Two Canadian provinces have recently issued invitations for candidates to apply for nomination through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
The PNP was introduced in Manitoba in 1998 to distribute the economic benefits of immigration to regions of Canada that newcomers might overlook. Currently, all provinces and territories have their own PNPs, with the exception of Quebec and Nunavut.
This program allows provincial governments to select economic immigration candidates who are most likely to integrate successfully into their local economies. Each province is allocated a specific number of nominations as part of the federal Immigration Levels Plan. The 2025 plan, released on October 24, has significantly reduced the overall number of PNP nominations available next year, dropping from 110,000 in 2024 to 55,000.
Receiving a provincial nomination strengthens a candidate’s application for permanent residence, particularly for those in the Express Entry system, as it adds 600 additional points to their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This makes it one of the most sought-after economic immigration pathways for newcomers looking to obtain permanent residency in Canada.
Provincial immigration outcomes from October 26 to November 1
British Columbia
On October 30, British Columbia issued over 83 invitations to apply for nomination through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).
Furthermore, the province conducted one general draw, inviting 31 candidates from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate, and Entry Level and Semi-Skilled streams. All candidates were required to have a minimum score of 134, except for Entry Level and Semi-Skilled candidates, who needed a minimum score of 117.
Additionally, B.C. held four targeted draws for candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams for specific occupations: Childcare occupations received 20 invitations with a minimum score of 90; Construction occupations received 20 invitations with a minimum score of 96; Healthcare occupations received 12 invitations with a minimum score of 104; and Veterinary occupations received fewer than five invitations with a minimum score of 80.
Prince Edward Island
The PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) invited 89 candidates in its Labor and Express Entry category, focusing on individuals currently employed in healthcare, construction, and manufacturing sectors within Prince Edward Island.
Additionally, two candidates were invited from the Business Work Permit Entrepreneur category, both of whom had a minimum score of 92.
Moreover, in the past 12 months, PEI has issued a total of 1,237 invitations to candidates through the PEI PNP, with 98% of these going to applicants in the Labor and Express Entry stream.