The Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) allows Canadian Provinces to nominate immigration applicants who want to settle in a province. PNP is one of the most important fast-track option to immigrate to Canada.
PNP is designed to the province's specific needs to select nominees who will be able to establish into the area and to contribute to the local community.
There are two main categories in the PNP:
- Provincial Nominee for Business
- Provincial Nominee for Skilled Worker
Provincial Nomination Programs with a Business Immigration:
PNP for Business is one of the most important streams for this Program and each province have their own Business Immigration Programs as the table below:
| Province |
Minimum personal net worth |
Minimum investment |
Business experience |
Business plan |
Government deposit |
Performance agreement |
Exploratory visit |
Additional selection criteria |
| Manitoba |
$350,000 |
$150,000 |
Yes: Previous business ownership or a minimum of 3 years of senior management experience |
Yes |
$75,000 refundable deposit |
Participate in day-to-day management of business |
Yes, for a minimum of 7 days |
Yes |
| Saskatchewan |
$300,000 |
$150,000 and ownership of at least 1/3 of an eligible business |
Yes: minimum of 3 years of business management experience |
Yes |
$75,000 refundable deposit |
Participate in day-to-day management of business & create at least 3 new jobs for Canadians or permanent residents |
No, but recommended |
Yes |
| British Columbia: Vancouver & Abbotsford |
$800,000 |
$400,000 and ownership of at least 1/3 of an eligible business |
Yes |
Yes |
Optional Fast Track Option: $125,000 refundable deposit |
Yes, in order to obtain a work permit |
Strongly recommended |
Yes |
| British Columbia: outside Vancouver & Abbotsford |
$400,000 |
$200,000 and ownership of at least 1/3 of an eligible business |
Yes |
Yes |
Optional Fast Track Option: $125,000 refundable deposit |
Yes, in order to obtain a work permit |
Strongly recommended |
Yes |
| New Brunswick |
$300,000 |
$125,000 |
Yes: previous business ownership or senior management experience |
Yes |
$75,000 refundable deposit |
Participate in day-to-day management of business |
Yes, for a minimum of 5 days |
Yes - basic proficiency in one of Canada's official languages |
Prince Edward Island
TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED |
$400,000 |
$200,000 |
Yes: previous business ownership or senior management experience |
Yes |
$125,000 refundable deposit** |
Participate in day-to-day management of business |
No |
Yes |
| Ontario |
- |
$1,000,000 and ownership of at least 1/3 of a business |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Participate in day-to-day management of business & create at least 5 new jobs for Canadians or permanent residents |
No |
Yes |
Provincial Nominee Program for Skilled Worker, etc:
Providing other various programs, the following provinces currently participate in the Provincial Nomination Program for Skilled Worker:
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Saskatchewan
Provincial nominees are not assessed on the six selection criteria of the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Each province has its own set of criteria. Most require that the applicant have a job offer from an employer in the province/territory.
After having the Provincial Nomination Certificate, nominees then receive priority processing for their permanent residency applications.