Canada PNP's April 2021 Overview

Last month, Canadian provinces issued 3,625 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination for Canada PR Visa.

Canadian provinces and territories, except Quebec and Nunavut, manage their own Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Most of the PNPs have different requirements that are based on the demands of the local labour market. By having their immigration programs, provincial governments can select those best suited to meet the needs of their local labor market.

Along with Express Entry, which is the primary route of immigration for economic immigrants, PNPs provide an important route to permanent residence in Canada. Canada expects to admit 80,000 new immigrants per year by 2023 through PNPs only.

In recent weeks, the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island have launched invitations to workers with a range of skills and work experience. Invited candidates can submit their application for provincial nomination which will in turn help in getting the Canadian permanent residency.

Get a Free Express Entry Assessment

April 2021 Highlights

Since the start of 2021, IRCC has been holding program-specific express entry draws for PNP candidates, on an average, every two weeks. 

In April, these draws were held on April 14 and 28, inviting a total of 647 immigrants to apply for Canada PR Visa.

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

Ontario PNP held a draw on April 13 in which 528 Express Entry candidates with technology backgrounds were invited to apply for a provincial nomination.

OINP introduced a new Expression of Interest (EOI) system for its two immigration streams in the last week of April. This announcement was eagerly awaited and aims to improve the process for filing immigration applications in the province.

Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)

The Express Entry stream of the AINP has been active since early 2021, after months of silence in 2020. Alberta has held two provincial draws, inviting a total of 400 immigrants.

Through this stream, Alberta can search for skilled immigrants in the express entry pool who can meet their provincial nomination requirements, which includes having a minimum CRS score of 300 points, etc.

Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)

Saskatchewan's international skilled worker category also had a busy first few months in 2021.

In April, the Saskatchewan PNP held two invitation rounds in the Express Entry and In-Demand Professions subcategories, issuing a total of 548 Invitations to Apply for Provincial Nomination.

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)

Manitoba PNP held three random draws in April and issued 1,009 nomination letters to nominees from the following three streams of the MPNP: Skilled Workers in Manitoba, International education component, and skilled workers overseas. Of the total number of applications, at least 422 went to Express Entry applicants.

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

The province invites the highest-rated provincial nominees each week through the British Columbia Nominee Program. Random draws for the British Columbia Express Entry, Skills Immigration, Entrepreneur, and Tech Pilot streams take place every month. Last month, British Columbia invited a total of 984 immigrants to apply for provincial nomination.

Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)

Prince Edward Island held a draw on April 15 and issued 156 invitations to applicants in its Express Entry and Impact on Work categories. This Atlantic province usually holds one pre-programmed draw per month.