Canada · skilled migration · Leads to settlement
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Source check: all 7 official citations reconfirmed 11 July 2026
Province-led permanent residence streams giving a 600 CRS boost when aligned with Express Entry.
- Processing time
- Variable: provincial stage 3–12 months, federal stage 6 months post-ITA.
- Government fees
- Federal IRCC fees: CAD 1,590 principal applicant including RPRF + CAD 85 biometrics; province-specific fees vary. Ontario Express Entry streams publish CAD 1,500; Alberta worker streams publish CAD 1,500 plus a CAD 135 Worker EOI fee.
- Typical duration
- Permanent residence.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
In short
As of 8 July 2026, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for Canada has a typical government cost of about CA$3,175 and typical processing of 11 months – 18 months. Sources: official Canada government pages, reviewed 8 July 2026.
What is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in Canada?
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is an unsponsored Canada route. Indicative government fees are Federal IRCC fees: CAD 1,590 principal applicant including RPRF + CAD 85 biometrics; province-specific fees vary. Ontario Express Entry streams publish CAD 1,500; Alberta worker streams publish CAD 1,500 plus a CAD 135 Worker EOI fee; indicative processing time is Variable: provincial stage 3–12 months, federal stage 6 months post-ITA; typical duration is Permanent residence. This route can lead to permanent residence.
Verified against IRCC on 1 July 2026.
Canada Express Entry money stack
Canada FSW, CEC and PNP cost and proof-of-funds answer
The route guide answers eligibility. This stack keeps the separate money answer beside it: IRCC fees, third-party preparation costs, settlement funds and province fees.
| Route | Mandatory paid-away baseline | Proof-of-funds rule | Province layer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker | CA$2,275-CA$3,055 | CA$15,263 show-only settlement funds unless the applicant is authorized to work in Canada and has a valid job offer. | No province fee in the base FSW route. |
| Canadian Experience Class | CA$2,075-CA$3,005 | CEC settlement funds are CA$0 in the model because IRCC says CEC invitees do not need proof of settlement funds. | No province fee unless the applicant also uses a PNP stream. |
| Express Entry PNP | CA$3,775-CA$4,555 | CA$15,263 show-only funds unless the invitation/program basis creates a CEC or valid-job-offer exemption. | Province layer included: CA$1,500 Ontario-style nomination fee, with province-specific variation. |
Paid fees versus funds
Refundable settlement funds are not fees paid away. They are a cash-flow barrier that must stay separate from IRCC processing fees, the right of permanent residence fee, biometrics, language tests, ECA, medicals, police certificates and province-specific nomination fees.
- FSW cost-to-complete
- CEC cost-to-complete
- PNP cost-to-complete
- Federal Skilled Worker guide
- Canadian Experience Class guide
- Canada CRS calculator
- Cost-to-complete JSON feed
- FSW cost citation pack
- How our Canada cost figures compare
Source dates: FSW checked 21 July 2026, CEC checked 1 July 2026, PNP checked 1 July 2026. Latest source record in this cluster: 21 July 2026. This cluster supports retrieval and review, not ranking, traffic, AI-citation or market-share outcome claims.
Overview
PNPs allow provinces and territories to nominate candidates aligned with local labour needs and residence intent. For Express Entry-linked PNP, IRCC says the candidate must qualify for both the provincial stream and one federal Express Entry program; a confirmed nomination adds 600 CRS points, which normally makes the federal invitation the easy part. Costs are split: province-specific nomination fees first, then federal permanent-residence fees, biometrics and any proof-of-funds, language-test, ECA, medical, police-certificate or translation costs.
