Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
The PEI PNP is the island province’s economic immigration program for skilled workers, international graduates, entrepreneurs who demonstrate the intention to live and work in PEI, and show the ability to become economically established in the province.
Prince Edward Island (PEI), which consists of the island itself and several surrounding isles, is Canada’s smallest province
PEI is considered “the birthplace of Canada”. The “Charlottetown conference” — which led to the country’s formation — took place in PEI in 1864. The island province is renowned not only for its lush farmland and beautiful coasts, but it is also home to a burgeoning economy centred around agriculture, tourism, and fishing.
The PEI PNP is Prince Edward Island’s Provincial Nominee Program. Through this program, prospective immigrants with the skills and experience targeted by the province may receive a Prince Edward Island Provincial Nomination Certificate, after which they can apply for Canadian permanent residence with the Government of Canada.
The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) launched in 2001 to attract and retain more immigrants to the province who can help address economic and labour market needs and to help achieve economic prosperity.
The PEI PNP attracts immigrants with the skills, experience and education who are likely to establish themselves on the island. Thanks to the introduction of the PNP, the province is welcoming an increasing number of immigrants.
PEI welcomes the most immigrants per capita in Canada. Prior to the pandemic, it had an immigration rate of about 1.6 per cent, compared to about 0.9 per cent nationally. The province has the highest newcomer intake as a share of population in Canada.
The province has welcomed over 2,000 new immigrants every year since 2015, and is expected to continue to welcome an increasing number of immigrants. Prior to the launch of the PNP, the province would welcome less than 200 new immigrants per year.
The province has been attracting more immigrants since the introduction of the PNP in 2001 as well as the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) in 2017. The AIP allows employers in Canada’s Atlantic provinces to hire foreign workers for positions that they were not able to fill locally. Canada’s Atlantic provinces include New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and PEI.
PEI PNP has one enhanced category, the PEI PNP Express Entry category. It also has two base categories: the Labour Impact and Business Impact categories.
When a category is aligned with the federal Express Entry system, it is “enhanced”. Canada uses the Express Entry system to manage permanent residence applications through Canada’s main economic class immigration programs.
If you are in the Express Entry pool, you will be given a point score based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Canada regularly holds Express Entry draws, where they invite the highest-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence.
Once you are nominated through an enhanced provincial program, such as the PEI PNP Express Entry, you get an additional 600 CRS points. This increase guarantees that you will get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the next draw. You also get your nomination through your Express Entry profile.
Most immigration streams under PNPs are base streams. This means that they are not aligned with the Express Entry system. Candidates who get a provincial nomination need to apply directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
