Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): a plain-English guide

Last checked October 11, 2026 against 11 official IRCC pages · How we write guides

The Provincial Nominee Program lets provinces and territories nominate people who want to settle there and become permanent residents. IRCC describes two routes: an Express Entry route for people who also meet a federal Express Entry program, and a non-Express Entry route. In both, the province or territory nominates first and IRCC decides the permanent residence application.

What the PNP is

IRCC describes the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) as a program that lets provinces and territories nominate people for permanent residence. According to IRCC, it is aimed at people who:^[1]

have skills, education and work experience that can help the economy of that province or territory (IRCC gives business people and skilled workers as examples);^[1]
want to live in that province or territory;^[1]
want to become permanent residents of Canada.^[1]

IRCC notes that each province and territory sets its own requirements and also decides how many people it can nominate each year.^[1]

Provinces and territories organize their programs into "streams", which IRCC defines as immigration programs that target certain groups. IRCC gives students, business people, skilled workers and semi-skilled workers as examples of groups a stream may target.^[1]

IRCC also says that people who become permanent residents through the PNP have been chosen by the nominating province to bring their skills there to live and work.^[2]

Which provinces and territories take part

IRCC lists 11 provinces and territories with PNP streams: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Yukon.^[1]

Quebec and Nunavut are not part of the PNP. IRCC states that neither has a provincial nominee program and points people to Quebec's own immigration programs and to separate information on immigrating to Nunavut.^[1]

To be nominated, IRCC says to follow the instructions on the province's or territory's own website and to contact it directly.^[3]

Two ways to apply: Express Entry and non-Express Entry

IRCC describes two ways to apply for permanent residence through the PNP. Which one applies depends on the province or territory, and IRCC says the province or territory will tell you whether you must use the Express Entry process or the non-Express Entry process.^[1]

Express Entry route: IRCC says this applies when a person meets the requirements of both a provincial or territorial PNP stream and a federal program under Express Entry.^[1]
Non-Express Entry route: IRCC says this applies when a person meets the requirements of the PNP stream but not of a federal Express Entry program.^[1]

The three federal programs managed through Express Entry are the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.^[9]

The Express Entry route, step by step

For the Express Entry route, IRCC says you must be eligible for one of the province's or territory's PNP programs, the province or territory must nominate you, and you must be eligible for one of the three Express Entry programs.^[3]

IRCC describes two ways to seek a nomination on this route. One is to apply to the province or territory directly: decide where you want to live and work, check the province's or territory's website for its PNP requirements, and apply under one of its streams if you meet them.^[4]

The other is to show interest in your Express Entry profile. IRCC says provinces and territories can search the pool of Express Entry profiles for candidates to nominate, and you can choose a specific province or territory or "all provinces and territories".^[4]

If a province or territory is interested, it sends a "notification of interest" to your account. IRCC is explicit that this message is not a nomination and does not mean a nomination will follow; it asks you to contact the province or territory to discuss your options.^[4]

IRCC says you can receive more than one notification of interest at a time, but you can hold only one nomination at a time.^[4]

When a province or territory decides to nominate someone, IRCC says it must confirm the nomination electronically.^[4]

IRCC says you contact the province or territory directly, outside your account, and give it your Express Entry profile number and job seeker validation code. The province or territory uses these to confirm the nomination with IRCC.^[4]

Once the nomination is confirmed, a message in your account asks you to accept or reject it.^[4]

IRCC gives 30 calendar days to accept or reject the nomination.^[4]

IRCC also notes a profile detail for this route: in every NOC code field of the Express Entry profile (primary occupation, job offer, current work permit, work history and spouse's work history), you must use NOC code 93888.^[2]

What a nomination adds to your CRS score

On the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) criteria page, IRCC lists a provincial or territorial nomination under "additional points" at 600 points.^[10]

If you accept the nomination, IRCC says:^[4]

IRCC's system confirms the PNP requirements are met;^[4]
a PDF letter confirming the nomination appears in your account;^[4]
the province or territory sends you a paper copy of your nomination certificate;^[4]
IRCC awards 600 additional points that help you get invited to apply.^[4]

