Can a province or territory cancel or withdraw my PNP nomination?

While securing a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nomination can be immensely beneficial for prospective immigrants to Canada, it is also important to remain aware that provinces can cancel or withdraw an applicant’s nomination for a variety of reasons.

Operated by 11 of the country’s provincial/territorial governments, excluding Quebec and Nunavut, PNPs are consistently among the top two immigration pathways in Canada. In fact, PNPs were the largest immigration program (by number of applicants admitted) in the country both this year and last.

Note: Although Express Entry is projected to retake the top spot in 2024, PNPs are then expected to re-establish their position as Canada’s top immigration pathway for both 2025 and 2026. This is according to admissions targets recently laid out by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan.

What is the value of a PNP nomination?

Acquiring a nomination through one of Canada’s PNPs can make a significant difference in a candidate’s chances of successfully immigrating to Canada.

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This is because, on its own, a PNP nomination can give the prospective immigrant a pathway to enter Canada through one of the many streams made available by each government under their particular program. In addition, a provincial nomination provides the nominee with 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points if they are already an Express Entry candidate, a process called enhanced nomination. 

These points will almost guarantee that a candidate who is in the Express Entry pool will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence (PR) in Canada.

Can a province cancel or withdraw my PNP nomination?

Generally, each participating province makes it clear that nominees can have their PNP nominations cancelled if they do not continue to meet the conditions of their nomination. This can occur at any time before an applicant is approved for Canadian PR.

Note: The terms revoked, cancelled and withdrawn will be used interchangeably throughout the remainder of the article

As an example, some conditions could include retaining the offer of employment that initially allowed the candidate to become eligible for a PNP nomination or maintaining a certain level of funds required to immigrate to a certain province (based on the PNP stream’s eligibility criteria).

Another common reason for nomination withdrawal is misrepresentation, defined by the Government of Canada as “directly or indirectly misrepresenting or withholding material facts relating to a relevant matter.” This can include anything related to your immigration, including failure to report changes to your situation throughout the application process (birth of a child, loss of employment etc.).

Specifically, the following will outline additional reasons provided by each province as to why the local government may cancel or withdraw a candidate’s PNP nomination:

British Columbia (BC)

PNP nominees in BC may have their nomination withdrawn if, among other reasons, they fail to apply for PR to IRCC before the nomination expiry date.

More: This dedicated webpage provides more information about the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

Ontario

In Ontario, to avoid having their nomination revoked, the government says that a candidate must “continue to demonstrate on a reasonable basis an intention to reside in Ontario” until they receive PR.

Visit this link to learn more about the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

Manitoba

The Government of Manitoba may revoke a provincial nomination if the candidate is “deemed to not intend to live, work, and/or start a business in Manitoba.”

Click here to learn more about the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).

Saskatchewan

Candidates in Saskatchewan may have their PNP nominations cancelled if either of the following circumstances applies:

• The nominee or their representative, if applicable, has voluntarily requested to withdraw the nomination
• The nominee has been approved for PR through an immigration program other than Saskatchewan’s PNP

Visit this dedicated webpage to learn more about the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).

Nova Scotia

According to the Government of Nova Scotia, an additional reason that a candidate may have their nomination withdrawn is if “IRCC finds that [the principal applicant, their] spouse or common-law partner, or a dependent is not allowed to immigrate to Canada.”

To learn more about the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP), click here.

New Brunswick

The Government of New Brunswick says they may withdraw a candidate’s PNP nomination if:

• The candidate fails to submit a written request to amend a nomination before the expiry date on the current certificate
• It is proven that the candidate lacks the genuine intention to live in New Brunswick

Click here to learn more about the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP).

Newfoundland and Labrador (NL)

The NL’s Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism says that a candidate may have their PNP nomination withdrawn if they do not immediately disclose “changes in their situation [that occur] throughout the application stage.”

This may include:

• Change in marital status
• Birth of a child
• Changes in employment: reduction of hours, loss of employment
• Receiving a decision on a work permit/PR application

More: This dedicated webpage provides more information about the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)

Northwest Territories

In the Northwest Territories, a provincial nomination may also be cancelled if the candidate does not apply for PR in Canada within six months of receiving their nomination approval letter.

This page can provide more details for candidates looking to immigrate to Canada through the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP).

Alberta, Prince Edward Island (PEI) and Yukon

Neither the provinces of PEI or Alberta nor Yukon, Canada’s westernmost territory, provide further specific details regarding reasons why the local governments in these regions may cancel or withdraw a provincial/territorial nomination.

It is best for candidates interested in immigrating to these regions to contact the appropriate authorities and understand these policies before applying for their PNPs.

Click here to learn more about the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) and visit this link to learn more about the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP).

More: This dedicated webpage provides more information about the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (formerly known as the AINP)

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