The Provincial Nominee Program is one of the significant Canadian economic immigration programs. Canada aims to admit over 17,500 immigrants via PNP annually by the end of 2025. In addition, many PNP admissions include Express Entry applicants. Express Entry has undergone some significant changes this year. On May 31, IRCC announced six new attribute-based Express Entry categories. 

The categories imply that applicants who meet the criteria for one of the following six categories have another opportunity to obtain an ITA: 
  • Healthcare
  • STEM professions
  • Transport
  • Trade
  • Strong French language abilities
  • Agriculture & Agri-food 

That being said, an eligible Express Entry applicant can obtain an ITA in an all-program, program-specific, or category-based draws. However, if a province also nominates the same applicant via PNP, should they accept it? 

How Does The PNP Work? 

Every Canadian province as well as territory has its PNP. Through these programs, the federal government allocates nominations that a provincial government can use to select economic immigration candidates who are likely to integrate into the provincial economy or workforce. Well, this is possible because immigration is a shared responsibility between federal & provincial governments. 

An applicant who obtains & accepts a nomination can apply directly to the province for nomination. If the application is approved, it will further strengthen the application for PR status from IRCC. 

In addition, applicants can be selected from the Express Entry pool of applicants, or they can directly apply to a provincial government, requesting a nomination.  

A PNP applicant will obtain an extra 600 CRS points through enhanced nomination, guaranteeing they will be selected in the forthcoming Express Entry draw. 

Some PNP streams also have certain similitudes to the new category-based draws. For instance, every week, British Columbia nominates applicants who have a profession in healthcare & often holds draws in those tech professions. Moreover, other provinces also have dedicated streams that target applicants who have relevant work experience or are employed in a profession which is in high demand in a provincial workforce. 

Why Should I Take A PNP Nomination If I Am Eligible For Category-Based Selection?

The 600 CRS points from a PNP nomination can still be an added advantage even if you are in the Express Entry pool & work in a profession that falls under one of the new categories. 

IRCC has not said it will cease holding all-program or program-specific draws for FSTP, FSWP, CEC, or PNP applicants with Express Entry profiles. In fact, since the introduction of category-based draws in May, most applicants have obtained invitations in all-program draws. 

In an all-program draw, the main deciding factor is the applicant’s CRS score. Thus, it is beneficial to have a CRS score which is as high as possible. 

This is true in Express Entry category-based selection. While these scores are generally lower than an all-program draw, exceeding the minimum score is an advantage.   

Is There A Reason Not To Accept Provincial Nomination? 

Applicants with high CRS scores might decide it is not in their best interest to accept a provincial nomination. 

This can be specifically true because the PNP requires a separate process from Express Entry, even if you obtain an enhanced nomination. 

If you obtain a non-PNP aligned Express Entry ITA, you’ll only need to submit one application & pay a fee to IRCC in order to be approved for PR. In addition, most applicants are subject to a processing standard of six months or less. 

On the other hand, if you obtain an enhanced nomination, you first need to apply & pay the applicable fee to the province which is nominating you. Moreover, you are also subject to the processing standard of the province. Once approved, you will submit your PR application to IRCC, along with an accompanying fee. 

This implies that obtaining an enhanced nomination can add time to your immigration journey while you await a decision on your nomination. However, you must note that submitting two applications can cost more, depending on the province which is nominating you. While some provinces do not charge an application fee, most still do!

Examples Of PNP Application Fees 

Nova Scotia is one province that does not charge applicants to its Provincial Nominee Program. The province has numerous streams that target applicants with relevant work experience in in-demand professions, specifically in healthcare.     

Similarly, Ontario, the most popular province for immigrants, charges applicants to OINP & the fee depends upon the program. For instance, Master’s Graduate, PhD Graduate, Employer Job Offer: International Student Steams, etc., charge a fee of $1,500. 

For the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills & Foreign Professional streams, the application fee is as follows: 

  • $1,500 if the employment offer is outside of GTA. 
  • $2,000 if the employment offer is within GTA. 

The application fee for BC varies by program. Well, they begin as low as $1,475 for skills immigration applications & can go as high as $3,500 for entrepreneur or strategic project streams. In addition, Alberta has a fee of $500 for all online applications. 

The Benefit Depends On Your Situation 

At the end of the day, choosing to apply for or accept a provincial nomination depends upon the circumstances of the applicants. A PNP nomination can significantly help you receive an ITA in an Express Entry draw, including category-based draws, thus giving you a highly competitive CRS score. However, if you already have a high CRS score, & time & money are a consideration, it might be better to wait until IRCC issues an ITA.