Provincial Nominee Program

The Canadian Federal government has also negotiated various provincial and territorial agreements relating to the specific needs of employers and capital investment for each geographic area. Therefore, most Canadian provinces also have their own nominee programs that are designed to encourage skilled migrants to settle in those provinces.

Currently, Provincial Nominee Programs exist in the following provinces and territories:

• Alberta
• Manitoba
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Prince Edward Island
• Yukon
• British Columbia
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Saskatchewan

Under the various Provincial Nominee Programs, the participating provinces seek to attract skilled migrants under agreements with the Government of Canada.

Canada is one of the most popular immigration destinations in the world and has one of the largest foreign born populations of OECD countries. Most immigrants come to Canada as skilled migrants -- either as temporary foreign workers, permanent residents under its points based skilled migration scheme, or as provincial and territorial nominees.

The Provincial Nominee program allows provinces and territories to nominate migrants who will live and work in Canada and receive Canadian permanent residence visas. Provincial Nominee applications are given preference over other skilled visa applicants by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

In general, there are two ways you could immigrate to Canada as a Provincial Nominee: either as a skilled worker with a job offer or as a business entrepreneur. Some provinces and territories have additional variations on these basic categories.

For instance, in addition to an entrepreneur category, the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program has the Immigrant Partner category which allows up to three migrants to come under the nominee program if they will partner together in a business.

In the case of Ontario, there is the Employer category for employers who wish to hire foreign skilled workers and the Multinational Investor Category, which is meant to aid companies planning to make major investments in Ontario by fast-tracking work permits and permanent residence visas for key personnel.

In most cases, an employer wishing to hire you under the provincial nominee program can state their case for hiring foreign talent to the provincial government. Once approved, they can then have you apply for permanent residence under the Provincial Nominee Program.

CIC then makes a final decision on the your application.

If you are an employer, business owner, investor or a skilled worker looking for more information about Canada's Provincial Nominee program, please fill out an enquiry form or contact us directly!