IRCC sets 600 as the maximum for additional points. If you already have additional points for a job offer or study in Canada, IRCC says only the 600 nomination points are added.^[4]

IRCC also says the 600 additional points can be received only once.^[4]

Separately, IRCC states that as of March 25, 2025 it removed job offer points from the CRS. It adds that where a valid job offer is part of a program's eligibility criteria, including some streams under provincial nominee programs, this does not change.^[10]

IRCC says it will continue to invite candidates with a provincial or territorial nomination through general rounds and through rounds specific to the Provincial Nominee Program.^[11]

After an invitation (Express Entry route)

If IRCC invites you to apply, it says you have 60 calendar days to apply for permanent residence online. The invitation message names the program you are invited under and the next steps.^[5]

IRCC asks people whose situation has changed to recalculate their score before applying.^[5]

Among the examples IRCC gives of changes that could lower a score are no longer having a valid job offer and no longer having a provincial nomination.^[5]

If the invitation is not used within 60 days and is not declined, IRCC says the invitation expires and the profile is removed from the pool.^[5]

If a province or territory withdraws a nomination after an invitation but before the application is submitted, IRCC says you must decline the invitation, withdraw your profile from the pool and submit a new profile.^[4]

IRCC says it will refuse the application and not refund fees if someone applies for permanent residence without a nomination, or if the nomination is withdrawn after they have already applied.^[4]

The non-Express Entry route

On the non-Express Entry route, IRCC says you must first decide which province or territory you want to live in and apply for a nomination under one of its non-Express Entry streams.^[6]

IRCC lists three things the province or territory reviews: its own immigration needs, whether you meet the minimum requirements of the stream, and whether you really plan to live there.^[6]

After a nomination, the permanent residence application goes to IRCC online through the Permanent Residence (PR) Portal.^[7]

IRCC lists the fees that apply in most cases:^[7]

processing fees, for you and anyone you include on the application;^[7]
the right of permanent residence fee, paid when the application is approved;^[7]
the biometrics fee, which covers collecting fingerprints and a digital photo;^[7]
depending on your situation, third-party costs for medical exams, police certificates and educational credential assessment.^[7]

IRCC says that if the application is incomplete it will be rejected, and you will have to fix the errors and submit it again.^[7]

During processing, IRCC says applicants between 14 and 79 years old must give fingerprints and a photo (biometrics) for every permanent residence application.^[8]

IRCC also requires a medical exam before you come to Canada; family members must have one too, even if they are not coming with you.^[8]

Processing times

IRCC does not give a single PNP processing time on these pages; its processing-time widget did not load when checked. It says processing times vary based on the type of application, whether it is complete, how quickly IRCC expects to process applications already received, and how easily it can verify your information.^[1]

IRCC also notes that the Immigration Levels Plan sets how many newcomers Canada plans to welcome each year, and that processing times may increase if more people apply than there are spaces.^[1]

Frequently asked questions

Do I apply to the province or to IRCC first?

To the province or territory. On both routes IRCC describes, you get a nomination from the province or territory first, then apply to IRCC for permanent residence.^[6]

How many CRS points does a provincial nomination add?

IRCC's CRS criteria list a provincial or territorial nomination at 600 additional points. This applies to nominations made through the Express Entry route.^[10]

Is a notification of interest the same as a nomination?

No. IRCC says a notification of interest from a province or territory is not a nomination and is no promise of one. It is an invitation to contact the province or territory to discuss your options.^[4]

Does Quebec have a Provincial Nominee Program?

No. IRCC states that Quebec and Nunavut do not have provincial nominee programs, and it links to Quebec's own immigration programs instead.^[1]

Can I hold nominations from two provinces at once?

No. IRCC says you can receive more than one notification of interest, but only one nomination at a time. To switch provinces, you must reject the nomination offer you have in your account.^[4]

What happens if I reject or ignore a nomination?

IRCC says you would not be eligible for the PNP unless another province or territory nominates you, but you stay in the Express Entry pool while you remain eligible for an Express Entry program.^[4]

This guide restates IRCC’s published rules; it is not legal advice and does not assess any application. Rules change: check the official pages below before you apply.

Sources

Official pages this content quotes, all checked on October 11, 2026.