Do you want to immigrate to Canada through a Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)? Canada’s PNPs are designed for international workers and temporary residents with high, low, and intermediate skills to apply and achieve provincial nominations that increase their chances of becoming permanent residents (pr) and permanently settle in a specific province or territory in Canada.
Successful candidates meet all of the eligibility requirements of a PNP and have work experience in an in-demand occupation listed on the provincial government websites. In this blog, we uncover the in-demand occupations of popular Provincial Nominee Programs in 2020 to help you discover the right immigration program for you!
How Do Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) Work?
PNPs are run by both the provincial government and the federal government which means that permanent residency applications are a 2-part process. First, the provincial government must approve your application by awarding you with a provincial nomination, and lastly, you are required to apply through the federal government who is the deciding factor.
6 Steps to Immigrate to Canada Through a Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)
1) Discover the province or territory in which your skills are in demand;
2) Check the eligibility requirements;
3) Apply to the provincial government with the correct supporting documents;
4) Receive a Nomination of Interest Letter;
5) Apply to the Federal Government;
6) Receive your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR)
PNPs are not the fastest or easiest way of becoming a Canadian permanent resident but for some Express Entry applicants with low CRS scores, it’s a great alternative option! Some PNPs require you to work in Canada for a few months and have a valid job offer before you can apply for permanent residency. PNPs are especially ideal for those who have the experience of living and working in Canada and have a keen interest in living in a certain province. They can fast-track their immigration through an Express Entry aligned PNP. Learn more below!
Saskatchewan In-Demand Occupations
The Canadian prairie province welcomes low and high skilled international workers to apply through one of the Saskatchewan Provincial Nomination Programs (SPNP) for permanent residency in Canada. Each program has a list of eligibility requirements that need to be satisfied for a successful application. See the table below for the SPNP programs and their in-demand occupations as well as the minimum requirements.
| In-Demand Occupations in Saskatchewan | ||
| SPNP | Minimum Requirements | Example Job Positions |
| International Skilled Worker with Employment Offer – Hospitality Sector Project | Must work in Saskatchewan for at least 6 months with a work permit before applying for PR. | Food/Beverage Server Food Counter Attendant/Kitchen Helper Housekeeping/Cleaning Staff |
| International Skilled Worker with Employment Offer – Health Professionals Stream | Must work in Saskatchewan for at least 6 months with a work permit before applying for PR. | Physicians Nurses Other Health Professionals |
| International Skilled Worker with Employment Offer – Long Haul Truck Driver Project | Must work in Saskatchewan for at least 6 months with a work permit before applying for PR. | Long-Haul Truck Drivers |
| International Skilled Worker: Occupation In-Demand (OID) and Express Entry (EE) | No job offer required but must have post-secondary education: degree, trade certificate, etc. | Most Jobs in Management, Professional, Technical / Skilled Trades Positions. |
Canada’s Maritime Provinces In-Demand Occupations
Designated employers in Canada’s four maritime provinces; Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador can offer employment to international workers through one of the programs of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot. If the employer and the candidate meet all the requirements, the candidate gets permanent resident status in Canada. The Pilot should not be confused for a PNP. It is a temporary path to fast-track immigration to these provinces.
| In-Demand Occupations in Atlantic Canada | ||
| Atlantic Pilot Programs | Type of Occupations | Example Job Positions |
| Atlantic International Graduate | Job offers can be for any type of Management, Professional, Technical / Skilled Trades Positions. | Managers Teachers Graphic Designers Butchers |
| Atlantic High-Skilled Program | Job offers can be for any type of Management, Professional, Technical / Skilled Trades Positions. | Managers Teachers Graphic Designers Butchers |
| Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program | Job offers must be for specific Professional, Technical / Skilled Trades, or Intermediate Positions. | Registered Nurses Licensed Practical Nurse Nurse Aide or Orderly Home Support Worker General Farm Worker Bartenders Bus Driver |
Alberta In-Demand Occupations
There are three Alberta Immigrant Nominee Programs (AINP) which allows temporary residents who are working and living in Alberta, with valid work permits, to apply for permanent residency in Canada. The AINP also has an Express Entry aligned program and sends eligible candidates Nomination of Interest Letters that awards them 600 CRS points to boost their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) during Express Entry draws.
| In-Demand Occupations in Alberta | ||
| AINP | Minimum Requirements | Example Job Positions |
| Alberta Opportunity Stream (OAS) | Must have a valid work permit and be employed in Alberta. | Most Jobs in Management, Professional, Technical / Skilled Trades or Intermediate Positions. |
| Alberta Express Entry Stream | Must create an Express Entry profile and receive a nomination. | Most Jobs in Management, Professional, Technical / Skilled Trades or Intermediate Positions. |
| Self Employed Farmer Stream | A business plan for the enterprise you want to manage/open in Alberta. | Farm Owner |
British Columbia In-Demand Occupations
British Columbia is home to the capital city of Vancouver which is known as a technology hub in Canada. For this reason, the British Columbia Provincial Nomination Program (BC PNP) designed a special Tech Pilot with 29 eligible occupations that highly skilled international workers can apply through for permanent residency in Canada. The BC PNP also caters for intermediate skilled workers in jobs like food processing and trucking.
