British Columbia, Alberta, and Prince Edward Island offer pathways to permanent residency for skilled foreign workers
Skilled foreign workers looking for a pathway to permanent residency in Canada can apply for a provincial nomination from British Columbia, Alberta, and Prince Edward Island. These provinces have recently issued invitations under their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), which allow them to select candidates who they feel will integrate well into their local labor market.
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Key Takeaways
British Columbia:
- Total candidates invited: 169
- Tech draw candidates invited: 145
- Priority occupations for tech draw: computer, engineering, etc.
- Eligibility: Skilled Worker, International Graduate, or Express Entry candidates with a valid job offer in a priority occupation and minimum SIRS score of 83
- Other occupations invited: 18 early childhood educators and assistants, 6 healthcare workers
Alberta:
- Total candidates invited: 100
- Eligibility: Express Entry candidates with a minimum CRS score of 357
- Nomination certificates for 2023: 9,750
Prince Edward Island:
- Total candidates invited: 46
- Eligibility: Labour and Express Entry stream candidates
- Expression of Interest received in 2023: 484
- Per capita immigration rate: highest in Canada (adding 2,035 people in Q3 2022)
Why getting a provincial nomination is an advantage?
Getting a provincial nomination is advantageous for candidates planning to apply for permanent resident status because immigration is a shared responsibility between the federal and provincial governments. In addition, provincial nominees are candidates that the government feels will integrate easily into the provincial labor force based on attributes such as work experience, education, language ability, or other human capital factors.
The federal and provincial governments use the PNP as a valuable tool to spread economic development benefits throughout the country. For example, candidates who receive a provincial nomination receive an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which virtually guarantees they will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
Provincial Immigration Results February 25- March 3
Now, let's take a closer look at the latest results of each province.
British Columbia
British Columbia prioritizes its tech talent by inviting 145 candidates in a targeted draw for tech occupations. These occupations are listed as priority occupations, and candidates need a valid job offer for a position that falls under a specific National Occupation Classification (NOC) code. Tech draw candidates were participants in the Skilled Worker or International Graduate streams, and Express Entry candidates were also eligible. In addition, they required a minimum SIRS score of 83.
In addition, British Columbia invited 18 early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 4214) and six healthcare workers from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate, including Express Entry category, with scores of at least 60 points.
British Columbia invited 169 candidates in its weekly BC PNP draw.
Alberta
Alberta recently held an Express Entry draw on February 16, inviting 100 candidates, and the lowest CRS score accepted was 357. Alberta has been allocated 9,750 nomination certificates for 2023 by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Each province has a cap on the number of provincial nominations it an issue. More populous provinces, such as Ontario or Alberta, are typically issued the highest allocations.
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island invited 46 candidates under the Labour and Express Entry stream of the PEI PNP on March 2. So far, 484 candidates have received an Expression of Interest from PEI in 2023.
Prince Edward Island admits the most immigrants per capita of any province. According to the Canadian Real Estate Association, international immigration added 2,035 people to Prince Edward Island's population in the third quarter of 2022. This was an increase of 71.3% from the same period in 2021 and was a new record for any quarter.
Conclusion
The Provincial Nominee Program is an excellent opportunity for skilled foreign workers to apply for permanent residency in Canada. With three provinces recently issuing invitations, candidates can apply for a nomination from British Columbia, Alberta, or Prince Edward Island and potentially begin a new life in Canada. By bringing in skilled workers, the country can strengthen its workforce and help businesses grow, benefiting Canadians.
