Provincial Nominee Program Applications | These PNP will be put on hold until further actions
From September 17, 2020 to March 10, 2021, provincial and territorial jurisdictions will be able to request that paper-based Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications be placed on hold in cases where an applicant has experienced a job loss in Canada as a result of the pandemic, or has applied through a business, entrepreneur or self-employed stream, and their application was received prior to March 18, 2020.
The processing of these applications will be put on hold until September 10, 2021, until the province or territory confirms that it continues to support the nomination, or until a new job offer is received along with a new confirmation from the province or territory, whichever comes first.
This section describes how to process applications for permanent residence submitted by applicants in the PNP through the paper-based 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.
Federal-Provincial/Territorial bilateral agreements
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.
Abstract: Canada-British Columbia Immigration Agreement 2015
1.0 Preamble
1.1 This Canada-British Columbia Immigration Agreement is BETWEEN Her Majesty The Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration (hereinafter referred to as “Canada”) and Her Majesty The Queen in right of the Province of British Columbia, as represented by the Minister of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour (hereinafter referred to as “British Columbia”).
Annex A: Provincial Nominees
1.1 The purpose of this Annex is to define the roles and responsibilities of Canada and British Columbia in relation to the Provincial Nominee class as described in section 87 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) and, in accordance with section 8(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), to establish provisions concerning the selection of and acquisition of status by foreign nationals nominated by British Columbia.
1.2 In the event of a conflict between this Annex and the IRPA or the IRPR, Canada and British Columbia agree that the provisions in the IRPA or the IRPR shall prevail.
