidates, they nominate them to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent resident status. Provincial nomination does not give candidates PR, but it strengthens the application, especially for Express Entry candidates who get an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points in addition to their basic score for nomination.
Provincial Immigration Results January 13-19
Ontario
On January 18, the OINP invited 984 candidates from the Express Entry French Speaking Skilled Workers stream. This was a general draw, which means no occupations were specified.
All candidates were in the Express Entry application pool and required a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System score between 317-469 to be considered.
British Columbia
British Columbia invited over 193 candidates from the BC PNP’s Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams on January 16. Candidates were invited in five separate draws, each targeting a specific occupation.
The biggest draw was for 91 candidates in technical occupations. They needed a minimum score of 103 to be considered. The province also invited 20 candidates with a minimum score of 75 in construction occupations.
The remaining three occupation-based draws required candidates to score a minimum of 60 marks to be considered.
- Childcare: 53 candidates
- Healthcare: 29 candidates
- Veterinary care: less than five
Alberta
Alberta recently posted the results of three Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) draws held during January. All of the candidates were also in the Express Entry application pool.
The province held two draws for candidates in the dedicated healthcare pathway with the Alberta Job Offer stream. The first was on Jan. 2 and invited 42 candidates with a minimum CRS score of 309. The second was on Jan. 16 and required candidates to have a minimum score of 312 to be considered.
This was the same minimum score used in the Jan. 11 draw for 44 candidates who met the eligibility criteria for the Alberta Job Offer with Priority Sector – Agribusiness.
Prince Edward Island
PEI invited 134 Express Entry, Skilled Worker, and Critical Worker stream candidates to the PEI PNP on January 18. Candidates needed a minimum of 65 points to be considered.
This was the first Express Entry draw for PEI in 2024. Between February and December 2023, the province nominated 2,199 candidates.
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