Canadian provinces regularly nominate candidates under their Provincial Nominee Programs in order to give them the opportunity to become Canadian permanent residents.
Over the last week, Manitoba and BC released the results of new Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws, and Ontario provided details of draws held during the month of May. Most Canadian provinces and territories (with the exception of Quebec and Nunavut) operate their own PNPs. Through these programs, interested candidates may be invited to apply for a provincial nomination. Although provincial nomination is not in itself the same as permanent residence, it can significantly increase the chances of obtaining permanent resident status. For instance, PNP candidates with Express Entry profiles who receive a nomination get 600 points added to their score. They also become eligible to be invited to apply for a PNP-specific round of invitations. In the latest Express Entry draw held May 27, Canada invited 589 PNP candidates to apply with Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores of at least 741.