IRCC Introduces new Directives for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Canadian immigration department, i.e. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has unveiled a set of fresh guiding principles for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in different provinces of the maple leaf country. These guidelines have been issued via a memorandum, as confirmed by CIC News.
Operational Mechanism of PNPs
Various provinces in Canada operate under certain limitations when it comes to inviting candidates through their respective Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Each year, the federal government allocate a definite number of nominations to every Canadian province and territory. Through the PNP, provinces have the authority to choose economic immigrants possessing the key skills, connections, or aspects required to boost their labour force and contribute to their economic growth.
The responsibility for immigration is a shared one, with all Canadian provinces and territories, excluding Nunavut and Quebec, joining in a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) or having separate agreements with the federal government.
Applicants who attain a provincial nomination through a PNP can submit their applications for PR to IRCC. Express Entry candidates who receive such nominations are granted an additional 600 points in the CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System), almost guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply for a PR visa in an EE draw. Candidates can also choose to apply directly to a provincial government for nomination, often referred to as a base nomination.
Guidelines for Allocation
When defining the distribution of nominations to various provincial governments, IRCC consistently implements guiding principles. These principles are designed to create an evidence-based framework, develop operational predictability, and enhance transparency. IRCC work together with provinces and territories (PTs) to optimize the utilization of allocations by, for example, introducing limitations on reallocation and redistribution requests.
The guiding principles are further categorized into qualitative and quantitative factors aimed at enhancing predictability and refining the processing of base PNP applications over the long term. By enhancing predictability, IRCC aims to lessen the number of change requests from PTs.
Quantitative factors consider the goals of regional immigration programs, the proportion of economic immigrants compared to the population, and retention rates in each PT. This data informs IRCC's allocation decisions.
Qualitative considerations come into play when determining the size of an increase in provincial allocations. IRCC seeks feedback from PTs and other stakeholders through consultations to gain a better understanding of their needs and to make necessary adjustments. These considerations also account for other allocations supporting regional requirements, such as the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) or the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP).
The ATIP document particularly highlights the AIP, which initially utilized a population-based model for its first 2,000 allocations. Subsequent allocations are determined based on factors like historical usage, provincial immigration growth strategies, and the allocation of economic immigration spaces, such as those within Express Entry or the PNP.
Multi-Year Allocations for PNP
These guidelines are equally applicable to the newly endorsed multi-year plan for the PNP and the AIP. This multi-year plan, akin to the Immigration Levels Plan, offers PT governments allocations for the upcoming three years, although these allocations remain flexible. This departure from the prior one-year allocation system facilitates province-level planning for infrastructure, housing, healthcare, and settlement services for newcomers. Furthermore, it was disclosed that PNP allocations have been increased by 44% for 2023.
Immigration Levels Plan
Anticipate the release of a fresh Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-2026 by November 1st of this year. This plan will delineate permanent resident admission targets for the following three years, considerably shaping Canada's immigration strategy. The 2023-2025 plan underscores the PNP as a primary contributor, with admission targets commencing at 105,500 in 2023 and reaching 117,500 PNP admissions annually by 2025. Immigration Minister Marc Miller has indicated that reductions in admission targets are unlikely, and given the already elevated targets and pressure from provincial authorities, any revisions are expected to entail an surge in PNP admissions targets.
