British Columbia and Alberta invite PNP candidates
British Columbia and Alberta have issued invitations to apply to candidates for provincial nomination, and Alberta has published processing times updates for its immigration programs.
Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP programs
British Columbia invitations
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has issued at least 25 invitations to apply (ITAs) for provincial nomination, in two draws held on November 13.
The BC PNP conducted a general draw across several streams, in which it issued a total of 10 ITAs:
| Stream | Minimum Score |
| Skilled Worker | 143 |
| Skilled Worker – Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) option | 143 |
| International Graduate | 143 |
| International Graduate – EEBC | 143 |
| Entry-Level & Semi-Skilled | 121 |
The BC PNP also conducted a category-based draw across the Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams, including the EEBC option, in which it issued no fewer than 15 ITAs:
| Category | Number of ITAs issued | Minimum Score |
| Childcare | 5 | 102 |
| Construction | 4 | 105 |
| Healthcare | 5 | 113 |
| Veterinary care | <5 | 80 |
Candidates can apply to the BC PNP either directly, under the base PNP, or they can link their application to the PNP to their Express Entry profile, using the Express Entry BC (EEBC) option.
EEBC offers the advantage of faster processing times for the application to permanent residence to IRCC, after having received a provincial nomination and invitation to apply to the federal government.
To be eligible for EEBC, candidates must have an eligible Express Entry profile, which requires that they qualify for one of the three Express Entry managed programs.
There is no EEBC option for the Entry-Level & Semi-Skilled stream.
Alberta invitations
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) held four draws from October 15 to November 7:
| Draw Type | Date of Draw | Number of invitations | Minimum score |
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | November 7 | 187 | 50 |
| Dedicated Health Care Pathway – non-Express Entry | November 4 | 33 | 44 |
| Dedicated Health Care Pathway - Express Entry | November 4 | 65 | 51 |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | October 15 | 302 | 70 |
Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP programs
Eligibility for these draws was as follows:
| Draw | Eligibility criteria |
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | -CLB 5 or higher -Valid work permit -12+ months work experience -Full-time Alberta job offer -Job offer in an in-demand trade |
| Dedicated Health Care PathwayDedicated Health Care Pathway – non-Express Entry | -CLB 5 or higher -Full-time Alberta job offer -Legally authorized to practice regulated occupation |
| Dedicated Health Care Pathway – non-Express Enty | -Expiry date for Express Entry profile of April 4 2025 or later -Full-time Alberta job offer -CLB 5 or higher -Legally authorized to practice regulated occupation |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | -CLB 4 or higher -Valid LMIA-based work permit -Full-time Alberta job offer -6+ months Alberta work experience |
Alberta processing time updates
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) posted updates to its processing times on November 7:
| Stream | Applications to be processed | 2024 nominations issued | 2024 nomination allocation | 2024 nomination spaces remaining |
| Alberta Opportunity Stream | 1,401 | 5,065 | 5,264 | 199 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 1,407 | 1,757 | 1,830 | 73 |
| Tourism and Hospitality Stream | 129 | 399 | 600 | 201 |
| Dedicated Healthcare Pathway | 19 | 79 | 110 | 31 |
| Accelerated Tech Pathway (EE) | 510 | 976 | 970 | 0 |
| Dedicated Healthcare Pathway (EE) | 17 | 471 | 670 | 199 |
| Law Enforcement Pathway (EE) | <10 | 12 | 20 | 8 |
| Priority sector draws and other initiatives (EE) | <10 | 165 | 164 | 0 |
| Family connection and occupation in demand (EE) | 0 | 107 | 106 | 0 |
| Entrepreneur Streams | 20 | 8 | 16 | 8 |
| Total of all streams | 3,507 | 9,039 | 9,750 | 711 |
Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP programs
Processing updates for temporary measure for applicants with work permits expiring in 2024:
| Stream | Applications in queue | Support letters issued |
| Alberta Oportunity Stream | 552 | 260 |
| Rural Renewal Stream | 295 | 31 |
Temporary public policy for open work permits for PNP candidates
On August 11, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) instituted a temporary public policy allowing some PNP candidates to apply for open work permits, with the support of their PNP program.
So far, Alberta, Manitoba, and Yukon have put in place measures under this temporary public policy.
The policy is set to remain in effect until December 31, 2024, although IRCC may revoke it at any time.
About the Provincial Nominee Program
Under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), provinces and territories have the ability to nominate foreign nationals for permanent residency.
After having received a nomination from a province, a candidate can expect to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency to the federal government.
All provinces and territories have a PNP, except Quebec and Nunavut.
Quebec manages its own immigration programs, including economic immigration programs such as the Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) and Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), outside the scope of the PNP, for Quebec has greater control over its immigration than other provinces and territories in Canada.
- Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
- Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
