April 2024 PNP Update: What Happened in Canada’s PNP in April?

April had fewer draws and invitations than March, but there was still a lot going on in Canada’s PNP last month. Continue reading to hear more about the key findings and trends in PNP invitations, as well as the big program updates we witnessed last month and their implications for you.

Overview of Canada Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

Individuals interested in relocating to a specific Canadian province or territory can use Canada’s provincial nominee programs (PNPs) to obtain Canadian permanent residency.

Each Canadian province and territory has its own PNP that is tailored to the region’s economic and demographic needs. Read on to learn how you can immigrate to Canada as a provincial nominee!

What are the Provincial Nominee Programs?

Aside from Quebec and Nunavut, each province maintains multiple PNP streams. These streams are intended by provinces to assist them fulfill their specific immigration goals, hence eligibility criteria and application procedures differ. PNPs, on the other hand, are a popular choice because they can provide the quickest road to permanent residency in Canada.

All decisions involving Canadian permanent residence must be approved at the national level by the federal government, hence Canada’s provinces cannot approve permanent resident status independently. This is why the provincial programs are classified as “nominee” programs.

A successful PNP applicant will be nominated by the province to apply to the federal government for permanent residency. This means that moving to Canada with a PNP is always the first stage in a two-part process. An interested immigrant must first obtain provincial approval before applying to the federal level.

Key Takeaways

• Draws slowed in April, and fewer invites were given out.
• PNP gets more targeted transactions in April than usual.
• April was an active month for PNP program updates.

Trends in PNP Draws for April 2024

• At a Glance: BC held 5 draws.
• Following a hectic March, Ontario staged only one tiny draw in April.
• Manitoba held three draws, including its final Ukraine draw.
• Alberta and Prince Edward Island had two draws.
• Quebec held one draw and invited 1,036 contestants.
• Saskatchewan has not announced any draws.

Trades and Draws

In April, we witnessed more trade-targeted draws than usual.

• Ontario sponsored a job offer round for skilled crafts vocations from international workers.
• Quebec organized a draw to choose skilled trades workers with at least level 7 French proficiency and a score of 536 points or above.
• Manitoba specifically targeted skilled people in the general building trades.
• BC continued to target construction workers every week.

We are curious to see if trades draws will increase at the provincial and territorial levels. The Canadian federal government has allotted only 5% of Express Entry draws in 2024 to skilled trades workers (more on this below). However, there is an unusually strong need for trades personnel throughout Canada.

April saw rising scores in BC.

BC’s draws witnessed consistently climbing scores in March, and this trend continued in April.

Let’s look at the outcomes from the end of April versus the end of March and February.

Childcare

• April 30 – 91
• March 26 – 85
• February 27 – 65

Construction

• April 30 – 93
• March 26 – 90
• February 27 – 80

Healthcare

• April 30 – 100
• March 26 – 85
• February 27 – 65

Veterinary Care

• April 30 – 80
• March 26 – 85
• February 27 – 65

As you can see, scores in practically every area (except veterinary care) improved in March and April. We’re also seeing less and smaller draws in each of these targeted categories, which could imply that BC is meeting its targets for these vocations.

Ontario draws have slowed significantly.

Following a very busy March that included five draws and 11, 1000 invitations, Ontario held only one minor draw in April.

PNP Program Updates and News

PNP’s Changing Role in Economic Immigration

According to an internal IRCC memo, the majority of Canada’s Federal Express Entry invites will be for category-based rounds in 2024. Despite the lower number of invites to the Federal Skilled Workers, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades programs, we continue to see general Express Entry rounds every two weeks. So, how is this possible? PNPs associated with Express Entry are anticipated to have a part in this trend.

It is also expected that more candidates who do not obtain an Express Entry invitation this year may apply to Provincial Nominee Programs to become permanent residents of Canada. In recent years, Canada’s PNP has attracted a higher proportion of economic immigrants, and the trend toward category-based Express Entry draws will most likely result in the PNP playing an increasingly important role in Canadian immigration for those who do not fall into the categories that Canada targets.

Manitoba To prioritize processing expired and expiring work permits.

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program will prioritize reviews of MPNP applications submitted with work permits that have expired or will expire within the next 45 days. MPNP applicants who fall into this category should notify the MPNP by completing the Skilled Worker Web Form.

Manitoba and Alberta will end temporary measures for Ukrainian nationals.

The temporary provisions known as the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) expired on March 31, 2024. This means that Ukrainians and their families have until March 31 to enter Canada under the CUAET measures or seek for temporary residence under the special measures.

As a result, Canadian provinces that were holding special PNP lotteries have announced the end of those draws. Alberta and Manitoba both announced the end of Ukraine draws in April.

Nova Scotia has paused applications for accommodation and food services.

Due to high demand and a considerable backlog of candidates awaiting a decision, Nova Scotia has halted accepting applications from workers in the Accommodation and Food Services sector.

BC updates its process for issuing invitations.

BC has released a small procedural modification to the manner it grants invitations, which went into effect on April 30, 2024. From this point forward, candidates who enter the pool on the same day as a draw for which they are otherwise eligible will be considered solely for future draws. In other words, only qualified individuals who entered the pool prior to the draw date will receive invitations.

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