If you were nominated under an immigration stream aligned with the federal Express Entry system, you will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada in a subsequent draw of the federal Express Entry system. But if you were nominated under a PNP pathway not aligned with Express Entry, you must apply directly using a regular application process.

The application process is different for each PNP program. Some PNPs are always open to applications from qualified applicants. At the same time, some PNPs manage applications through an expression of interest (EOI) system. Applicants interested in these PNPs can submit an expression of interest profile to that particular PNP. These profiles will then be ranked on the basis of their qualifications and the highest-ranked candidates will be invited to apply for a provincial appointment in the Expression of Interest draws organized by those provinces. At the same time, other PNPs select candidates directly from the federal Express Entry pool and invite them to submit a formal expression of interest.

Eligibility for Canada’s PNP

To apply for permanent residence in Canada as a Provincial Nominee, you must have obtained a Provincial Nomination from one of the provinces or territories in Canada. The eligibility requirements for obtaining a Provincial Nomination are different for the different PNPs. The advantage of the Provincial Nominee Program is that even applicants who cannot obtain enough Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points to be selected in a federal Express Entry draw can obtain the Canadian PR. For PNP pathways aligned with Express Entry, nominated candidates will receive an additional 600 CRS points, which means they will have a better chance of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence in Canada from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in a subsequent Express Entry draw. Some PNP programs select immigration applicants based on their occupation and language skills, particularly in French. Thus, by choosing the right PNP program, an applicant can easily achieve his or her dream of obtaining a Canadian PR.