What the PNP is
Each province and territory that has a nominee program can nominate people for permanent residence based on its own labour-market and population needs. A nomination is not permanent residence. After a province nominates you, you still apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which checks admissibility (medical, security and criminality) and makes the final decision.
Each province sets its own streams, eligibility rules, fees and selection methods, and changes them often. Québec and Nunavut don't have nominee programs.
Base and enhanced nominations
| Enhanced nomination | Base nomination | |
|---|---|---|
| Link to Express Entry | The stream is aligned with Express Entry. You need an eligible Express Entry profile. | Outside Express Entry. |
| Effect | Adds 600 points to your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. IRCC then invites nominees in its rounds of invitations. | No CRS points. |
| PR application | Online, through Express Entry, after an invitation to apply. | A separate PR application to IRCC in the base PNP process. |
| IRCC processing (as of 2026-09-03) | About 7 months | About 13 months |
Processing times change monthly. Check the current figure in IRCC's processing-times tool. To see how the CRS works, read our Express Entry page or try the CRS calculator.
2025 and 2026: fewer nomination spaces
- 2025: the federal PNP target was cut from 110,000 (2024) to 55,000, and provinces reported allocation cuts of about 50%. Some provinces (Yukon and Saskatchewan among them) reported a federal requirement that at least 75% of 2025 nominations go to temporary residents already in Canada.
- 2026: the Levels Plan sets a PNP admissions target of 91,500. According to IRCC's 2026 transition binder, provinces and territories received 43,999 nomination spaces, plus 10,000 federal spaces (5,000 for licensed doctors and 5,000 for Francophones).
Admission targets and nomination allocations are different numbers: a target counts people admitted as permanent residents in the year, while an allocation caps the nominations a province can issue. The 2027–2029 Levels Plan is due by 2026-11-01 and may change these figures.
Provinces and territories at a glance
Status and allocations as of 2026-10-10. Each program changes often, so follow the link for details and official sources.
| Province or territory | Program | Status | How selection works | 2026 allocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) | Open | Expression of interest (EOI) and invitations | 6,603 |
| British Columbia | BC PNP | Open | Registration and invitations | 6,254 |
| Saskatchewan | Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) | Limited intake | EOI, sector priorities and caps | 4,761 (initial) |
| Manitoba | Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) | Open | EOI draws | 8,000 |
| Ontario | Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) | Open | Employer-initiated EOI | 14,119 |
| Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) | Limited intake | EOI for every stream | 2,344 |
| New Brunswick | New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) | Limited intake | EOI and selection rounds | Not confirmed |
| Prince Edward Island | PEI PNP | Check official site | EOI (see official site) | Not confirmed |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | NLPNP | Open | EOI and invitations | Not confirmed |
| Yukon | Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) | No intake open | Employer applications in fixed intake windows | 282 |
| Northwest Territories | NWT Nominee Program (NTNP) | Limited intake | Employer-driven EOI draws | 300 |
The four Atlantic provinces also take part in the federal Atlantic Immigration Program, which is separate from their nominee programs. The federal Rural and Francophone Community Immigration Pilots are also separate from the provincial programs.
Québec has its own system
Québec doesn't take part in the PNP. It selects its own economic immigrants, who then apply to IRCC for permanent residence. See our Québec immigration page.
Recent changes
- 2026-10-10: the 2027–2029 Levels Plan is expected by 2026-11-01. We will update the allocations when it is tabled.
- 2026-06-25: Ontario replaced its earlier streams with the single Ontario Workforce Priority stream.
- 2026-02-18: Nova Scotia consolidated 10 streams into 4.
- 2026: provinces and territories received 43,999 nomination spaces, plus 10,000 federal spaces for doctors and Francophones.
- 2025-03-27: Saskatchewan closed its Entrepreneur and Farm streams.
- 2025: the federal PNP target was cut to 55,000, about half of 2024.
Before you apply
- Read the province's own pages. Stream names, eligibility and draw results change, sometimes with no notice.
- Watch Express Entry if your stream is enhanced. Your profile must stay valid until you receive and accept the nomination, and your language results and ECA must stay valid.
- Intend to live in the province. Provinces nominate people who plan to settle there.
- Be careful with job offers. A job offer is often required by the province, but it no longer adds CRS points in Express Entry.
How we can help
Anasse Boulbaroud, RCIC, can review which provincial streams fit your profile, prepare your EOI or application, and then handle the IRCC permanent residence stage. The province and IRCC make every decision, so no one can promise a nomination or an approval. We don't represent clients at the Immigration and Refugee Board or in Federal Court. Book a consultation.