Canada, being a popular immigration destination for foreign nationals, has several immigration pathways that enable easy migration to the country. Individuals favor Canada over other countries for quality of life and many career and educational prospects. Recently, Canada has been ranked as the second happiest G7 country, making it an attractive choice for many. In Canada, the Express Entry system and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are two key immigration pathways preferred by individuals from across the world. These are considered IRCC’s most significant immigration pathways for Canadian Permanent residents. Choosing between Express Entry and PNP Immigration Pathways can help you determine the best pathway for Canadian immigration. 

Notably, these two pathways will invite 220,770 new immigrants out of the 485,000 that Canada aims to admit in 2024 

Deciding which pathway is best for immigration can be challenging for newcomers as both pathways have their own benefits. 

Are you also looking for whether you should submit your profile under an Express Entry program or through a Base PNP? Read on to understand both the programs in detail and make a helpful decision.

Choosing between Express Entry and PNP Pathways: Which is best for you?

The following sections will help you understand both the popular pathways and enable you to determine the best route for you.

Understanding Canada’s Express Entry System

Canada’s Express Entry system governs individual applications from overseas. It is among the significant economic immigration routes in Canada that accept candidates’ applications under three programs:

  • FSWP: The Federal Skilled Worker Program;
  • FSTP: The Federal Skilled Trades Program; and
  • CEC: The Canadian Experience Class.

Express Entry is expected to be the most popular and preferred pathway for new immigrants in 2024. As per the immigration levels plan, Canada has set a target to admit 110,700 PRs this year under this pathway.

All the Express Entry programs have their specific eligibility requirements, and candidates must fulfill one of these criteria prior to submitting their profile to the Express Entry pool.

When eligible candidates submit their profile for any of these Express Entry programs, they are officially referred to as Express Entry candidates with a profile in the Express Entry pool.

After having a profile in the pool, all the candidates are given points based on a score system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). It considers various human capital factors, such as work experience, qualification, and other characteristics. 

After obtaining a score, candidates must wait for either a program-specific draw or a general Express Entry draw with a minimum CRS score that’s equivalent to their CRS score. After that, eligible candidates with a minimum CRS score receive an initiation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence (PR).

Notably, after successful submission, the candidate’s Express Entry profile remains valid for a year, and candidates can resubmit their profile after the validity period ends.

If a candidate obtains an ITA under a draw, they become applicants. They now have 60 days after getting an invitation to submit their final PR application to IRCC. If IRCC approves the application, it grants Canadian PR to candidates and authorizes them to settle and reside in Canada permanently.

Enhanced PNP streams under Express Entry

Canadian provinces are also able to invite Federal Express Entry pool candidates via the special Provincial Nominee Program streams. This is known as Enhanced PNP streams. These Express Entry-aligned streams are distinct from the regular PNP streams under independent Provincial nominee programs called Base PNP.

To be nominated under the enhanced PNP, individuals must receive an invitation from the Federal Express Entry pool. They can also be invited from the provincial/territorial pool to apply for enhanced PNP to the province or territory. 

If candidates secure a provincial nomination under the enhanced streams, they get an additional 600 CRS points. This virtually guarantees an invitation from the federal government. 

Understanding Canada’s Base Provincial Nominee Programs (Base PNPs)

The provincial or territorial government manages Canada’s base PNPs, and the streams under it are not aligned with Express Entry.

Each stream has its specific eligibility conditions, and candidates must apply for these streams separately.

Initially, the Base PNPs were established to help local governments respond to their regional demographic and labor market challenges. These PNPs enable them to select eligible candidates to settle in their region to support and address the demands.

In Canada, each province and territory has its individual provincial immigration programs, except for Quebec and Nunavut. The province of Quebec has its specialized immigration programs.

The eligibility of each program or stream greatly varies from province to province. However, common conditions include:

  • Connection to the province,
  • Having resided, studied, or worked in the province, or
  • Having demonstrated the human capital factors that provinces need. 

In Canada, provincial nomination programs are the second-biggest immigration pathway for new immigrants this year. These help extend the immigration benefits across the country. However, in the coming years, PNPs are expected to surpass all the immigration pathways. This will help it become the largest route for admitting newcomers to the country.

So, this was about the Express Entry system and provincial programs in Canadian immigration. Choosing between Express Entry and the PNP pathway can help you decide the best and most helpful route for you. For any assistance on the immigration pathway, you can contact us.