Canada PNP Draws in 2024: Year-End Recap

Surya Rathee
[Published 06 Jan, 2025 | 04:45 AM]
About Author - 5 min read
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Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) played an important role in meeting the immigration targets in 2024. Almost every province and territory in Canada invited candidates through various immigration pathways. A total of 89,257 candidates across 222 draws were invited in 2024.

Ontario dominated the numbers with 54 draws, granting 45,286 invitations across different streams like Human Capital Priorities and Employer Job Offer programs, with scores ranging from 33 to 528. Whereas, Saskatchewan conducted only 6 draws inviting a total of 244 candidates to apply for Canada PR.

Surprisingly, no draws were conducted by Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Yukon.

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is a way to get Canadian permanent residency by being nominated by a province or territory. Each province has its own PNP with unique streams targeting foreign skilled workers, students, or business owners. Every PNP offers two primary pathways to Canadian permanent residency:

• Base PNP
• Enhanced PNP

Base PNP involves applying directly to a province, receiving a nomination, and submitting a paper-based application for PR to IRCC. Whereas, the enhanced PNP is linked to Express Entry. A provincial nomination adds 600 points to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score - fast-tracking your PR application online with quicker processing times.

Which Canadian PNP is best for you?

Since each province in Canada has its own PNP, some are easier to apply for than others. Here are some of the best options to consider in 2025:

• If you're a recent graduate: Ontario PNP and Nova Scotia PNP.
• If you're a skilled worker: Alberta PNP and Saskatchewan PNP.
• If you're a job seeker: Manitoba PNP and New Brunswick PNP.
• If you're a businessman: British Columbia PNP and Ontario PNP.
• If you've a family connection in Canada: Ontario PNP and Saskatchewan PNP.

If you have a low CRS score, you can consider applying through either Saskatchewan’s SINP or Manitoba’s MPNP, as both offer opportunities even with lower scores. You can also look to apply through job offers or provincial streams that focus on work experience.

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Frequency of PNP draws

Each province holds draws at regular intervals, with different eligibility requirements depending on the stream chosen, and successful candidates receive a provincial nomination which significantly boosts their chances of getting Canadian permanent residency.

Immigrating through a PNP in 2025

Under the Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027, targets for the enhanced PNPs have been cut by about 50%. The new target is 55,000 admissions per year for 2025, 2026, and 2027. In contrast, the federal high-skilled programs managed through the Express Entry Program will see an increase, starting at 124,680 in 2025.

The processing time for the PNP in Canada depends on the type of entry and the province you're applying through. Under the Express Entry-linked enhanced PNP, applications are processed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada within 5 to 6 months. Whereas, base PNPs processed at the federal stage and usually take between 12 and 24 months.

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Read More: Express Entry Draws in 2024: Recap