This material is for those making an Express Entry application to the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Your nomination certificate will indicate if a province or territory has nominated you via an Express Entry stream. You can ask the province or territory to confirm this.

Two methods exist for applying:

• You get in touch with the territory or province and request a nomination through its Express Entry stream.

• You construct an Express Entry profile (or edit your existing profile if you already have one) and indicate that you have been nominated if the province or territory decides to nominate you.

• You accept a nomination electronically after receiving it through your account.

Alternatively, you can make an Express Entry profile and indicate the provinces and territories you are interested in.

• You should get in touch with a province or territory directly if they send you a "notiFICATION of interest" on your account.

• You submit an Express Entry stream application.

• They will offer you a nomination through your account, and you can accept it electronically.

You should make an Express Entry profile as soon as possible because you will need to do so in both situations.

To apply for the PNP through Express Entry, follow these steps:

1. Submit a profile for Express Entry

Making an account and an Express Entry profile should be your initial step.

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Assuming you meet the Express Entry criteria, including the necessities for somewhere around one of the three federal immigration programs, you will be allowed into the Express Entry pool of candidates.

You will be included to the Express Entry pool of candidates if you satisfy the Express Entry requirements, which include those for at least one of the three federal immigration programs.

If a territory or province has already decided to put you forward

You must indicate that you have a nomination in your Express Entry profile:

1. When creating your profile, select "yes" to indicate that you have been nominated through a PNP Express Entry stream under "Nomination and selection" in the Application Details section.

2. From the drop-down menu, select the province or territory. Once you update the prior response to "yes," it will become visible.

2. Obtain a nomination for an Express Entry stream

If a territory or province has already decided to put you forward

If a province or territory accepts your nomination after you apply to their Express Entry stream, they are required to do so online.

Following profile submission, you must make direct contact with the province or territory, outside of your account, and provide them with your:

• The profile number for Express Entry;

• Code for Validating Job Seekers.

These will be used by the province or territory to verify your nomination with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You will then receive a notice in your account asking you to accept or reject the nomination as soon as they do. Click the "accept" or "not accept" button located at the top of the application/profile information page to accomplish this.

•If you accept the nomination, the system will determine if you match the PNP's standards, and you'll receive a note informing you of the nomination on your account. You will receive 600 more points after your profile is added to the Express Entry pool, which will increase your chances of receiving an application invitation. (Note: The most additional points you can earn is 600. Only the 600 points for your nomination will be added to your CRS score if you have points for a job offer and/or the opportunity to study in Canada.)

•Unless another province nominates you, you are ineligible for the PNP if you select "do not accept" or disregard the nomination. You have 30 calendar days from the day you created your profile to register for Job Bank. When you do, you will be added to the Express Entry pool and might receive an invitation to apply for any program for which you have been determined to be eligible.

•If you have not yet been nominated for the Express Entry stream

There are two ways to receive a nomination under an express entry stream in a province or territory if you are currently in the pool and want to be considered for the PNP:

Direct application to the province or territory

To learn the requirements for a province's or territory's PNP Express Entry stream, go to their website. Apply to one of their Express Entry streams if you're interested and meet their prerequisites.

In the event that a province or territory accepts your nomination, you must

1. If you haven't already, create an Express Entry profile (see step #1) or update your existing profile to reflect that you have a nomination.

a. From the drop-down menu, select the province or territory. Once you update the prior response to "yes," it will become visible.

2. If you haven't already, update your profile to reflect your interest in that province or territory.

3. Make contact with the territory outside of your account and provide them with your:

  • A profile number for Express Entry
  • Code for Validating Job Seekers               

4. For your nomination to be verified with the IRCC by the province or territory.

When your nomination is approved by the province or territory, you will receive a notice in your account. This can be found at the very top of your account's Application/profile details page.

5. In your account, accept or decline (or "do not accept") the nomination.

You will have 30 calendar days to accept or reject a nomination that the province or territory sends your way through your account. To accomplish this, click your account's "accept" or "do not accept" button, as appropriate.

The system will determine that you meet the PNP requirements if you accept the nomination. Your account will receive a mail (in PDF format) confirming your nomination. You will receive 600 extra points, which will speed up the invitation process for your application. You will hear from the province or territory immediately and receive a copy of your nomination certificate in the mail. (You will not receive any further points for a nomination if you already received 600 for a job offer. The additional points only count once in each scenario.)

You will remain in the Express Entry pool if you decline or disregard the nomination. Any program for which you have been found eligible for may urge you to submit an application.

Through your account, a province or territory approaches you after finding your profile.

To locate people to nominate, provinces and territories can explore the pool of Express Entry profiles. When you are already in the Express Entry pool and want to be nominated:

1. A province or territory sees your profile after searching the pool.

If you indicated that you were interested in them or in "all provinces and territories" while creating your profile, they might find you.

2. The territory or province mails you a "notice of interest" letter.

The letter directs you to get in touch with the territory or province to talk about your alternatives. This letter does not constitute a nomination and does not assure that you will receive one.

3. You must apply to the PNP Express Entry stream for that province or territory directly if you want to be nominated by them. (You won't use your account; this process will take place between you and the province or territory.)

The territory or province will evaluate your application.

Job Seeker Validation Code must be provided.

4. You will be notified via a message in your account if the province or territory approves your application. You'll be prompted to decide whether to accept (or "accept") the nomination.

You will see it at the top of your Application/profile details page if the province or territory nominates you through your account. 30 calendar days will pass before you decide whether to accept it or not. Click the "accept" or "not accept" button in your account to accomplish this.

The system will determine that you meet the PNP requirements if you accept the nomination. A note confirming your nomination will arrive in your account. You will receive 600 extra points, which will speed up the invitation process for your application. You will receive a paper copy of your nomination certificate from the province or territory after speaking with them directly. (You will not receive any further points for a nomination if you already received 600 for a job offer. The additional points only count once in each scenario.)

You will continue to be in the Express Entry pool if you reject or ignore the nomination. Any program for which you have been found eligible for may urge you to submit an application.

It should be noted that although you can receive multiple notifications of interest simultaneously, you can only have one nomination. You must reject the nomination (click the "not accept" button) if you have an offer for nomination in your account but prefer to be nominated by a different province or territory. The other province or territory may then submit their candidacy to you.

3. Receive a request to submit a permanent residency application (once you have accepted your nomination)

You must first be invited to apply in order to submit an Express Entry application for permanent residence. You will receive a note in your account if we ask you to apply. the opportunity to apply online.

Once you've been given permission to apply, you have 90 days to submit your online application for permanent residency.

Note: In the Comprehensive Ranking System, you receive 600 extra points when you accept a nomination (CRS). Your chances of being invited to apply will improve.

4. Complete the application.

If you are selected to submit a permanent residency application, you will get a letter in your account that states:

  • The program or programs that you might apply to;
  • The number of points you received
  • The application date; and
  • The actions you ought to perform next.

The next steps are to:

  • Complete your online application,
  • Upload your supporting materials, and
  • Pay your application fees.

Please take note that you must electronically submit your application through your account.