• The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada and who are interested in settling in a particular province. Each Canadian province and territory (except Nunavut and Quebec, which has a different selection system) has its own unique Provincial Nominee Program. Each PNP has at least one immigration stream that is aligned with the federal Express Entry immigration selection system.

• Each Canadian province and territory (except Nunavut and Quebec, which has a different selection system) has its own unique Provincial Nominee Program. Each PNP has at least one immigration stream that is aligned with the federal Express Entry immigration selection system.
• Determine your eligibility
• Each province and territory’s streams, eligibility requirements, and nomination guidelines for their PNP can change without notice.

If you are nominated under a non-Express Entry stream:

you will have to apply through the paper-based process, and if the province or territory finds you eligible and nominates you, you will send an application to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). If you are nominated under a province or territory’s Express Entry stream, you must: meet their requirements, and meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry this includes meeting the requirements of at least one of the immigration programs it covers You can use our online tool, Come to Canada, to see if you are eligible. If you are invited to apply for permanent residence, you will submit an online application to IRCC.

Find out more about eligibility for the PNP.

To apply for the PNP you must:

Apply to a province or territory for a nomination, be nominated by that province or territory, then apply to IRCC to become a permanent resident. Under a PNP Express Entry stream, you will need to complete an Express Entry profile and show that you meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry.

Learn more about applying to the PNP.

Check processing times

Find out how long it will take IRCC to process your application under the paper-based process (non-Express Entry streams).

If you apply through Express Entry (Express Entry streams), most complete applications for permanent residence will be processed in six months or less. Since Express Entry is a new system, average processing times are not yet available.