Provincial Nominee Programs

A provincial nomination is now one of the strongest routes to Canadian permanent residence, and for many families abroad it is the most realistic one. This page explains how the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) work in 2026, what changed after the 2025 cut, and what each province is selecting today.

How a PNP works

Each province and territory (except Quebec, which has its own system — see Immigrating to Quebec) can nominate a set number of people each year for permanent residence. A nomination does not make you a permanent resident: it is a provincial recommendation, after which you apply to IRCC, which checks medicals, security and admissibility.

There are two kinds of nomination:

• Base nomination — made outside Express Entry. After nomination, you apply to IRCC for permanent residence directly.
• Enhanced nomination — made through Express Entry. You need an active Express Entry profile; the nomination adds 600 points to your CRS score, and provincial-nominee draws in 2026 have had cut-offs in the 700s and 800s.

Most provinces now select through an expression of interest (EOI): you register a profile, the province scores it, and it invites the candidates it wants in draws. Almost every province favours healthcare, construction trades and people already working or studying in the province.

The 2025 cut and the 2026 rise

In 2025, the federal government cut provincial nomination allocations by about half; Saskatchewan called its 2025 figure the lowest since 2009. Several provinces received extra spaces later in 2025.

In 2026 the direction reversed. Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada plans 91,500 PNP admissions in 2026 and 92,500 in each of 2027 and 2028. The provinces and territories received 43,999 nomination spaces for 2026, and IRCC reserved 10,000 extra spaces: 5,000 for licensed doctors and 5,000 to increase francophone immigration outside Quebec. Several provinces received further increases in August 2026.

More places does not mean easier selection. Provinces have used the change to consolidate and narrow their streams, so it matters more than ever to know which stream is actually inviting someone like you.

British Columbia

BC rebuilt its program in April 2026 around three goals: Care (healthcare, education, childcare and veterinary occupations), Build (skilled trades) and Innovate (high economic impact). Its 2026 allocation is 6,254. The skills streams open now are the Skilled Worker stream (a job offer in TEER 0–3, two years of experience) and the Health Authority stream, each with an Express Entry BC option. BC has said it will not launch new student streams. You register online, your registration is scored, and BC sends invitations to apply. Our provincial news site: mybcpnp.com.

Alberta

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program has an allocation of 6,603 for 2026. Its worker streams include Alberta Opportunity, Rural Renewal, Tourism and Hospitality, the Dedicated Health Care Pathways and Alberta Express Entry (including the Accelerated Tech Pathway). Workers submit a Worker EOI, which carries a $135 fee since 7 April 2026 and stays valid for one year; Alberta then holds draws. Our provincial news site: abpnp.com.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan's 2026 allocation is 4,761, divided by sector. At least half goes to priority sectors — healthcare, agriculture, skilled trades, energy, mining, manufacturing and technology — with places reserved for Saskatchewan graduates. Accommodation and food, trucking and retail are capped and open only in set intake windows. The International Skilled Worker EOI page currently says no draws are scheduled. Our provincial news site: saskatchewanpnp.com.

Manitoba

Manitoba has 8,000 nominations for 2026, after an August increase. Its streams are the Skilled Worker stream (in Manitoba and Overseas), the International Education stream and the Business Investor stream. You submit an EOI, and Manitoba issues Letters of Advice to Apply in its draws. Our provincial news site: manpnp.com.

Ontario

Ontario made the largest change of 2026. On 26 June it closed eight streams — including all of its Express Entry streams and its master's and PhD graduate streams — and replaced them with one Ontario Workforce Priority stream. It has pathways for TEER 0–3 jobs, TEER 4–5 jobs and self-employed physicians, with higher language and education benchmarks. The EOI portal opened on 4 August 2026, and it scores by region and occupation, favouring healthcare, early childhood education, mining, agriculture, trades and francophones. A second phase has been announced with no date. Our provincial news site: onpnp.com.

New Brunswick

New Brunswick runs a Skilled Worker stream (NB Experience, NB Graduates, NB Priority Occupations), a New Brunswick Express Entry stream, a francophone Strategic Initiative, and a Business stream. Because its allocation is limited, NB Experience invitations have been restricted since May 2026 to health care, education and construction, and accommodation and food services jobs are restricted for the Skilled Worker and Express Entry streams. Our provincial news site: brunswickpnp.com.

Nova Scotia

On 18 February 2026, Nova Scotia reduced ten streams to four:

• Nova Scotia Graduate;
• Skilled Worker (which now includes construction workers and physicians);
• Entrepreneur;
• Nova Scotia: Express Entry (enhanced).

Selection is from an EOI pool, and Nova Scotia has charged application fees since 1 September 2026. Our provincial news site: nspnp.com.

Prince Edward Island

PEI selects from expressions of interest in regular draws through its Labour Impact (base) and Express Entry (enhanced) categories, with priority for healthcare, trades, manufacturing and graduates of the Island's own institutions. Check the Office of Immigration for each round. Our provincial news site: islandpnp.com.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador offers a Skilled Worker, an Express Entry Skilled Worker (enhanced) and an International Graduate category. It selects by EOI under published prioritization criteria, focused on healthcare, education, social services and rural communities. Our provincial news site: nflpnp.com.

The territories

Yukon's nominee program is employer-driven, with set intake periods for employers. The Northwest Territories' allocation was raised to 300 in August 2026, through Employer-Driven, Francophone and Business streams. In both, the employer is the starting point.

Community pilots and the Atlantic program

Two federal pilots work alongside the PNPs. The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP), both open since January 2025, need a job offer from an employer designated by a participating community and that community's recommendation. Each community sets its own sectors and intake dates, so read the community list on IRCC's site and our page on employer-driven routes. The four Atlantic provinces also run the Atlantic Immigration Program.

How Polinsys helps

The old Polinsys advice still holds: do not depend on one program. Joy Stephen, RCIC (CICC licence R419719), gives you an honest written assessment before any fee — which provinces and streams fit your occupation, experience, language and family, whether a base or enhanced nomination suits you, and the order in which to pursue them alongside Express Entry. If you go ahead, we prepare your EOIs and applications and watch each province's changes for you; our provincial news sites report them as they happen. Ask your questions first at our free Friday Q&A: FREE Webinars: Resource Guides and AR Q&A.