Persons who immigrate to Canada under the Provincial Nominee Program have the skills, education and work experience needed to make an immediate economic contribution to the province or territory that nominates them. They are ready to establish themselves successfully as permanent residents in Canada.

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To apply under the Provincial Nominee Program, applicants must be nominated by a Canadian province or territory.

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​Most provinces in Canada have an agreement with the Government of Canada that allows them to nominate immigrants who wish to settle in that province. If you choose to immigrate to Canada as a provincial nominee, you must first apply to the province where you wish to settle and complete its provincial nomination process. The province will consider your application based on its immigration needs and your genuine intention to settle there.

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After you have been nominated by a province or territory, you have to 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.

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You will have to pass a medical exam and obtain a police certificate.

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Provincial nominees are not assessed on the six selection factors of the Federal Skilled Workers Program.

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NOTE:

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Starting July 1, 2012 - most Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applicants to semi- or low-skilled professions will need language testing. This test will show whether your skills meet a minimum standard in each of these four categories: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

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This does not apply if you are a temporary foreign worker in a NOC C & D occupation, and who:

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- enter Canada on or before July 1, 2012, and

- are nominated by an employer under the PNP streams by July 1, 2013.

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