Canadian Immigration Blogs

Provincial Nominee Program Updates

Many foreign nationals from around the world classify Canada as one very unique and progressive country to immigrate to. Additionally, many of these foreign nationals specifically research into provinces and territories within Canada that they would like to immigrate to. In most cases, this research also includes extensive searching for employment. As of recently, there has been an abundance of immigration activity within the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). This comes as no surprise since many of Canada’s provinces and territories welcome a wide range of entrepreneurs, workers and graduates. Therefore, in this article, I will address the updates to the Provincial Nominee Program and the updates based on each province and territory.

What is the Provincial Nominee Program

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNPs) was intended for provinces and territories of Canada to be able to nominate certain individuals for permanent residency in Canada based on their skills, work experience and many other factors. Additionally, these individuals must show an interest in the specific province or territory that nominates then and must ensure that they have the ability to settle within that province/territory’s labour market. The Provincial Nominee Program also has enhanced streams that coincide with the Express Entry program. For instance, an enhanced nomination will allow the candidate to receive an additional 600 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Additionally, these candidates will most likely receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the next draw from the Express Entry pool.

How to Immigrate to Alberta through PNP

In Canada, there are many provinces and territories that many foreign nationals would love to visit; however, the province of Alberta is a unique destination for foreign nationals to immigrate. The province of Alberta offers many different ethnic and cultural backgrounds that work together to create a very strong and unique province. Foreign nationals who are applying through Express Entry and are interested in immigrating to Alberta can obtain a provincial nomination from Alberta through the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP). Under this program, Alberta chooses individuals who have a connection with Alberta. In this article, I will address what the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program is and the different streams and categories available under this program.

What is the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is an economic immigration program that assists Alberta meet its labour market needs and prioritizes economic development within Alberta. The program facilitates Alberta to nominate foreign nationals that are prepared to work in Alberta and obtain permanent residency. These individuals will then be able to contribute to Alberta’s economy. The AINP also assists employers with recruiting and retaining skilled foreign workers.

Which Entrepreneurs Need a Work Permit to Work in Canada

For many self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs, they believe Canada is a country of prosperity and opportunity with regards to creating profit and capital for their businesses. Consequently, many self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs alike come to Canada for these opportunities. However, it is important to note that these individuals need proper authorization from the Canadian government in order to pursue their business endeavors. Therefore, in this article, I will address which entrepreneurs and self-employed persons need to obtain a work permit to work in Canada and what options are available to these individuals.

Which Entrepreneurs & Self-Employed Persons Need to Obtain a Work Permit

The government of Canada has recently stated that there are specific categories of self-employed individuals and entrepreneurs that may be able to obtain a work permit prior to becoming a permanent resident of Canada. This is an important update as these individuals often have to wait until their permanent residency is approved in order to work. If the individual has not received permanent residency in Canada yet; however, they have received a nomination under a self-employed or a business category, then a C11 work permit may be issued. A C11 work permit intended for individuals who have a permanent residency application that is being processed. Similarly, it is also intended for individuals with dual intent; dual intent means that they would like to seek status as a worker in Canada and then proceed to gain permanent residency in Canada as well. This is extremely beneficial for the self-employed individual or entrepreneur as it can help them gain early entry into Canada as well as early entry into the Canadian labour market.

What you need to know in order to Work in Canada

In order to work in Canada, you must first be well-prepared and accumulate the proper documentation to provide to a prospect employer. There are several steps that you must take beforehand as well as documents that you are required to provide. When looking to work in Canada, Immigration must be able to analyze the documents in English and verify that the information is relevant in Canadian standards. Therefore, in this article, I will explain what is needed before working in Canada, such as getting your credentials assessed accordingly, assessing your language ability, finding a job in Canada, and how to get a Social Insurance Number (SIN).

Getting your Credentials Assessed

Depending on how you intend on coming to Canada, you must first have your education, work experience or professional credentials assessed. This must be done if you are coming to Canada as a Federal Skilled Worker under Express Entry, coming to Canada to work in a specific profession or trade, and/or coming to Canada to study. The reason for the credentials being assessed is for the Immigration officer to analyze whether your credentials can be equated to a Canadian standard. For instance, the credential assessment will allow you to see whether your credentials are equal to Canadian worker’s standards; to find out whether more training, education or Canadian work experience is required from you; to understand what kinds of jobs you are qualified for; and lastly, to assist employers in understanding your qualifications.

Move to the Province of Alberta

The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) is an economic based immigration program set out by the government of Alberta to attract foreign workers who have the skills and work experience to contribute to the economic growth of Alberta. Foreign nationals that have the skills and experience that the province is looking for will be nominated by the province of Alberta as long as requirements are met under the stream the applicant applies under. The AINP consists of three main immigration streams:

• Strategic Recruitment Stream
• Employer-Driven Stream
• Self-Employed Farmer Stream

This article will discuss Employer-Driven Stream, please refer to our other blogs for information on Strategic Recruitment Stream and Self-Employed Stream.