The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows each province to select or nominate immigrants

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows each province to select or nominate immigrants who will contribute to the particular labor and economic needs of that particular province. Each province is allowed to establish its own selection criteria and procedures to choose immigrants according to their ability to integrate and successfully settle in that province. Like the Skilled Worker Immigration Program, applicants are selected based on a point system designed to target individuals who will fill the labor and economic needs of that province. Points are attributed on various grounds, such as education, work experience, age, etc. Each province sets the number of points to be attributed to each category.

Applicants must intend to reside in the province in which they apply. Once an applicant has been nominated under the program, the province of choice will issue the applicant a Provincial Nominee Certificate. The applicant is then required to apply for Canadian Permanent Residency at the nearest Canadian Embassy, High Commission, or Case Processing Centre. One must keep in mind that Citizenship and Immigration Canada has the final decision-making authority on admissibility. The applicant must be admissible based on security, criminal and medical grounds.

At present the following provinces and territories are participating in this program:

• Alberta
• Manitoba
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Ontario
• Saskatchewan
• British Columbia
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island
• Yukon

After you have been nominated by a province or territory, you must make a separate application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for permanent residence. A CIC officer will then assess your application based on Canadian immigration regulations. You will have to pass a medical examination and security and criminal checks. You must also show that you have enough money to support yourself and your dependents after you arrive in Canada.

The Province of Quebec selects its own Skilled Worker Immigrants. Similar to the Provincial Nominee Program, if you wish to live in Quebec, you are required to obtain a Certificat de selection du Quebec (CSQ). Applications must be submitted to the nearest Quebec Immigration Office in which you currently reside.