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Provincial Nominee Program

What is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)?

Participating Canadian provinces and territories nominate candidates whose skills, work experience or business plans meet local needs. A provincial nomination is a step toward permanent residence; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes the final decision.

Last reviewed: September 16, 2026. Explore the main pathways in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario below. These summaries should be read with the linked official criteria and current intake announcements.

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BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

B.C. offers Skills Immigration for eligible workers and Entrepreneur Immigration for business applicants. Current worker pathways focus on employer-supported applications and provincial selection priorities.

Official guidance reviewed: September 16, 2026.

For experienced workers with an eligible B.C. job offer in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.

  • A full-time, indeterminate job offer is normally required. Certain occupations qualify for limited-term offers under Appendix A of the Program Guide.
  • You generally need at least two years of skilled work experience, with the experience obtained within the last ten years.
  • You and your employer must meet the program requirements, including employer support, occupational qualifications, wages and family income.
  • The minimum language level is CLB 4. Higher federal language requirements apply if you use Express Entry BC.

Register first and wait for an invitation to apply. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee selection. Express Entry BC is an option for candidates who also qualify for a federal Express Entry program.

Official guidance: Worker eligibility and process · Skills Immigration Program Guide

For eligible healthcare professionals supported by a B.C. public health authority. Direct employees generally need a regular, full-time, indeterminate offer in an eligible occupation.

  • Obtain the health authority’s agreement to support your application and the required employer documentation.
  • Meet the applicable licensing, qualifications, language, wage and income requirements.
  • Physicians, nurse practitioners and midwives have specific provisions, including support requirements when they are not direct employees.

Eligible applicants apply directly without a registration or invitation. A private-sector healthcare job does not automatically qualify. The Health Authority occupation list is different from the Care targeted-selection list.

Official guidance: Health Authority requirements · Eligible occupations

B.C. selects candidates in line with three provincial objectives. Priority selection remains subject to the applicable stream and invitation criteria.

  • Care: Selected healthcare, childcare, education and veterinary occupations. ECEs need a one-year or five-year B.C. ECE certificate; an assistant certificate alone does not meet this targeted-selection requirement. French-speaking public K–12 teachers need at least CLB 5 in French. NOC 33102 candidates must be on the B.C. care aide registry.
  • Build: Nine priority construction trades. A corresponding SkilledTradesBC trade certificate or registered apprenticeship is required for targeted invitations.
  • Innovate: High Economic Impact invitations seek highly qualified talent across sectors.

Check the current occupation lists and each invitation round; an eligible occupation alone does not ensure an invitation.

Official guidance: Selection of workers and occupation lists

  • Entry Level and Semi-Skilled: The ELSS stream is closed.
  • International graduates: The former International Graduate and International Post-Graduate routes are not current intake options. B.C. confirmed that it will not launch the proposed new student streams. Graduates should assess the current worker streams.
  • Technology: The last dedicated priority-technology draw was in December 2024. Technology occupations can remain eligible, but selection now follows the current program priorities.
  • Occupation restrictions: B.C. now excludes specified administrative, sales/service and religious occupations. Review the full ineligible list before planning an application.

Official guidance: 2026 program changes · Current streams and ineligible occupations

A limited initiative for eligible cleaning and security workers already directly employed by a B.C. health authority in a qualifying rural or remote location.

Requirements include employer support, an eligible permanent full-time position and at least nine consecutive months of qualifying work with the health authority. Contractor employees are not eligible. Other education, language and income requirements also apply.

Registration deadline: Extended to October 7, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. This initiative does not offer Express Entry BC.

Official guidance: Full eligibility criteria · Deadline extension

B.C. also offers business immigration pathways for applicants who will actively establish and manage an eligible business.

  • Base stream: Minimum personal net worth of CAD 600,000 and eligible investment of CAD 200,000.
  • Regional stream: Minimum net worth of CAD 300,000 and eligible investment of CAD 100,000, with community involvement and additional requirements.
  • Strategic Projects: A separate option for eligible foreign corporations expanding into B.C.

Investment alone is insufficient; business experience, the proposed business and all stream-specific requirements must also be assessed.

Official guidance: Entrepreneur and business pathways

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

Alberta’s provincial nominee program includes four worker streams and four entrepreneur streams. Worker applications begin with a Worker Expression of Interest and an invitation from AAIP.

Official guidance reviewed: September 16, 2026.

AAIP worker streams use a Worker Expression of Interest (WEOI) system. Submit your profile and receive an invitation before applying for nomination.

Selection considers your score, provincial labour needs, available nominations and application volumes. A WEOI normally remains valid for 12 months; neither registration nor a qualifying score guarantees an invitation.

In 2026, Alberta identifies healthcare, technology, construction, manufacturing, aviation, agriculture and designated Rural Renewal communities among its priorities. These priorities are not an exhaustive list, and stream eligibility still applies.

Official guidance: How to apply · 2026 priorities and invitation results

For temporary foreign workers already employed full-time in Alberta who have a qualifying job offer in an eligible occupation.

  • Hold an accepted work permit and meet the occupation, employer and job-offer rules.
  • Generally, have 12 months of experience in your current occupation in Alberta within the last 18 months, or 24 months in Canada or abroad within the last 30 months.
  • Eligible Alberta Post-Graduation Work Permit holders generally need six months of Alberta experience within 18 months, plus the applicable Alberta education and field-of-study requirements.
  • Language: CLB/NCLC 5 for TEER 0–3, or 4 for TEER 4–5. NOC 33102 requires 7.
  • Meet the education requirement, generally Canadian high-school equivalency, and any licensing requirements.

