Provincial nominee program
A province or territory that wishes to conduct its own recruiting and selection of foreign nationals must first have an agreement in place with the federal government. The minister is authorized by section 8 of the IRPA to enter into such agreements with the provinces and territories. It is through bilateral agreements that a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) may be established in a province or territory, but the responsibilities for immigration are shared between the two levels of government.
These agreements facilitate foreign nationals’ quicker entry into Canada as qualified workers and experienced business professionals who “may become permanent residents on the basis of their ability to become economically established in Canada” (IRPR, ss 87(1), (2)). Provinces and territories with signed agreements and PNPs are listed in Appendix C. The PNP provides the provinces/territories with the benefits of targeted recruiting (for example, students, business immigrants) and selection of foreign nationals who can help meet the specific local labour market and economic needs for immigration to fill a skills shortage or to attract specialized occupational skills. Provinces/territories have their own streams and EE, which are too numerous to detail here. By going to the provinces’ or territories’ websites for the PNP, however, you will find programs that include skilled workers pathways for FSW, FST, and international graduates, and broader recruitment efforts that also include business immigrant programs and worker programs for the selection of semi- or low-skilled professions.
Provinces or territories set their own selection criteria and guidelines for selecting qualified applicants who, if issued a certificate of nomination, must apply for permanent residence through IRCC and undergo an inadmissibility assessment by a visa officer who has the final decision on the application. Successful applicants must reside in the province/territory that nominated them.