Depending on your profile, provinces’ nominee programs can be the easiest way to secure PR in Canada. So which provinces make it easiest to get PR for candidates with no connections to Canada?
There are countless nominee programs, each with its own unique eligibility requirements. PNPs let provinces respond to their own unique immigration needs. Generally, PNPs are designed to fill gaps in the labour force, so they will target candidates with experience in high-demand occupations.
We are often asked which Canadian Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is the easiest to immigrate to for overseas candidates. While many PNPs require a connection to their province – such as a job offer, work experience, or an educational credential – to apply for nomination, there are some programs that invite candidates solely based on their ability to fill labour or demographic gaps.
These are the four provinces that are considered the easiest for overseas applicants to get PR in Canada in 2022:
Saskatchewan’s International Skilled Worker: Occupation In-Demand and Express Entry
Located in Canada’s prairie region, the province of Saskatchewan has become a popular destination for immigrants due to its strong economic growth and job opportunities.
The Occupations In-Demand and Express Entry streams of Saskatchewan’s International Skilled Worker PNP are designed to recruit workers with experience in the province’s in-demand occupations. These International Skilled Worker streams hand-select candidates using an Expression of Interest (EOI) system.
To submit an EOI, applicants must have at least one year of experience in an occupation not on SINP’s Excluded Occupations List. Interested candidates must have also completed a post-secondary educational credential of at least one year and speak English or French. Any candidate that meets Saskatchewan’s minimum eligibility criteria, including scoring a minimum of 60 points on their Points Assessment Grid, may submit an EOI profile. Submitted profiles are then considered in one of SINP’s EOI draws. Only candidates with the most competitive SINP score and in-demand occupations are invited in SINP EOI draws.
Candidates eligible for Express Entry can apply under the Saskatchewan Express Entry stream for expedited processing of their permanent residence application. However, the Saskatchewan Occupations In-Demand stream is also available to those that don’t qualify to submit an Express Entry profile.
Alberta’s Express Entry Stream
Canada’s western province of Alberta is home to some of Canada’s thriving cities, such as Calgary and Edmonton. With a growing job market and great education system, Alberta is a noteworthy province for prospective newcomers.
The Alberta Express Entry stream selects candidates from the federal Express Entry pool to apply for provincial nomination. One major benefit of this stream is that they consider Express Entry candidates with CRS scores as low as 300, which means more candidates in the pool will have a chance at receiving a Notification of Interest from the province.
It is worth noting that a CRS score above 300 does not guarantee an invitation from Alberta’s Express Entry stream. The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program releases the CRS score of the lowest-ranking candidate from each round of invitations but does not release the additional targeted criteria. The following factors may increase a candidate’s chances:
- A qualifying relative that is a permanent resident or citizen living in Alberta;
- A job offer or work experience in Alberta; and
- A completed credential from a Canadian post-secondary institution
- Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities StreamOntario is Canada’s most popular destination for immigrants with many newcomers drawn to the bustling city of Toronto and its growing tech-jobs sector. As such, the province has a large quota for helping newcomers immigrate through PNP streams.Despite having one of the highest quotas among all provinces, Ontario wants to recruit even more newcomers. Ontario’s Labour Minister Monte McNaughton recently requested to double the number of immigrants allowed under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) from 9,000 to 18,000 to help tackle the province’s labour shortage.For those living outside of Canada, Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities stream is a great option. This stream prioritizes skilled workers who will be able to fill skilled employment positions in the province.
- Nova Scotia’s Labour Market Priorities StreamThe province of Nova Scotia is located on Canada’s east coast on the Atlantic Ocean. The province’s proximity to the ocean, low cost of living, and laid-back lifestyle make it a dream destination for many prospective newcomers.Nova Scotia’s Labour Market Priorities also selects candidates directly from the Express Entry pool. Since this stream often invites profiles without a connection to the province, it is considered one of the easiest PNPs for overseas applicants to obtain PR.Nova Scotia does not publish the occupations or criteria that they will be targeting ahead of their intake rounds, but regularly invite candidates with no connections to the province. Prospective nominees must have an active Express Entry profile and indicate their interest in Nova Scotia.
