Canada Work Permit
In Canada, immigration is possible through a range of work and business visas which provide routes to lawful permanent residence and the possibility of applying for Canadian citizenship. Permanent Canada immigration is also possible for the qualifying relatives of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. However, several Canadian provinces also offer Provincial Nomination Programs, sometimes referred to as Provincial Nominee Programmes, which provide an alternative route to permanent residency in Canada on the proviso that the candidate will live and work in Canada in the sponsoring province.
You can find out whether you qualify for a Canada Work Permit under the Canadian Provincial Nomination Programmes by visiting our online assessment area now.
Benefits of Provincial Canadian Immigration
Provincial Nomination schemes can in some cases provide a quicker route to Canadian immigration and in time, the option to apply for Canadian citizenship. They afford the same benefits to a successful applicant as those enjoyed by people immigrating to Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker Programme or any of the components of the Canadian Business Immigration Program. A successful applicant will be able to commence living and working in Canada and will be granted permanent residency. However, although similar factors are taken into account when a candidate is assessed, including age, education qualification and crucially, adaptability, no points system such as that employed in the Federal Skilled Worked Programme is used. The suitability of a candidate to relocate to the province in question will be carefully assessed but candidates do not have to meet a minimum points threshold as part of this assessment.
Understanding Provincial Nomination Programmes
Though not all Canadian Provinces offer Provincial Nomination schemes, the majority have arrangements with the Federal Government which enable them to make a direct contribution to the immigration process. Provincial Nominee Programmes allow individual provinces to influence which candidates are permitted to settle in the province.
In Canada, visa applications of this type go through three stages. Firstly, as with Canadian work permits, a firm offer of employment from a Canadian company based in the province to which the applicant intends to immigrate, must be obtained. Secondly, any such offer of employment must be approved by the relevant provincial government and the application must be assessed against the immigration need of the particular province. It will also be assessed to establish whether the applicant has a genuine wish and intention to live and work in the province.
If an applicant’s submission is successful, then the third stage is reached with the receipt of a nomination from the specified province. Once this has been achieved, the applicant can proceed to lodge a separate application for Permanent Residency Status with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
Living and Working in Canada under a PNP
Whilst PNPs are intended as a route to permanent work in Canada, in some ways they can be compared to work permits in that restrictions are imposed upon where the candidate is permitted to work. In the same way that a Canadian work permit allows its holder to work for the specified company only, a Provincial Nomination obliges the candidate to live and work only in the sponsoring province, not in Canada per se. A non-Canadian national residing in Canada through a PNP may only work outside their sponsoring province if and when they successfully apply to become a Canadian citizen.
Which Canadian Provinces Offer Provincial Nomination Programmes?
As outlined above, not all Canadian Provinces currently offer Provincial Nominee Programmes. At present, the following provinces have schemes in place.
- Alberta
- Manitoba
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Prince Edward Island
- Yukon
- British Columbia
- New Brunswick
- Nova Scotia
- Saskatchewan
Spouse Immigration and Dependent Immigration
Since PNP’s are intended for people who wish to move to Canada on a permanent basis, the spouse, common law partner, conjugal partner and/or dependent children may accompany the main applicant. However, exact stipulations regarding such dependents will vary depending on the specific province. A Global Visas immigration consultant will be able to advise you on the requirements of your sponsoring province.
As Canadian immigration specialists, Global Visas are committed to making sure that you embark upon the right Canadian visa service for your specific needs. Visit our online assessment area today to find out whether you qualify and to set your application for a new life in Canada in motion. Our online assessment forms are quick and easy to complete and one of our specialist Canadian immigration lawyers will contact you.
