This week, two Canadian provinces extended invitations to candidates for their provincial immigration programs.

British Columbia and Alberta issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through their respective Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), selecting candidates based on factors such as work experience, education, and employment qualifications.

Launched in 1998, the PNP aims to distribute the benefits of immigration more evenly across Canada. Currently, all provinces and territories, except Quebec and Nunavut, operate PNPs.

Note: Quebec does not participate in the PNP due to a federal agreement granting it authority over its economic immigration policies.

Provincial Immigration Updates (November 29 – December 6)

British Columbia

On December 3, British Columbia conducted a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw targeting candidates under the Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams, including the Express Entry BC (EEBC) category.

A total of at least nine candidates were invited, with eligibility based on their employment in high-demand sectors. The minimum scores required varied depending on the sector.

In the childcare sector, fewer than five invitations were issued, with a minimum score of 102. Similarly, fewer than five candidates were invited from the construction sector, where the minimum score was 108. For healthcare professionals, six invitations were issued, requiring a minimum score of 121. In the tech sector, fewer than five candidates were invited, with a minimum score of 141.

Alberta

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) recently conducted two draws under the Alberta Opportunity Stream, inviting candidates based on specific employment and eligibility criteria.

November 22 Draw

The first draw took place on November 22, targeting individuals with job offers for full-time employment in Alberta. A total of 80 invitations were issued, with a minimum score requirement of 40. To be considered, candidates needed to meet the following criteria:

  • Possess a valid work permit.
  • Demonstrate language proficiency at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level 5 or higher.
  • Have at least 12 months of work experience.
  • Hold a job offer with an Alberta employer in an occupation moderately or highly in demand in Alberta’s healthcare sector. This excludes occupations eligible under the Dedicated Healthcare Pathways.
  • Fulfill the requirements to practice in Alberta if the job offer is for a regulated occupation.

November 27 Draw

The second draw was held on November 27 and focused on candidates who had completed their education in Alberta and held job offers for full-time employment in the province. This draw invited 447 candidates, with a higher minimum score requirement of 71. Eligibility criteria for this draw included:

  • Possess a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
  • Ensure the work permit has an expiry date of February 28, 2025, or later.
  • Demonstrate language proficiency at a CLB or NCLC level 4 or higher.
  • Have at least six months of work experience in Alberta.

Hold a job offer with an Alberta employer that is not listed as ineligible under the Alberta Opportunity Stream. Additionally, the job must fall within the National Occupational Classification (NOC) broad categories of:

  • “1 – Business, finance, and administration occupations.”
  • “6 – Sales and service occupations.”

These draws highlight Alberta’s focus on attracting skilled professionals and recent graduates to support key sectors and address workforce needs within the province.