Invitations to Apply Announced by British Columbia, Manitoba, PEI, and Quebec

On 27 October Invitations to Apply Announced by British Columbia, Manitoba, PEI, and Quebec provinces extend invitations for permanent residence through provincial nominee programs.

British Columbia: Targeted Invitations in Skilled Worker and International Graduate Streams

On October 22, British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) invited about 125 candidates in category-specific draws, targeting the Skilled Worker and International Graduate Streams:

All candidates required a valid BC job offer, and minimum score requirements varied by category.

Manitoba: Expression of Interest Draw Extends 253 Invitations

On October 24, Manitoba held its 231st expression of interest draw, issuing 253 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAA):

Of these, 210 were under the base Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and 43 through the enhanced PNP. For the Skilled Worker Overseas stream, eligibility required an invitation through a strategic recruitment initiative.

Prince Edward Island: Healthcare, Construction, and Transportation Focus

On September 20, Prince Edward Island (PEI) extended 48 invitations, with a minimum points threshold of 97 for Business stream candidates. Invitations focused on healthcare, construction, trucking, and international graduates with expiring work permits, with only 2 business invitations and 46 for Labour and Express Entry candidates.

Quebec: Invitations for Skilled Workers with French Proficiency

On September 19, Quebec issued 1,650 invitations under the Regular Skilled Worker Program. Candidates needed a minimum French oral proficiency of level 7 on the Échelle québécoise and either a score of 573 or a job offer outside Montreal. Quebec typically publishes invitation results after issuance.

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Overview

The PNP, administered by Canada’s federal and provincial governments, enables provinces to nominate foreign nationals for permanent residence. Each province sets criteria and has unique PNP streams, with nominations provided annually by the federal government. Provincial nominations are followed by an IRCC invitation to apply for permanent residence. Enhanced PNPs, aligned with Canada’s Express Entry system, offer nominees 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, speeding up federal invitations. Enhanced PNP applications are generally processed within 6 months, while base PNP applications take around 12 months.

Quebec’s Unique Immigration System

Unlike other provinces, Quebec independently manages its immigration targets without IRCC allocations. Selected candidates receive a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) from Quebec’s immigration ministry, which is then used to apply for permanent residence with IRCC.