One way to immigrate to Canada is through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). According to the Government of Canada, this program is designed for workers who:
“have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory”
“want to live in that province”
“want to become permanent residents of Canada”
(Government of Canada, n.d.)
There are two ways that you can apply for PNP, how you apply will depend on the stream you’re applying to. Every applicant also must pass a medical exam and get a police check no matter where they plan to live.
The first way is the paper-based process. In the paper-based process, you apply to the province or territory for nomination under a non-Express Entry stream. If you meet the eligibility requirements then you can be nominated, once nominated you can submit a paper application for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
The second way is the online Express Entry process. There are two ways to apply through this process. You can either contact the province or territory and apply for nomination under the Express Entry Stream and if they agree to nominate you, you create an Express Entry profile and show that you have been nominated.
Alternatively, you can create a profile and show the provinces and territories you’re interested in and if one of them sends you a “notification of interest” you can contact them directly and apply to their Express Entry Stream.
Each province and territory has its own requirements and criteria for its applicants. To be nominated you must follow the instructions on the website of the province or territory you wish to apply for and contact them directly.
Alberta Immigrant Nomination Program (AINP)
Alberta has two streams for workers. The Alberta Opportunity Stream for “qualified candidates and have a job offer from an Alberta employer” or the Alberta Express Entry Stream where “qualified candidates with an Express Entry profile may be invited to apply for nomination for permanent residence.”
There are also three streams for entrepreneurs who plan to live in Alberta and buy or start a business. There is the International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration System for “international graduates of approved Alberta post-secondary institutions who want to start a business or buy an existing business can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).” The Self-Employed Farmer Stream for “experienced farmers who plan to buy or start a farm in Alberta can apply for permanent residence.” Finally, there is the Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream for “foreign graduates from outside of Canada can apply for permanent residence.”
More information about the AINP program can be found at: https://www.alberta.ca/ainp.aspx
To find out more about Provincial Nomination Program please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/provincial-nominees/works.html
Sources
Alberta. (n.d.). Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). Retrieved from Alberta.ca: https://www.alberta.ca/ainp.aspx
Government of Canada. (n.d.). How the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) works. Retrieved from Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/provincial-nominees/works.html