Recent changes to this route
- Canada: PR fees rise (30 Apr 2026), category-based Express Entry, Start-up Visa closed, arranged-employment points removed30 April 2026
A run of IRCC changes through 2025-26 reshaped Express Entry economics and closed the Start-up Visa to new applicants.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Indian applicants
Indian nationals are heavily represented in provincial streams, particularly Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Ma…
Filipino applicants
Filipino applicants are prominent in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Atlantic PNP streams tied to healthcare and trucking. Pr…
Nigerian applicants
Nigerian applicants concentrate in Atlantic Immigration Programme (AIP) and Saskatchewan/Manitoba healthcare streams. Pr…
Brazilian applicants
Brazilian applicants use PNP particularly via Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW), BC PNP Tech, and Atlantic streams where Frenc…
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Eligibility under the specific provincial or territorial stream, including residence intent in the nominating province.Department of Justice Canada (Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations) ↗
- ✓For Express Entry-linked PNP: eligibility for both the PNP stream and one federal Express Entry program.Government of Alberta (Alberta Advantage Immigration Program) ↗
- ✓Confirmed provincial nomination added to the Express Entry profile for 600 additional CRS points.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (Canada Gazette notice) ↗
- ✓Proof of settlement funds unless invited under CEC or exempt because you are authorized to work in Canada with a valid job offer.Department of Justice Canada (Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations) ↗
Common blockers
- !Stream not open at time of application (PNP streams pause/reopen frequently).
- !No genuine connection, job offer, occupation match or residence intent for the nominating province.
- !Expired Express Entry profile while the province is processing the nomination.Government of Alberta (Alberta Advantage Immigration Program) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Provincial nomination certificate.Department of Justice Canada (Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations) ↗
- ·Valid Express Entry profile and federal-program eligibility evidence.Government of Alberta (Alberta Advantage Immigration Program) ↗
- ·Language test, ECA where required, proof of funds or exemption letter, medicals and police certificates for the federal PR stage.
Application pathway
Identify relevant stream
Match profile to specific provincial stream.
Apply provincially
Use the province portal or notification-of-interest process; pay the province-specific fee if charged.
Accept or update nomination in Express Entry
A confirmed Express Entry PNP nomination gives 600 additional CRS points.
Apply federally after ITA
Submit the permanent-residence application with IRCC fees, biometrics, documents, medicals and police certificates.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantFind PNP application path ↗
Applicants use this IRCC page to choose the correct provincial stream before the federal PR stage.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · verified
- ApplyApplicantApply through Express Entry PNP ↗
Use this IRCC page after a province or territory nominates you through an Express Entry stream.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · verified
Fees and processing time
A typical Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) application runs about CA$3,175 in government fees (single Ontario Express Entry nominee, no dependants). A decision then typically takes 11 months – 18 months. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I choose any province for PNP?+
Each province runs its own streams with different eligibility (often requiring a genuine connection via work, study, or job offer). Candidates must intend to reside in the nominating province.
How much does Express Entry PNP cost in Canada?+
For a single applicant, the federal IRCC permanent-residence fee is CAD 1,590 including the Right of Permanent Residence Fee, plus CAD 85 biometrics. Provincial fees are separate: Ontario Express Entry streams publish CAD 1,500, while Alberta worker streams publish CAD 1,500 plus a CAD 135 Worker EOI fee. Budget separately for language tests, ECA, medicals, police certificates and translations.
Does a PNP nomination guarantee an Express Entry invitation?+
An Express Entry-linked provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points after it is confirmed in the profile. That normally makes an ITA very likely, but the applicant must still qualify for the provincial stream, one federal Express Entry program and the federal permanent-residence admissibility checks.
Do Express Entry PNP applicants need settlement funds?+
Often yes. IRCC says FSW and Federal Skilled Trades applicants need proof of funds unless they are authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer. Canadian Experience Class applicants do not need proof of settlement funds, but the online checklist may still ask for an explanatory letter.
How long does a Provincial Nominee Program application take end to end?+
Timelines vary: the provincial nomination stage typically runs 3 to 12 months, and the federal stage takes about 6 months after the Invitation to Apply. PNP streams also pause and reopen frequently, which affects when you can apply.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in CanadaHow we verified this
We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.
Primary source: IRCC
Last checked: 1 July 2026