Processing Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications received through the non-Express Entry application process

This section describes how to process applications for permanent residence submitted by applicants in the PNP through the non-Express Entry application process for “base nominations”.

Canada has entered into bilateral agreements with provinces and territories (except Quebec and Nunavut) to allow them to nominate individuals for permanent residence based on the provinces' assessment of the nominees' ability to contribute to the economic growth and development of those provinces.

Provinces and territories have the authority and responsibility to establish their own criteria for nomination, as long as the criteria are not incompatible with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, national immigration policy, and the Federal-Provincial/Territorial bilateral agreements, while Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is responsible for the following in relation to base nominations:

• assessing the applicant’s eligibility for the Provincial Nominee class;
• assessing their admissibility under IRPA and IRPR;
• making a final decision on their application for permanent residence.

Intake

• Economic class requirements and process at the Centralized Intake Office (CIO)

Processing

• Putting the application into process
• Determining membership in the class
• Other situations
• Determining admissibility
• Making a final decision on the application
• Examination before granting permanent residence as a Provincial Nominee