Four of Canada's largest provincial immigration draws so far this year have happened in October

Four new 2018 records have been set in October for the most invitations issued so far this year through provincial immigration streams in Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Ontario and British Columbia.

Many of the streams involved are linked to the federal Express Entry system, which manages the pool of candidates for Canada's three main economic immigration program — the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class.

Most Canadian provinces and territories have a Provincial Nominee Program that allows them nominate a set number of immigrants for Canadian permanent residence each year. Each program has a number of immigration streams, some that are linked to Express Entry and others that are not.

Express Entry candidates who receive a provincial nomination benefit from an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which determines their position in the Express Entry pool of candidates.

The additional 600 points for a provincial nomination effectively guarantee Express Entry candidates an Invitation to Apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Prince Edward Island

The Atlantic Canada province of Prince Edward Island has an Express Entry-linked immigration stream that does not require candidates to have a job offer in the province.

This popular stream was part of an October 18 draw by Prince Edward Island's Provincial Nominee Program that saw a 2018 high of 270 invitations issued, surpassing the previous high of 152 invitations set in April.

Candidates in PEI's non-Express Entry Labour Impact categories were also issued invitations to apply in this draw.

The PEI PNP employs an Expression of Interest (EOI) system typically requires interested candidates to submit a profile detailing their work experience, education, language skills and other factors.

Profiles are given a score based on the details provided and eligible profiles are entered into the pool of candidates for the selected category.

Candidates with the highest scores are invited to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence through monthly draws.

Express Entry candidates may be invited to apply with or without a job in the province, and there have been cases when the PEI PNP will contact Express Entry candidates who have not submitted an EOI to the province but who may be a match for labour market needs in the province.

To find out if you are eligible to enter the Express Entry pool, fill out a free assessment.

Saskatchewan

Another 2018 high was set this month in the Province of Saskatchewan, located in Canada's Prairie region, in a draw through one of its popular International Skilled Worker sub-categories.

The draw, held October 10, issued 494 invitations to candidates in the Occupation In-Demand pool — the most issued through the sub-category in a single draw since Saskatchewan switched it to an Expression of Interest system in July.

Candidates are not required to have a job offer in Saskatchewan in order to be eligible for this stream, which is not aligned with Express Entry. Candidates are required to have work experience in one of the 20 occupations found on Saskatchewan's In-Demand Occupations List, among other criteria.

A parallel draw also held October 10 issued 359 invitations to candidates in the International Skilled Worker's Express Entry sub-category, which also does not require a job offer in order to be eligible.

Express Entry candidates must also have work experience in a high-skilled occupation that's considered in-demand in the province, among other criteria.

Ontario

One of Ontario's three Express Entry-linked streams also held its largest draw so far this year.

Ontario is Canada's most populous province and its capital, Toronto, is Canada's largest and most culturally diverse city. The province's booming tech industry is proving an increasingly popular draw for highly skilled workers, who have been targeted by Express Entry draws.

On October 19, Ontario's Express Entry-aligned Skilled Trades Stream issued 439 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence on October 19.

This was by far the most invitations issued in a single draw this year through the stream, which has now issued 1,445 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination from Ontario to Express Entry candidates in 2018.

The Skilled Trades Stream allows Ontario to search the federal Express Entry system for candidates currently living in the province who meet the eligibility requirements for the Canadian Experience Class.

Among other criteria, candidates must have a minimum of one year full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time work, in a skilled trade listed in Minor Group 633 or Major Group 72, 73, or 82 of Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC).

The Skilled Trades Stream does not require a minimum Express Entry CRS score.

To find out if your eligible for any Canadian immigration programs, complete a free assessment.

British Columbia

On October 17, British Columbia held its largest draw so far this year, issuing 472 invitations to candidates in a number of its Skills Immigration and Express Entry categories.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) holds draws approximately every two weeks for candidates in the Skilled Worker, International Graduate and Entry Level / Semi-Skilled categories of its Skills Immigration Stream.

Most Skills Immigration and B.C. Express Entry categories require a valid job offer from an employer in the province in order to be eligible.

Candidates in the Express Entry BC Skilled Worker and International Graduate categories are also invited through these bi-weekly draws.

Anyone who would like to be considered by the BC PNP through these economic immigration programs must first register through the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).

The SIRS serves as an Expression of Interest system and issues a ranking score based on the BC PNP's unique points grid.