Provincial Immigration Programs in Canada

Under shared jurisdiction between Ottawa and the provinces, Canada operates a two-tiered immigration system. It offers programs for skilled workers, at the federal and provincial levels.

Through a network of Nomination Programs (PNP), nearly all ten Canadian provinces and three territories can nominate skilled workers to enter Canada with the specific skills required by their local economies. Successful candidates who have obtained a provincial nomination can apply for Canadian permanent residency through the federal immigration authorities. This is an important component of all provincial programs.

Many provinces also run their own classes under the Canada Express Entry System. As a result, provinces play an increasing role in selecting economic immigrants.

In some cases, candidates who are not eligible under one of the federal programs may be eligible for admission to Canada under the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). Some candidates may also qualify for a temporary work permit in the meantime, allowing early entry into Canada for the applicant and those under his care.

A lot of provincial programs have problems with processing delays. Canada is attracting great interest from potential new immigrants, which far outstrips the capacity to handle immigration programs.

The Express Entry immigration system has succeeded in addressing processing delays, while many provinces now choose to open and close popular flows periodically throughout the year to avoid a large accumulation.

Under some provincial programs, candidates are hired by a potential employer, and once the province approves, they go through an expedited process. In the early stages, applicants can obtain renewable temporary work permits to enter Canada while they process to obtain permanent residency.

Provincial programs based on skilled workers, with the exception of Quebec, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, generally require an employer to sponsor an applicant for entry into Canada. Without government approved employer sponsorship, the application will not be approved, or it will be ignored in favor of applications that already have employer sponsorship.

Sponsoring employers under most provincial programs must demonstrate adequate efforts to recruit local Canadians and offer competitive employment terms and conditions relevant to a particular occupation. There are differences in terms and conditions of employment between provinces to qualify to sponsor a foreign worker.

To qualify as an employer-sponsored employee, the position to be filled must generally correspond to a National Occupation Classification (NOC) skill type 0, Level A, or B. Alternatively, it must meet the terms of a particular pilot project designed for a lack of critical skills specified by the province.

Provincial pilot programs are designed for low-skilled workers with limited scope. Most governorates have differences in pilot projects for low-skilled occupations.

Alberta is one of Canada’s three Prairie Provinces, located in the West. It is one of the fastest growing provinces in the country and is home to two major urban centers, (Calgary and Edmonton). Alberta’s landscape is rich in tall mountains, abundant lakes, boreal forests, luxuriant prairies and bumpy desert lands. The province’s natural resources include natural gas, petroleum, coal, minerals and the famous Alberta oil sands, making Alberta Canada’s energy main source.

Alberta Immigrant Nomination Program (AINP)

The Alberta Immigrant Nomination Program (AINP) is designed for individuals with the skills and abilities to fill the labor shortage in Alberta.

AINP accepts skilled worker applications under the Alberta Flux of Opportunity and under the Express Entry or Express Immigration System. It also runs two business programs, the Self-Employed Farmers Stream and the International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream. There is also a third business stream, called the Emerging Foreign Graduate Visa Stream, that is supposed to be launched in January 2021.

The program is administered by the Alberta government in partnership with the Federal Department of Immigration and the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Interested candidates must follow a two-stage process: apply for a nomination to the provincial government, and then, if nominated, apply for permanent residency of the federal government.

British Columbia is a province located in the far west of Canada, and is defined by the Pacific coast and mountain ranges, and is home to Vancouver, the third largest city in Canada. The province’s economy is characterized by a diversity and reliance on a strong sector of natural resources, with an emphasis on forestry and mining.

British Columbia culture combines a unique blend of European, Asian and First Nations influences, and its eight regions offer dynamic and diverse features.

British Columbia Provincial Nomination Program (BCPNP)

The British Columbia Provincial Nomination Program (BCPNP) aims to expedite the process for those who wish to obtain permanent resident status in Canada and who intend to settle permanently in British Columbia.

The program is run by the British Columbia government in partnership with the Federal Immigration Department and the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Interested candidates must follow a two-stage process: applying for a nomination to the provincial government, and then, if nominated, applying for permanent residency in the federal government. IRCC allocates to BCPNP a limited number of nominations each year.