AOS is a non-Express Entry route. You must still receive an AAIP invitation after submitting a WEOI.

Official guidance: AOS eligibility · Worker application process

For selected candidates with a valid federal Express Entry profile, eligibility for a federal Express Entry program and a CRS score of at least 300. You must intend to settle in Alberta and meet Alberta’s pathway and draw requirements.

  • Accelerated Tech: An eligible technology occupation and an eligible Alberta technology employer are required.
  • Dedicated Health Care: A qualifying Alberta job offer and professional eligibility are required. This pathway has both Express Entry and non-Express Entry options.
  • Law Enforcement: For eligible internationally recruited police professionals.
  • Priority sectors: Selection depends on the occupation and conditions of the invitation round.

The minimum CRS score is an eligibility threshold, not a guaranteed invitation score. AOS and Alberta Express Entry have separate requirements.

Official guidance: Express Entry eligibility · Dedicated pathways · Current selections

For candidates with an eligible job offer in a designated Alberta community and a valid community endorsement.

  • You must intend to live and work in the designated community. The endorsement letter is valid for one year.
  • Eligible Alberta residents with valid work permits may qualify in TEER 0–5. Candidates elsewhere in Canada or overseas are limited to TEER 0–3.
  • Generally, 12 months of eligible experience within the last 18 months is required; a specified graduate exemption exists.
  • Language minimums are CLB/NCLC 5 for TEER 0–3 and 4 for TEER 4–5. Education, licensing and any applicable settlement-fund requirements also apply.

Community endorsement does not replace AAIP selection. Submit a WEOI and wait for an invitation.

Official guidance: Rural Renewal eligibility

For workers already employed in Alberta by an approved tourism and hospitality employer in an eligible occupation.

  • Have qualifying full-time employment and an offer from the same approved employer.
  • Meet the six-consecutive-month work-experience requirement.
  • Hold the required valid work permit, generally based on a positive LMIA; limited wildfire-related provisions also exist.
  • Meet CLB/NCLC 4 in each language skill, the education requirement and the remaining employer and occupation conditions.

Not every hospitality role or employer qualifies. A WEOI and invitation are required.

Official guidance: Tourism and Hospitality eligibility

Alberta has four separate business pathways:

  • Rural Entrepreneur: Establish or acquire a business in a participating rural community.
  • Graduate Entrepreneur: For eligible graduates of Alberta institutions.
  • Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur: For eligible graduates from outside Canada developing an innovative business with a designated agency.
  • Farm: For experienced farmers planning an eligible farm business.

Each pathway has its own business, investment, experience and application requirements.

Official guidance: AAIP business pathways

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

Ontario’s program changed substantially in 2026. New applicants should review the Ontario Workforce Priority stream, which covers eligible job-offer candidates and certain self-employed physicians.

Official guidance reviewed: September 16, 2026.

Ontario has replaced its former eight streams with the Ontario Workforce Priority (OWP) stream. The new EOI portal opened on August 4, 2026.

The former Employer Job Offer, Masters Graduate, PhD Graduate and Ontario Express Entry streams are closed to new intake. Applications already submitted following an invitation under a former stream continue to be assessed under the criteria applicable when submitted.

New candidates should assess OWP rather than rely on the former stream requirements. Further redesign announcements should be checked on Ontario’s official updates page.

Official guidance: 2026 OINP updates

Requires a qualifying permanent, full-time Ontario job offer and an eligible employer.

  • Experience: Options include six consecutive months in the offered position within 12 months; three months for qualifying recent Ontario graduates; two years in the relevant occupation within five years; or a qualifying mandatory licence. Occupation-specific exceptions apply, including for transport drivers.
  • Language: Generally CLB 6, or CLB 5 for listed trades. Qualifying recent Ontario graduates can meet this requirement through specified credentials.
  • Education: Generally at least a one-year postsecondary degree or diploma, with different rules for listed trades and specified occupations or licences. Foreign credentials normally require an ECA.

Licensing, legal status and intent to settle in Ontario must also be assessed.

Official guidance: Complete OWP requirements

For eligible workers with a permanent, full-time Ontario job offer in TEER 4 or 5.

  • Nine months of cumulative paid full-time experience in the offered position within the last two years.
  • At least CLB 4 in each language skill.
  • Canadian secondary-school completion or an equivalent foreign credential.

The employer, position and applicant must satisfy all remaining OWP requirements; an invitation is necessary.

Official guidance: TEER 4–5 pathway overview · Detailed requirements

Eligible physicians can apply without a job offer. Requirements include an eligible CPSO registration class, good standing and eligibility to bill OHIP. Contact OINP to begin EOI registration; an invitation is still required.

Official guidance: Physician pathway requirements

  1. Your employer registers and submits the position through the Employer Portal.
  2. Use the job-offer ID to register your EOI within 30 calendar days.
  3. If invited, the employer submits its application within 14 calendar days. You submit your application and payment within 17 calendar days, after the employer’s submission.

Selection depends on Ontario’s priorities and ranking criteria. An EOI does not guarantee an invitation or nomination.

Eligible TEER 0–3 candidates and self-employed physicians may choose an Express Entry nomination if they also meet federal program criteria and maintain a valid Express Entry profile. Otherwise, the applicable non-Express Entry process is used. IRCC makes the final permanent-residence decision.

Official guidance: OINP application process

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