Provincial Immigration Programs
Various provinces have entered into special agreements with the federal government of Canada allowing the provinces to customize the immigration eligibility criteria in various immigration classes according to their demographics and economic needs. These provincial immigration programs not only help the subject provinces to attract skilled immigrants by creating conducive eligibility regimes, these programs also greatly contribute in diversifying the influx of new immigrants in various parts of Canada. These are two stage programs. At first stage, a foreign national applies with the provincial immigration department for provincial selection certificate.
If the applicant satisfies the requirement of the subject province then a nomination certificate is issued to the applicant who applies with the federal government for issuance of permanent immigration visa, provided the applicant satisfies the admissibility requirements under Canada’s immigration law. The following Canadian provinces currently have such contractual arrangements with the federal government: