Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) — Skilled Workers, incl. OINP
Every Canadian province and territory (except Quebec and Nunavut) runs its own immigration stream to nominate skilled workers, international graduates, and semi-skilled workers for permanent residence — including Ontario's OINP, BC PNP, Alberta AAIP, Manitoba MPNP, and the Atlantic provinces.
A Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) lets a Canadian province or territory nominate immigrants who meet its local labour-market needs for permanent residence. There are 80+ streams, many aligned with Express Entry — a provincial nomination adds 600 points to your CRS score, the maximum available under the CRS's additional-points category. Some streams require no job offer, and processing to nomination typically takes a few months.
- Processing Time
- 12–18 months (varies by province)
- Provinces
- ON · BC · AB · MB · Atlantic & more
- Pathway Type
- Permanent Residence (PR)
- EE-aligned
- Enhanced Nomination adds 600 CRS pts
Programs We Specialize In
Specific pathways where the ITC iLand team has deep expertise
Alberta AAIP
4 worker streams, from Express Entry to Rural Renewal.
Learn moreSaskatchewan SINP
Six worker sub-streams, with new sector allocation caps.
Learn moreOntario OINP
The one open stream, Workforce Priority: from the employer’s job offer to the 130-point grid.
Learn moreManitoba MPNP
Ranked by an Expression of Interest system that prioritizes your Manitoba connection.
Learn moreAtlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
Employer-driven, direct to permanent residence with no Express Entry step.
Learn moreWho Is This For?
- You have relevant work experience in an occupation that matches the province's needs
- You meet minimum language requirements (varies by stream and province)
- You have post-secondary education or skilled trade certification
- You intend to settle and work in the nominating province
- Some streams require a job offer from a provincial employer
- International graduates from a provincial institution may qualify for dedicated streams
How It Works
- 1
Identify the right province and stream
Each province has multiple streams — some are Express Entry-aligned (EE), others are base streams with a direct paper-based process.
- 2
Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) or apply directly
EE-aligned streams use rankings within the provincial pool. Base streams accept direct applications when open.
- 3
Receive a provincial nomination
If selected, the province issues a Certificate of Nomination (CoN). EE nominees receive an automatic 600-point CRS boost.
- 4
Apply for permanent residence
With an EE nomination, apply via the Express Entry portal within 60 days. Base stream applicants apply through a paper-based process.
- 5
Complete background checks & medical exam
Provide police clearances, complete an IRCC-designated physician medical exam, and submit biometrics.
- 6
Receive your PR and land in Canada
Once approved, confirm your permanent residence by entering Canada before the expiry on your COPR.
Which provincial streams are open right now?
No province is simply “open” or “closed”. Several, including Ontario, Alberta and Manitoba, keep an Expression of Interest pool and invite candidates only when the province chooses to. Others cap nominations by sector, and employer-designated routes such as the Atlantic Immigration Program can be paused province by province. So the useful questions are whether a stream is issuing invitations now, and whether your occupation is one it is inviting.
Two places answer the first question: the province’s own page, and our draw tracker, which records the invitation rounds provinces publish. The table below gives the structure of each route and the last status we verified, with the date.
| Province | How you are selected | Express Entry route | Last verified note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario (OINP) | Employer submits a job offer, then you register a scored EOI | TEER 0–3 applicants can choose nomination through Express Entry | Workforce Priority is the only open OINP stream; all other streams are closed |
| Alberta (AAIP) | Scored Worker EOI ($135) for most streams | Alberta Express Entry Stream | 2026 allocation raised to 6,603; no fixed processing time published |
| Saskatchewan (SINP) | Point grid, minimum 60 of 110, for most sub-streams | Saskatchewan Express Entry sub-stream | At least 50% of the 2026 allocation reserved for priority sectors; a further 25% capped across accommodation and food services, trucking and retail trade |
| Manitoba (MPNP) | Ranked EOI, then a Letter of Advice to Apply | Nomination adds 600 CRS points to an Express Entry profile | Skilled Worker Overseas needs a genuine Manitoba connection; some 2026 draws are invitation-only |
| Atlantic provinces (AIP) | Job offer from a designated employer; direct to PR | None: no Express Entry profile or CRS score needed | New Brunswick employer-designation intake paused since February 2026; other provinces restrict which sectors qualify |
| British Columbia (BC PNP) | Invitations to apply published by the programme | Not summarised here | No status summary yet; see the live record below |
Provinces and territories not summarised here
We have not published a verified status summary for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick’s non-AIP streams, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Yukon or the Northwest Territories, and the table does not imply the list is complete. Each runs its own programme. Check the province’s official page for current intake before relying on anything written about it, including here.
Express Entry-aligned versus base streams
An Express Entry-aligned stream asks you to hold an active Express Entry profile. If the province nominates you through it, IRCC adds 600 CRS points and your invitation follows in a later round. A base stream works outside Express Entry: you apply to the province directly and, if nominated, to IRCC on paper. The Atlantic Immigration Program is the exception to both: it leads directly to permanent residence with no Express Entry profile at all.
Nothing in this table is a promise that a stream is accepting candidates today. Allocations, sector caps and intake windows change, sometimes without notice. Confirm with the province, or ask us, before you build a plan around one route.
Calculate your CRS score right now
Our free tool uses official IRCC scoring tables — no sign-up required.
Latest Express Entry & PNP Draw Results
Minimum CRS scores and invitation counts from every draw — updated as soon as IRCC announces.
In Ontario? Check your OINP eligibility
Our free calculator scores your Expression of Interest for the Ontario Workforce Priority stream against the official scoring grid.
Why ITC iLand for This Program?
Since 1998, ITC iLand has processed Skilled Worker PR applications through every draw cycle, CRS policy shift, and program pause. Our licensed RCICs don't guess at strategy; they draw on 25+ years of Express Entry and PNP outcomes to position your profile for the highest probability of success.
Frequently Asked Questions
Express Entry-aligned streams require you to have an active Express Entry profile. A provincial nomination through these streams adds 600 CRS points — the maximum available under the CRS's additional-points category. Base streams operate independently of Express Entry — you apply to the province directly, and if nominated, you apply to IRCC for PR via a paper-based process (slower, typically 18–24 months).
Yes. You can apply to multiple PNP streams simultaneously, though each province has its own requirements and you must meet them independently. ITC iLand advises on which provinces best match your profile.
Requirements vary by stream. Some provinces run streams that do not require a job offer, but Ontario no longer does: since June 2026 its Workforce Priority stream (self-employed physicians excepted) requires a job offer from an Ontario employer. Others (e.g., many employer-driven streams) are specifically designed for candidates who already have a Canadian job offer. We review which streams match your situation.
EE-aligned nominations: 2–6 months to receive the nomination, then ~6 months federal processing after ITA. Base stream nominations: 6–18 months provincial, then 18–24 months federal processing.
It depends on your NOC code, education, work experience, language scores, and whether you have ties to a specific province. ITC iLand performs a cross-provincial eligibility assessment to identify your best options.
Related Reading
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Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot: Study in French, Apply for PR Directly
10 Ways IRCC Could Redesign Express Entry — And Why Your Numbers Still Matter Today
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