The Provincial Nomination Certificate (PNC) is an important document issued by a Canadian province or territory that allows the holder to live and work in that particular province or territory. The PNC is also required if you wish to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
How to get a provincial nomination certificate
Every province has its own PNP with many different streams. That makes it hard to know which ones you’re eligible for, especially when they vary a lot.
Obtaining a provincial nomination is made difficult by the fact that provinces often change their requirements and add or remove streams of available programs. If you want to get started, it’s important to do your research so you don’t miss out on any good opportunities.
Although it is more work, applying for a provincial nomination certificate will allow your application for permanent residence status in Canada to be viewed favorably.
If you’re applying to a provincial stream that matches with Express Entry, a nomination is worth an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. These additional points will guarantee you an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
If you are invited to apply for permanent residence under the provincial nomination program, you won’t have an Express Entry profile. We call this type of PNP “base PNPs.” You’ll need a provincial nomination certificate from a base PNP in order to go through the full application process.
Every provincial nominee program is a bit different, but here are the general guidelines that were followed by most programs:
1. In-demand Occupation
To help address skills shortages, there are efforts for provinces to recruit foreign workers. These programs provide assistance in helping the province respond to labour shortages. The occupations that fall under these streams vary by province and over time. But the best way to find out about provincial streams for in-demand occupations is to monitor specific lists for all the provinces that offer them.
Examples: Saskatchewan Occupations In-Demand, Ontario Human Capital Priorities, and Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities.
2. Employer Job Offer
Employers in this province have been able to fill their labor needs by using Job Offer Streams. When an employer can’t find someone locally, they’re able to work with the global market if they meet certain conditions. If you are qualified for a provincial nomination certificate, you can be eligible to apply when your employer has a job offer and is located in a province that offers these kinds of certificates.
Job Offer streams have the benefit of being exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Many provinces have agreed to provide “letters of support” to successful nominees. Instead of applying for an LMIA, you can get a work permit by using these letters. This makes it easier for employers to hire foreign nationals, which may make it easier to find a job in Canada. Consequently, you do not need an Express Entry profile when applying for many Job Offer streams.
Examples: Ontario Employer Job Offer or Nova Scotia Skilled Worker.
3. Experience as International Student
There are different streams of immigration to Canada based on your situation. For example, if you’ve pursued an education in the province and have completed the prerequisite requirements, then you can apply for a provincial nomination. You can also receive 30 extra points for completing a post-secondary study in Canada and entering the Express Entry pool.
Examples: British Columbia International Graduate or Manitoba International Education.
4. Experience as a temporary worker
One way to get a provincial nomination is to have experience from a province as a temporary worker. Most provinces offer streams that are dedicated to helping temporary workers transition to permanent residence.
This is an article rewriter.
Some streams, like working in Canada and being employed as a full-time, permanent worker, only require you to be physically present in the country. Others, like the recent experience working as an employee in Canada, are only needed when applying for the nomination.
If you’re not allowed to immigrate to Canada, starting off as a temporary worker can improve your chances of becoming eligible in a lot of ways. You can improve your language skills and grow your professional network to try to get a permanent job offer.
Examples: Saskatchewan Experience or Manitoba Skilled Workers in Manitoba Category.
5. Business streams
There are some provincial-level nominations available for new businesses in various provinces. Typically, you need to have managerial experience and a minimum personal net worth to qualify.
Examples: British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration Stream and Ontario Entrepreneur Stream.
6. Employer Job offer in Occupation In-Demand
For those who have experience in an occupation that is in demand and have a job offer lined up, provinces can provide immigration streams.
Examples: British Columbia’s Healthcare Professional Category or Ontario’s In-Demand Skills.
