Provincial immigration programs in Canada
Canadian provinces and territories have their own immigration programs, which often have lower requirements compared to federal ones.
Each Canadian province and two territories have their own unique Provincial Nominee Programs. These programs allow provinces and territories to select candidates who want to immigrate to Canada and are interested in settling in a specific region.
The following provincial immigration programs exist:
The Canadian territory of Nunavut does not have an immigration program.
The province of Quebec has a special agreement with the federal government of Canada and uses its own immigration system, separate from the Provincial Nominee Programs.
The Atlantic provinces of Canada (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island) also have a common Atlantic Immigration Program. It has relatively low requirements and is designed for candidates who want to live and work in one of the Atlantic provinces.
Each provincial program is tailored to the specific needs of the province/territory to select candidates who can live and work in the region.
Provincial immigration programs are further divided into so-called streams — pathways for specific categories of immigrants. There are many such streams, so almost every candidate can find a suitable option for themselves.
Why use Provincial Nominee Programs for immigration to Canada
Let's consider a situation where a candidate meets the requirements of one of the three federal immigration programs. Most likely, if they register in the Express Entry system, they won't score enough points to obtain Canadian permanent residence.
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However, if the candidate indicates in their application that they are interested in living in one of the provinces, for example, Ontario, they may receive a nomination from the province. This gives 600 additional points in the Express Entry system, which practically guarantees permanent residence.
For convenience, each provincial program contains at least one immigration stream for immigration through Express Entry.
What needs to be done to get a nomination? The main criterion is having an in-demand profession that is currently needed in the province.
Simplified requirements for candidates
Usually, provincial programs have additional streams where applications are accepted not through Express Entry, but on paper or through another system. In this case, there may be fewer requirements for candidates: the required English level is lower, age becomes less important, you can show less money in your account, etc.
Help with choosing an immigration program and stream
Officially, there are now more than 100 immigration programs in Canada with different requirements for candidates. If you can't choose the option that suits you, contact an immigration consultant for help.
