Skilled immigration to Canada is a very competitive pursuit, with lakhs of applicants in the running, and limited quotas for visa approval. In such a scenario, candidates must take every opportunity to gain a competitive edge over others. The most effective way of doing this, for applicants under the popular Express Entry System, is to increase their Canada PR points score by fulfilling as many selection factors as possible.
Express Entry candidates are allocated points out of 1200, based on the evaluation criteria of the Comprehensive Ranking System, and are ranked according to their point score. Those who meet the minimum point requirement or ‘cut-off’ receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for PR, through regular invitation rounds. The cut-off changes with every invitation round. Only the highest-scoring candidates receive ITAs.
One of the most significant ways of boosting your point score is to obtain a provincial nomination. 11 of the 13 Canadian provinces and territories run Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), through which the local government nominates eligible candidates to apply for permanent residence to the federal government. Those who submit their PR application online via Express Entry can gain 600 additional points for being nominated by a Canada PNP. This point increase essentially guarantees an ITA.
The requirements for nomination vary for each province/territory. Also, each PNP has different sub-categories or streams under which aspirants can apply for nomination. Each stream also has different selection criteria. For instance, the BC PNP requires candidates under most streams to have a job offer from an employer in British Columbia, while some other provinces do not have a job offer requirement.
In order to find out which province or territory can nominate you for permanent residence, it is advisable to have your profile analyzed by an experienced immigration consultant. At Visa Experts, we help candidates identify the ideal PNP stream for their profile, and explore every option to increase their Canada PR points – to facilitate a smooth sailing move to Canada.