| In-Demand Occupations in British Columbia | ||
| BC PNP | Minimum Requirements | Example Job Positions |
| Tech Pilot | Must have a job offer for at least one year in length. | Computer and IT managers; Mechanical Engineers; Web Designers and Developer; Authors and Writers; Broadcast Technicians; Graphic; and Designers and Illustrators, etc. |
| Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) Skilled Worker | Must create an Express Entry profile and have a valid job offer. | Most Jobs in Management, Professional, Technical / Skilled Trades Positions. |
| Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Category | Must work in British Columbia for at least 9 months with a work permit before applying for PR. | Tourism Hospitality Long-Haul Trucking Food Processing |
| Healthcare Professionals Category | Must have a permanent job offer. | Physician Registered Nurse Medical Sonographer Occupational Therapist Physiotherapist |
Ontario In-Demand Occupations
Ontario is Canada’s most populous province yet it still has a demand for a few very specific in-demand workers. To accommodate these labor demands, the province created Ontario Immigrant Nominee Programs (OINPs) to help fill vacant positions. The good news is that most of the OINPs align with Express Entry which significantly cuts down on permanent residency application processing times. There are specific programs for French speakers and trade workers.
| In-Demand Occupations in Ontario | ||
| OINP | Minimum Requirements | Job Positions |
| Employment Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream | Must work in Ontario for at least 9 months and have a full-time job offer. | Nurse Aids Home Support Worker Residential Installers Transport Truck Driver Heavy Equipment Operator Farm Worker Greenhouse Worker Harvesting Labourers Butchers, Meat Cutter and Poultry Preparers |
| Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream | Must create an Express Entry profile and receive a nomination. | Financial Managers Administrative Managers Advertising, Marketing, and PR Corporate Sales Manager Retail and Wholesale Managers Managers in Customer Service Financial Auditors Other Financial Officers Business Management Consulting Registered Nurses and Psychiatric Nurses |
| Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream | One year of work experience in Ontario in a Technical / Skilled Trades position and must obtain a job offer. | Air Traffic Controllers and Related Positions Mechanic Trades Drillers Logging, Forestry, etc. |
| Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream | Must create an Express Entry profile and be Proficient in French | Jobs in Management, Professional, Technical / Skilled Trades Positions. |
Manitoba In-Demand Occupations
For the province of Manitoba, it’s all about adaptability. If you want to apply to the Manitoba Provincial Nomination Program (MPNP) you have to prove a connection to the province. This can be family ties or friends living in the province and Manitoba-specific work experience and education are important requirements that can help you secure a provincial nomination.
| In-Demand Occupations in Manitoba | ||
| MPNP | Minimum Requirements | Job Positions |
| Express Entry Skilled Workers in Manitoba | Must work and live in Manitoba already. An Express Entry profile is required to apply. | Most jobs in Management, Professional, Technical / Skilled Trades positions. |
| Express Entry Skilled Workers Overseas | Must prove an established connection to Manitoba. An Express Entry profile is required to apply. | Most jobs in Management, Professional, Technical / Skilled Trades positions. |
| Rural In-Demand Occupations | Job offers outside of Manitoba’s Capital Region. | Nurse Aides and Orderlies, Butchers, Meat Cutters, and Poultry Preparers. |
Canadian Territories In-Demand Occupations
If you’d like to be a part of a small, tight-knit community that’s far away from the hustle-and-bustle of city life then a Canadian Territory Provincial Nomination Program is right for you. The Canadian territories welcome entrepreneurs, low and high skilled workers to apply for permanent residency and settle in these remote regions. If you can secure a job in a territory and successfully live and work in the cold conditions for 6 months then you’re half-way to receiving a provincial nomination.
| In-Demand Occupations in the Canadian Territories | ||
| Canadian Territories | Minimum Requirements | Job Positions |
| NWT Critical Impact Worker Category | Must work in the NWT for 6 months. | Most entry-level jobs. |
| Yukon Community Program | Yukon employers can offer employment to critical impact workers or skilled workers. | Most jobs in Management, Professional, Technical / Skilled Trades and Entry-Level positions |
| Yukon Business Nominee Program | Have at least 3 years of entrepreneurial or business management experience. | Foreign entrepreneurs |
How We Can Help You Get Canadian Permanent Residency Through a PNP
At MDC, we specialize in each of the above-mentioned PNPs and know what it takes to help you take the first step in achieving permanent residency status in Canada. We can help you discover which PNP you are most eligible for, and help you through the meticulous application process from start to finish.
Our accredited RCICs (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants) are ready to evaluate your eligibility, review all documentation, and submit all documentation on your behalf. Using an RCIC not only gives you the best possible chance of receiving an ITA but will make the entire process simple and stress-free.
All you have to do is complete our online form and we’ll take care of the rest. It’s just that simple.
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