Provincial Nominations for Canadian Visas

A provincial nomination programme (sometimes referred to as a provincial nominee programme) is way to undertake Canadian immigration that provides permanent resident status and ultimately the opportunity to apply for Canadian citizenship.

Benefits

Applying for a provincial nomination programme in Canada offers the benefits of being a route to settlement allowing you to live and work Canada and granting permanent residency in Canada.

Additionally it is not necessary to undergo the same assessment requirements as any other Canadian business visa.

Whilst similar criteria may be taken into account when provincial nominee programme applications are made, no specific points system is in place and candidates are not assessed against the federal skilled worker programme criteria. This can, in some cases, result in a faster processing time and allow you to immigrate to Canada quicker.

It is important to remember that until the point at which you qualify to become a Canadian citizen, you will be restricted to working in the province sponsoring your application.

As a Canadian immigration consultancy, Global Visas can help you to establish which of the many Canada visas and Canadian work permits available is the right choice for you.

You may also find our page on Alberta provincial nomination helpful

Whatever route you take for your relocation to Canada, immigration consultants at Global Visas can provide a complete Canadian visa service to manage all your needs for your move to Canada from immigration lawyer expertise, detailed information on the processes of immigration and more.

Understanding the schemes

Most provinces have arrangements in place with the federal government which allow them to contribute directly to the process of selecting which immigrants are given permission to settle in each province.

In order to apply for a visa for Canada to settle with permanent residence in a specific province offering a nomination scheme, an application must pass through three stages.

• First, much like a working permit for Canada, in most cases you will need to be in possession of an employment offer from a company located within the province to which you are applying. In some circumstances, if you have a close family member in the province this may help you to obtain your nomination certificate.
• Second, when you receive your employment offer, you will need to be approved by the provincial government. At this stage your application will be assessed against the immigration needs of the province in question and upon your genuine wish to live there.
• Finally, if a submission to a province is successful and you receive a nomination, it is then necessary to make a separate application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for your Canadian permanent residency status.

The following provinces currently offer permanent residence visas for immigration to Canada in this form:

• Alberta
• Manitoba
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Prince Edward Island
• Yukon
• British Columbia
• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Saskatchewan

Dependents

As with many routes for migration to Canada, spouse or fiancée immigration and the settlement of your common law or conjugal partner and dependant children is permitted.

Exact stipulations and additional fees may vary between provinces but in general, your husband, wife, or opposite/same sex partner may accompany you as can children under the age of 22, providing they are without a spouse or common law partner. Find out further information on our British Columbia Nomination page.