Many provincial pathways to permanent residence require job offers, but 13 do not.
If you’re seeking permanent residence through nomination by a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and don’t have a job offer, here are your options.
Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams
Alberta
The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) offers one PNP stream through which foreign nationals can immigrate to the province without a job offer:
Alberta Express Entry Stream – Priority Sectors pathway: Targets individuals who have an active federal Express Entry profile with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 300, and a primary occupation aligns with an in-demand sector—construction, agriculture, aviation, or manufacturing.
Manitoba
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has two streams that do not require a job offer to be nominated, including:
Skilled Worker Stream – Skilled Worker Overseas pathway: Requires a score of at least 60 points (based on language proficiency, age, work experience, education, and adaptability), as well as a demonstrable connection to Manitoba—through support of qualifying family or friends, previous in-province education (post-secondary, public institution) or work experience (six consecutive months), or invitation under a Strategic Recruitment Initiative.
International Education Stream – Graduate Internship pathway: Requires having a master’s or doctoral degree (obtained in-province, within the last three years), language proficiency of CLB/NCLC 7, and completion of a Mitacs Elevate or Accelerate internship in an eligible industry and research enterprise in Manitoba. You must live in the province when applying.
New Brunswick
While most streams under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) require a job offer for nomination, the following do not:
NB Express Entry Stream – NB Interests pathway: Requires a valid federal Express Entry profile, receipt of a NB letter of interest, and a score of at least 67 points on the selection factor grid (based on age, language ability, education, work experience, a NB-job offer, and adaptability).
NB Strategic Initiative – NB Francophone Priorities pathway: Requires amassing 67 points on the grid, French language abilities equating to NCLC 5, at least a high school diploma, and either receipt of a NB letter of interest or current residence in NB and completion of an in-person study program (one-year minimum) at Université de Moncton or at the Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick. If you are not a graduate of an in-province post-secondary program, one year of qualifying, continuous work experience is required (within the last 10 years, in Canada or abroad).
Nova Scotia
There is one primary pathway to receive a nomination under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) without a job offer:
Nova Scotia Express Entry Stream: Requires a valid Express Entry profile, one year of work experience in a TEER 0–3 occupation, at least a high school diploma, and a CLB/NCLC 7 for TEER 0 or 1 position or a CLB/NCLC 5 for TEER 2 or 3 positions. Those claiming work experience gained on a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) must have graduated from an in-province institution.
Ontario
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program offers the following four streams for nomination without a job offer:
Express Entry Human Capital Priorities Stream: Requires a valid Express Entry profile, qualifying work experience (dependent on Express Entry program assessed under), language proficiency of at least CLB/NCLC 7, and *qualifying education: a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degree.
Express Entry French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream: Requires a valid Express Entry profile, qualifying work experience (dependent on Express Entry program assessed under), *qualifying education (bachelor’s, master’s or PhD degree) and an English language proficiency of CLB 6 or higher + a French-language proficiency of NCLC 7 or higher.
*For both the above streams, select individuals may be exempted from the education requirement:
- Nurses registered by the College of Nurses in Ontario (General, Extended, or Temporary class) with a qualifying primary National Occupational Classification (NOC) code: 31300, 31301, 31302, and 32101.
- Early childhood educators (42202) who are members of the College of Early Childhood Educators.
*Master’s Graduate Stream: Requires a language proficiency of CLB/NCLC 7 and completion of a master’s degree obtained at an eligible in-province university through one year of full-time study (or part-time equivalent). You must have also lived in Ontario for at least one year before applying (cumulative permitted) within the past two years—and at the time of application reside either in-province or outside Canada.
If you are currently a student, you may qualify if it’s for the purpose of becoming licensed in a regulated Ontario occupation, and you are working full-time in the province.
*PhD Graduate Stream: Requires completion of a PhD degree (and all associated components) from an eligible in-province university—two years of which must have been completed while living in Ontario. Before applying, you must have resided in Ontario for at least one year (cumulative permitted) within the past two years. Your application must be submitted within two years of completing your PhD.
*The OINP has not conducted a draw under either of the above student graduate streams since September of 2024.
Note: In December 2025, Ontario proposed a major two-phase Program overhaul expected to roll out in 2026, phase two of which is to include the elimination of most existing streams and replacing them with three new pathways targeting healthcare workers, exceptional talent, and entrepreneurs.
Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams
Prince Edward Island
Skilled professionals wishing to be nominated through the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) have one option available to them:
PEI Express Entry stream: This stream has two pathways: a job offer and non-job offer pathway. The non-job offer stream requires having a valid Express Entry profile and meeting federal program requirements.
If you graduated from a PEI-institution and hold a PGWP or have a spousal open work permit (through a spousal’s study permit for outside PEI studies) you must also have nine months of continuous full-time work experience with a PEI employer and four months remaining on your work permit at time of EOI submission.
Priority is given to those living and working in PEI for an eligible employer.
Saskatchewan
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) offers two streams for skilled workers who do not possess a job offer:
International Skilled Worker Stream – Occupation in Demand pathway: Requires having a minimum score of 60 on the SINP assessment grid, a language proficiency of CLB/NCLC 4, and one year of full-time skilled work experience (TEER 0–3) in the last 10 years which is not on the list of excluded occupations and is in high-demand. You must also have a post-secondary credential related to your intended occupation and work experience.
International Skilled Worker Stream – Saskatchewan Express Entry: Requires having a valid Express Entry profile, at least 60 points on the SINP assessment grid, and language proficiency and work experience dependent on your applicable Express Entry program—which must not be on the list of excluded occupations. To qualify, you also need to have at least one year of training or post-secondary credential (degree, diploma, or certificate) related to your intended occupation, and work experience in your field of education or job.
Getting permanent residence through the PNP
Getting permanent residence through the Provincial Nominee Program is a simple two-step process:
- Obtain a provincial nomination; and
- Apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence.
Many provinces and territories require foreign nationals to first submit an expression of interest and enter a candidate pool to be considered for nomination.
Draws are conducted periodically by the province, inviting candidates to apply for provincial nomination.
If nominated through an Express Entry-aligned (enhanced) stream:You receive 600 points toward your CRS score, which all but guarantees an invitation to apply in an upcoming PNP draw or a Canadian Experience Canada or category-based draw, if eligible.
If nominated through a base PNP stream: With a certificate of nomination in hand, you can submit an application for permanent residence directly to the federal government.
All PNPs require an intent to reside in the nominating province. For more information on demonstrating intent to reside, see our previous coverage.
PNPs that require a job offer for consideration
The following provinces and territories do not, as of the time of this writing, offer any worker or student streams or pathways facilitating nomination without a job offer:
Readers should also note that Quebec and Nunavut do not operate PNPs.
Those wishing to immigrate to Quebec can see our designated webpage on Quebec immigration here. To immigrate to Nunavut, foreign nationals can pursue federal immigration programs, like Express Entry.
Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams