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Canada Immigration Process - Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)

There are eight steps to the Canadian Immigration Process - Provincial Nominee Programs

Applying to immigrate to Canada as a Provincial Nominee is a two-stage process. Applications are first submitted to immigration authorities in the intended destination province, and once applicants are nominated their applications must be submitted to federal immigration authorities.

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There are many ways to immigrate to Canada as a Provincial Nominee, and each category has its own process for immigration. The following is a general overview of the Canadian immigration process for Provincial Nominee Programs.

Step 1:

Your completed application arrives at the Provincial Nominee Program office. Your application is checked for completion and placed in a processing queue. Your application must contain:

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  • An original, correctly completed, signed provincial nomination forms;

  • Identity and civil status documents;

  • Documents supporting your educational and employment qualifications;

  • A letter from your current employer (if required for your nomination category);

  • A job offer from an employer in the province (if required by your nomination category);

  • Proof of relative in the province (if required for your nomination category);

  • Proof of language proficiency (if required for your nomination category);

  • If you are applying under the US Visa Holder's category of the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP), copies of your H1-B petition and legal status documents are required; and

  • Photocopies of completed, signed Canadian Immigration Visa application forms.

Step 2:

Your application is assessed by a Provincial Nominee Program Officer.Your application is carefully analyzed by a program officer to ensure you meet the requirements of your provincial nomination category and that the documents supporting your eligibility for provincial nomination are genuine. If an interview is not required as part of your nomination category, you will receive a Provincial Nomination Certificate.

Step 3:

A personal interview is sometimes required.In certain cases, applicants are required to meet with provincial authorities personally to establish their suitability for nomination. This is usually for applicants who wish to establish a business in the province.

Step 4:

Your application is submitted to the Central Intake Office (CIO) in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Once you receive your Provincial Nomination Certificate your application must be submitted submitted to the CIO within the time period specified on your certificate where it is checked for completeness. Applications must contain your Provincial Nomination Certificate, original completed and signed Canadian Immigration Visa application forms, identity and civil status documents, police clearance certificates and federal government processing fees.

Step 5:

Your application is transferred to the Canadian Immigration Visa Office responsible for processing applications from your country of residence or nationality for approval. The CIO transfers the application to your regional visa office where it undergoes federal approval processes.

Step 6:

Medical Instructions are issued. Upon assessment of your application by the Canadian Immigration Visa Office, medical instructions will be forwarded to you. You and your accompanying family members, if applicable, are required to undergo a medical examination by an doctor that has been approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Step 7:

Your passport is requested and the Right of Permanent Residence fee is due. After the medical results have been received by the Canadian Immigration Visa Office, they will request the Right of Permanent Resident Fee (RPRF) payment and your passport for the purpose of issuing a Canada Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa. Note that submitting passports is no longer required if the applicant is from a Visitor Visa-Exempt country.

Step 8:

Your Canadian Immigration (Permanent Resident) Visa is issued. Your Canada Immigration Visa will have an expiry date, by which time you and your accompanying family members must enter Canada, or "land."

To find out if you are eligible to apply for any of the pnp programs, please complete an assessment asap.

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