Does Canadian Provincial Nominee Programs make an ideal pathway to Permanent Residency?

If you are planning to move to Canada, you must be aware of Canada's provincial nominee programs, i.e., PNPs. Each Canadian province and territory operate its own immigration program and nominates interested applicants based on each province's economic and demographical needs. Except for Quebec, each province has several PNP streams designed to meet specific long and short immigration goals. Every PNP program comes with unique eligibility requirements and the application process. The key idea behind these programs is to attract foreign skilled nationals who possess the right skill set and have a certain education level to migrate to a province in Canada and significantly contribute to the overall growth and development of that province. There are two types of PNP programs, including: Express Entry Aligned PNP Streams- To apply through Express Entry Non-Express Entry Aligned PNP Streams- To apply directly to the immigration program Provincial Nominee Programs via an Express Entry Stream Several PNP streams accept applications for immigration via Express Entry System. To qualify, you must create an Express Entry profile and show that you are interested in moving to a province or territory. All the PNP streams have their own prerequisite eligibility requirements, which differ based on one province to another. While there are a few nominee programs that need you to have a prior job offer in hand before applying to the province. Whereas the provinces that do not require a job offer are: Nova Scotia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. In 2018, Alberta's province announced a new Express Entry Stream; however, it has not yet released its eligibility criteria. Please read the steps below to apply for the PNP program under Express Entry: Step 1#Check your eligibility and ensure you meet the basic immigration requirements as defined in the Express Entry System. Step 2# Create an Express Entry Profile while completing the PNP application. Step 3# Submit a complete application for Provincial Nominee Program. Step 4# If your application is complete and meets the program's minimum requirements, you'll receive a certificate of nomination from the provincial government. Step 5# Having a nomination certificate increases your CRS points up to 600, so make sure to mention it in your Express Entry profile to boost your points. Step 6# With an increase of 600 points, you can expect an Invitation to Apply in the next express entry draw. These draws occur every two weeks, so do your preparations accordingly. Step 7# Submit a complete application for immigration to the federal government within 60 days of receiving the ITA. Non-Express Entry Route to Provincial Nominee Programs Several provincial nominee programs are not linked with the Express Entry System; hence a provincial connection is mandatory. This connection could be in family relations, job offer, previous education in the province, or work experience. There are other PNP streams for people who do not have any connection in their chosen province for which they can try their luck. Please follow the below steps to apply for the Non-Express Entry route: Step 1# Check your eligibility for the program Step 2# Submit a complete application after carefully reading the instructions. Step 3# If your application satisfies the basic criteria, you'll be issued a nomination certificate from the provincial government. Step 4# In this step, you are required to submit an official paper-based application to the Federal Immigration Agent. This process is not electronic, so you must submit all documents as a hard-copy to the immigration office. Choose your Option No matter which option you may choose under the provincial nominee program, one must ensure that your application should be complete and meet the program's basic criteria. Express Entry can be a bit complicated, so it's advisable to take help from a professional immigration expert who can guide you through your way through Canada immigration. An immigration consultant can help you explore your options and select the right pathway for you.