British Columbia and Alberta invite PNP candidates

Derek Shank
Published: November 17, 2024

British Columbia and Alberta have issued invitations to apply to candidates for provincial nomination, and Alberta has published processing times updates for its immigration programs.

Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP programs

British Columbia invitations

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has issued at least 25 invitations to apply (ITAs) for provincial nomination, in two draws held on November 13.

The BC PNP conducted a general draw across several streams, in which it issued a total of 10 ITAs:

StreamMinimum Score
Skilled Worker143
Skilled Worker – Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) option143
International Graduate143
International Graduate – EEBC143
Entry-Level & Semi-Skilled121

The BC PNP also conducted a category-based draw across the Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams, including the EEBC option, in which it issued no fewer than 15 ITAs:

CategoryNumber of ITAs issuedMinimum Score
Childcare5102
Construction4105
Healthcare5113
Veterinary care<580

Candidates can apply to the BC PNP either directly, under the base PNP, or they can link their application to the PNP to their Express Entry profile, using the Express Entry BC (EEBC) option.

EEBC offers the advantage of faster processing times for the application to permanent residence to IRCC, after having received a provincial nomination and invitation to apply to the federal government.

To be eligible for EEBC, candidates must have an eligible Express Entry profile, which requires that they qualify for one of the three Express Entry managed programs.

There is no EEBC option for the Entry-Level & Semi-Skilled stream.

Alberta invitations

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) held four draws from October 15 to November 7:

Draw TypeDate of DrawNumber of invitationsMinimum score
Alberta Opportunity StreamNovember 718750
Dedicated Health Care Pathway – non-Express EntryNovember 43344
Dedicated Health Care Pathway - Express EntryNovember 46551
Tourism and Hospitality StreamOctober 1530270

Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP programs

Eligibility for these draws was as follows:

DrawEligibility criteria
Alberta Opportunity Stream-CLB 5 or higher
-Valid work permit
-12+ months work experience
-Full-time Alberta job offer
-Job offer in an in-demand trade
Dedicated Health Care PathwayDedicated Health Care Pathway – non-Express Entry-CLB 5 or higher
-Full-time Alberta job offer
-Legally authorized to practice regulated occupation
Dedicated Health Care Pathway – non-Express Enty-Expiry date for Express Entry profile of April 4 2025 or later
-Full-time Alberta job offer
-CLB 5 or higher
-Legally authorized to practice regulated occupation
Tourism and Hospitality Stream-CLB 4 or higher
-Valid LMIA-based work permit
-Full-time Alberta job offer
-6+ months Alberta work experience

Alberta processing time updates

The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) posted updates to its processing times on November 7:

StreamApplications to be processed2024 nominations issued2024 nomination allocation2024 nomination spaces remaining
Alberta Opportunity Stream1,4015,0655,264199
Rural Renewal Stream1,4071,7571,83073
Tourism and Hospitality Stream129399600201
Dedicated Healthcare Pathway197911031
Accelerated Tech Pathway (EE)5109769700
Dedicated Healthcare Pathway (EE)17471670199
Law Enforcement Pathway (EE)<1012208
Priority sector draws and other initiatives (EE)<101651640
Family connection and occupation in demand (EE)01071060
Entrepreneur Streams 208168
Total of all streams3,5079,0399,750711

Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP programs

Processing updates for temporary measure for applicants with work permits expiring in 2024:

StreamApplications in queueSupport letters issued
Alberta Oportunity Stream552260
Rural Renewal Stream29531

Temporary public policy for open work permits for PNP candidates

On August 11, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) instituted a temporary public policy allowing some PNP candidates to apply for open work permits, with the support of their PNP program.

So far, Alberta, Manitoba, and Yukon have put in place measures under this temporary public policy.

The policy is set to remain in effect until December 31, 2024, although IRCC may revoke it at any time.

About the Provincial Nominee Program

Under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), provinces and territories have the ability to nominate foreign nationals for permanent residency.

After having received a nomination from a province, a candidate can expect to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency to the federal government.

All provinces and territories have a PNP, except Quebec and Nunavut.

Quebec manages its own immigration programs, including economic immigration programs such as the Regular Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) and Quebec Experience Program (PEQ), outside the scope of the PNP, for Quebec has greater control over its immigration than other provinces and territories in Canada.

Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP programs

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