Visas & Advice Detail
Canadian Provincial Nominee Programme
The PNP may be the perfect visa option to choose for those struggling to qualify for a Skilled Worker visa
If you can't muster enough points, or don't have the required work experience to emigrate through the Skilled Worker category or do not have an Arranged Employment Offer, then one of Canada's Provincial Nominee Programmes (PNP) may be an ideal alternative.
A PNP is a signed agreement between a province and Canada's federal government which allows the province greater say in selecting the immigrants that settle there.
Each province looks to select individuals which will benefit it in some way – this could be by filling gaps in its skilled workforce, starting a new business or by reuniting families.
If you wish to emigrate to Canada as a provincial nominee, you must first apply for a nomination to the relevant provincial authorities where you wish to settle.
The provinces and territories currently taking part in the PNP programme are as follows:
Alberta
British Columbia
Maintoba
Saskatchewan
Newfoundland and Labrador
Ontario
Yukon
Prince Edward Island
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
The province's authorities will consider your application-based needs and intention to settle. If there is any doubt about a person's intention in this respect, further verification may be required. In some cases, this will be a medical check, a security check, or a query relating to the amount of funds you have available in order to take part in the PNP programme. Indeed, previous visits to the province in question, family members living there or an education or previous work experience there can often score you extra points towards the all-important nomination.
If your application for nomination is accepted you will be notified by the province and they will issue a certificate of nomination which will typically be sent directly to the Canadian High Commission (CHC) in London.
You will then need to complete the required application forms and send them to the CHC along with the necessary fees in order for it to be processed.
Due largely to the relatively short processing time, PNPs are increasing in popularity and it is also worth noting that the PNP application is not assesed against the same six criteria needed to be processed for a Skilled Worker visa.
Quebec
Quebec is able to establish its own immigration requirements and select immigrants who will adapt well to living in Quebec.
As per the federal immigration system, the three main classes of immigration available are: skilled worker, business immigrant or family member of a Canadian citizen currently living in Quebec.
In the cases of business and skilled worker applications, you will need to apply directly to the Quebec government by filling out the Application for a Selection Certificate.
If accepted, you will receive a Certificat de selection du Québec (CSQ), although ultimately it will be Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) that has the final word on whether your application will be successful.
For family immigration, all cases are still handled by CIC.
The criteria for qualifying through Quebec's immigration system are different to those laid out in the federal programmes, so you should visit www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/quebec/index.asp to find out more.
While Quebec is nationally the second most popular province in terms of immigrant arrivals, this is not the case for British immigrants, who are largely dissuaded by the province's strict French language requirements.
However, those who take the plunge into Francophone Canada are often immediately impressed by the charming towns and cities and rolling countryside it has to offer. The capital, Quebec City, is a beautiful city with a walled area listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
For further information:
Citizenship & Immigration Canada
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