Canadian Visa App - Provincial Nominees Program

Why Immigrate to Canada?

In terms of its immigration policies, Canada has one of the more progressive policies in the world, with the government seeking to admit hundreds of thousands of immigrants per year. Moreover, Canada has been named as one of the best countries to live in by the United Nations and several large surveys of expat workers from around the globe.

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is just one of the more positive immigration programs that Canada has in place that makes the process easier and more efficient for both the Canadian immigration agency and the foreign skilled workers it wants to attract.
Some of the other benefits of immigrating to Canada are:

• Receive universal healthcare and access to other social welfare benefits
• Possibility of providing sponsorship to bring family to Canada
• Access to free and high-quality primary, secondary, and higher education
• Being able to become a Canadian Permanent Resident
• Eligibility to become a Canadian citizen in 3 years after attaining permanent residency
• Many career options, especially for skilled workers
• Opportunity to buy a home and start a business

Who Can Apply for the PNP?

Anyone who meets the minimum requirements of the province or territory they are applying to can apply to be nominated to the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
However, as each province and territory has different requirements, an applicant must first check out what they are to ensure that they qualify. Also, take note that Quebec is excluded from the provinces and territories that participate in the PNP as they have their own immigration program, the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP).

Qualifications for Eligibility

Although the requirements for each territory or province may vary, there are some common qualifications that an applicant must possess to become eligible for nomination. They are as follows:

• Relevant post-secondary training and/or education for the high-demand occupation in their chosen province or territory
• Relevant and sufficient work experience in the aforementioned high-demand occupation
• Meet the degree of fluency in English or French required by the province or territory
• Fall within the established range of ages established for the particular PNP
• Possess all the necessary documentation required by the province or territory as well as by the Canadian immigration agency
• Agree to the conditions set by the province and/or territory
• Desire to work and live in that province/territory
• Desire to become a Canadian Permanent Resident

The Application Process

There are two application processes for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) – the traditional paper-based or non-Express Entry system and the online Express Entry process.

Although they both fall under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), they possess differences such as the length of processing time, the requirements needed, among others.

Traditional Process

When applying through the traditional non-Express Entry system, the applicant must undergo the following steps:

1. Satisfy the eligibility criteria for the PNP of the province or territory
2. Apply to the particular PNP through the non-Express Entry pathway
3. Once nominated, they will need to fill out a paper application to become a Canadian Permanent Resident.
4. They will also need to pass a medical exam and acquire a certificate from the police.
5. The applicants will need to pay all the required fees, such as the processing fees, biometrics fees, and others.
6. After doing so, they will need to mail their paper application and online payment receipt to the Canadian immigration agency.

Applicants must fill out the form correctly and honestly, because any dishonesty found in their application will be grounds for refusal, dismissal, and being banned from applying again up to five years.

It should be noted that this traditional PNP application method has a longer processing time than the online Express Entry system.

Express Entry System

If an applicant wants a speedier process, then they may apply via the Express Entry system, which has two PNP options to choose from:

1. The applicant contacts the province or territory where they wish to live in Canada and applies to be nominated under the PNP Express Entry pathway. Once they receive a PNP nomination, the applicant can create an online profile in the Express Entry system and indicate that they have a PNP nomination.
2. The applicant can create an Express Entry profile and show it to the province and/or territory they are interested in applying to. Once the province or territory sends the applicant a notification of interest, they may contact them directly. The foreign worker will then apply to the relevant PNP through its Express Entry pathway and if they receive a provincial nomination, they can accept it electronically.

Whichever process they undergo, the foreign worker must still meet the qualifications required by their chosen province or territory AND submit an Express Entry online profile that showcases their eligibility. Should the applicant receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the federal Canadian immigration agency, they will have 60 days to submit an electronic application to become a Permanent Resident of Canada, including all the of the supporting documents, and pay the governmental fees. A visa decision is normally made in six months or less when the application is made through the Express Entry system. If approved for Express Entry, the applicant and his or her family will immigrate to Canada and settle in the province or territory that sponsored them to start their new lives as Canadian Permanent Residents!

DISCLAIMER: This information is not and should not be considered as expert or professional advice.