Everything you need to know about Provincial Nomination and various ways of applying for a Provincial or Regional Nomination

Tips and things you need to know about Provincial Nomination

By Nneka Odilichukwu

There are some countries that give foreign skilled workers, easy access to relocate to their country, to work and live in their country permanently and also help in developing and building the country's economy.

The provinces, territories or regions of most of these countries, also have their own immigration programs, through which they invite , select and nominate foreign skilled workers,  for provincial or regional nomination.

These provinces  also work hand in hand with their Federal governments to invite highly skilled workers to apply for permanent residency in their country.

Examples of such countries are - Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc.

Permanent residency is a status granting a foreign applicant the right work and live in a particular country, eg, like these countries mentioned above.

These applicants may not be citizens after they've been granted their permanent card, but they will have the same right and responsibilities that a citizen has, such as, to work, live and study anywhere in the country and also there's provision for them to apply for Citizenship in their chosen country, after living and working there for a certain number of years.

Canada welcomes immigrants twice a month through it's Provincial Nominee Program. Provincial Nominee offers a valuable route to Canadian Permanent Residence.

Canada PNP Stream is inviting applicants who have already applied through Express Entry for Canada PR.

These countries have several programs through which they accept applicants into there country, but the two (2) most popular programs that potential immigrants constantly apply for are...

• Express Entry
• Provincial or Regional Nomination

EXPRESS ENTRY

Express Entry is a straight forward application to the countries Federal Government. 
The successful applicants/skilled workers invited, will be given the freedom to live in any province of there choice in the said country and to move to another province at will.  

PROVINCIAL NOMINATION

The applicants will first research and choose a province of their choice, then seek for relocation and Permanent resident approval from these provinces or regions, who are looking for skilled workers to come, multiply, build and live in there province.

For instance, there are about 10 provinces in Canada and all these provinces has their own criteria and requirements that you as a foreign applicant is expected to fulfil, before you will be invited or accepted into their province, territories or region.

Each province has it's own criteria, requirements and target.
For example, a province may be in need of qualified medical practitioners, Tech experts or Teachers, while some will be targeting skilled workers, lawyers or business men and women.
Example, to apply for provincial nomination in Saskatchewan (a province in Canada), you're expected to have at least a minimum of one (1) year work experience in the course you studied in school, to be eligible.

It simply varies from province to province and the way you apply depends on the provincial nomination stream, you are applying for.

The province of Quebec has it's system of selecting immigrants, for it's province.
A foreign applicant who wants to reside in Quebec, will not be able to apply through the express entry system, they have their own rules, criteria and expectations from foreign applicants, who wants to work and live in their province.

There are two (2) ways you can apply for Provincial Nomination

• Direct Application to a Province or Region
• Application through the Express Entry Route

DIRECT APPLICATION TO A PROVINCE OR REGION

To put in an application for provincial nomination, you should first choose a province, from all the provinces and regions in your chosen country, check their application requirements and criteria and apply directly to them.

The province will review your application using their point system, if you're able to meet all the requirements, you will be given a nomination, which you will use to apply for permanent residence in their country.

For example, if your chosen country is Canada, your application will be received and reviewed by the IRCC (Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada), your medicals, biometrics and character will also be verified by them.

APPLICATION THROUGH THE EXPRESS ENTRY ROUTE

To apply for Permanent residence to any province or region, through the express entry  route, you will first create an express entry profile, using your IELTS (International English Language Testing System) and ECA (Educational Credentials Assessment) report.

Read List of Organizations that Evaluate Credentials


Then you will be assessed and verified by the Federal Government  of that country, if you have enough points and meets the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut off points and able to make the express entry pool, your profile will be reviewed by other provinces and territories in the country.

If you meet the criteria of any of the provinces or you have the qualifications and experiences, they were looking for, you will be invited by the province, to be considered for any of their programs.
This way, you will be sent an invitation to apply from the province.

After the provinces or regions has processed your Provincial Nomination application (the processing time is about 3 -4 months), you will be granted 600 points, which will be added to your Express Entry score, with this additional 600 points, you will be selected and invited to apply for Permanent Resident, in the very next draw, which occurs every 2 weeks.

Candidates are expected to be in the Express Entry pool first, before applying to these provinces for a Provincial Nomination, because they must be assessed and verified by Federal government, before they can be picked or nominated by any of these provinces.

Each province has the ability and permission to invite skill workers to apply for permanent residence, in their province, you will be accepted provided you have all the skills and qualifications they need. Example in Canada and other countries, each province or region has their own separate Provincial Nominee Program and also have one immigration stream that corresponds with the
Federal Express Entry Immigration Selection System.

There are are basically two (2) formats or process through which you can apply for provincial nomination and they are

• Express Entry Process
• Paper Based Process

EXPRESS ENTRY PROCESS

This process is for applicants who wants to apply for provincial nomination through Express entry.

A Provincial Nominee applicant can apply in 2 ways.

• By contacting the province and applying for a nomination under their express entry stream. If you are nominated by a province, you can now create an express entry profile or update your existing profile, if you have any. You will get a nomination through your account and accept it electronically.
• By creating an Express Entry profile and indicating the provinces, you're interested in. If you receive a notification of Interest from a province in your account, you can the contact them directly and apply to their Express Entry stream. If you're nominated by the province, it will be offered to you through your account and you will also accept it electronically.

In these 2 application processes, you are expected to create an Express Entry profile, so it's always good to create it, right from the beginning.

If you're nominated by a province or Express Entry stream. It will be listed on your nomination certificate and can be confirmed through the province or territory.

HOW TO APPLY FOR PROVINCIAL NOMINATION THROUGH EXPRESS ENTRY

PAPER BASED PROVINCIAL NOMINATION

The process for the paper based provincial nominee is of 2 types.

• The first thing you have to do is to chose a province or region you want to reside in and send them your application for nomination. When they receive your application, will be reviwed based on

1. Their application and immigration needs.
2. Whether you really plan to work and live there.

• After you've been nominated by a province, you must apply to the IRCC (immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada), your application will be reviwed and assessed by them, using the Canadian immigration Law.

HOW TO APPLY FOR A PAPER BASED PROVINCIAL NOMINATION.

To submit an application for a provincial nomination, you are expected to meet the minimum requirements of the province and be nominated under that stream.

To be nominated, you are expected to have followed all the rules of application and instructions on their websites..

Alberta

British Columbia

Manitoba

New Brunswick

Nova Scotia

Ontario

Saskatchewan

North West Territories

Prince Edward Island

Yokun 

Provincial Nominee FAQS

If you have low Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, then this is a great opportunity for you to get Permanent Residence Visa through Provincial Nominee Program.

If you are not selected after being in the pool for 12 months, make a new expression of interest by creating another profile for yourself.

BENEFITS OF APPLYING FOR A PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM (PNP)

Once a Provincial Nominee Certificate is granted, you receive 600 point that goes towards your Express Entry score.

You don't need a job offer, from a Canadian employer to apply.

Fast application processing

Accepts Low IELTS

Applicants with low Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, are given the opportunity to apply and be nominated.