Which provincial nominee programs are still open after Ontario's 2026 overhaul
Ontario repealed all nine OINP immigration streams on May 30, 2026, leaving thousands of applicants scrambling for alternatives. The province has proposed four replacement pathways but hasn't published launch dates or final criteria. That leaves skilled workers, international graduates, and employer-sponsored candidates looking elsewhere.
The good news: most other provincial nominee programs in Canada are not only open — they're issuing invitations at record pace. British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and the Atlantic provinces have all held multiple draws in recent weeks, and several are expanding intake to meet labor-market demand.
This guide maps the active provincial nominee programs as of June 2026, what each targets, and how to position yourself if Ontario was your original plan.
Active provincial nominee programs accepting applications in 2026
Every province and territory except Quebec (which runs its own selection system outside the PNP framework) operates a provincial nominee program. As of mid-2026, the most active programs by draw frequency and invitation volume are:
British Columbia holds weekly draws targeting construction, healthcare, tech, and childcare occupations. The BC PNP issued over 350 invitations in early June alone, with separate tracks for skilled workers, international graduates, and entry-level/semi-skilled workers.
Alberta is expanding rapidly under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). Between May 20 and June 3, Alberta invited more than 1,500 candidates across seven draws. The province is prioritizing tech occupations, healthcare, and trades.
Manitoba runs smaller draws but targets strategically. Manitoba's June 4 draw invited 104 candidates through its Skilled Worker Stream, focusing on direct recruitment and employer-driven pathways.
Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador continue regular draws under their respective PNPs. Newfoundland invited over 100 candidates in late May. Nova Scotia runs occupation-specific and Express Entry-aligned streams. New Brunswick prioritizes francophone candidates and Express Entry pools.
Saskatchewan operates the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) with Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand categories. Draws are less frequent than BC or Alberta but the province maintains an Expression of Interest pool.
Prince Edward Island has a smaller annual allocation but holds active draws for business investors, skilled workers with island job offers, and international graduates from PEI institutions.
These programs did not pause. If you meet a province's criteria and can demonstrate ties (a job offer, previous work or study experience, family connections), you can apply now.
British Columbia: sector-specific draws and high invitation volume
The BC PNP issues more invitations than any other provincial program. British Columbia holds draws nearly every week, often multiple draws in the same week targeting different occupations or skill levels.
Recent patterns show the province prioritizing construction trades (carpenters, electricians, plumbers, heavy-equipment operators in TEER 2-3), healthcare workers (registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, medical lab technologists, care aides in TEER 1-4), tech occupations (software developers, systems analysts, IT project managers in TEER 0-2), and early childhood educators (a standalone category with lower score thresholds).
BC operates two main immigration streams under the PNP: the Skills Immigration stream (for workers with job offers and international graduates) and the Express Entry BC stream (for candidates already in the federal Express Entry pool). Both use a points-based registration system where you submit a profile, receive a score, and wait for an invitation. The province also runs an Entrepreneur Immigration stream, though intake is capped and invitations are infrequent.
One advantage: you don't need a permanent job offer for some categories. International graduates from eligible BC institutions can qualify with a one-year job offer in their field of study. Healthcare workers with provincial registration may qualify under priority pathways.
Official stream details and current draw results are published at Welcome BC. The site updates within 48 hours of each draw.
Alberta: rapid expansion under the AAIP
Alberta has scaled up provincial nominee invitations sharply in 2026. The Alberta Advantage Immigration Program issued 2,552 invitations in a single draw on June 3 — one of the largest single-day PNP rounds in Canadian history.
The AAIP operates several streams. The Alberta Express Entry Stream accepts candidates already in the federal Express Entry pool with strong ties to Alberta (previous work experience, a job offer, or a close family member in the province). The Alberta Opportunity Stream targets workers currently employed in Alberta in eligible occupations (TEER 0-5). The Accelerated Tech Pathway prioritizes 43 tech occupations with faster processing. The Rural Renewal Stream targets smaller communities outside Calgary and Edmonton and requires a job offer and community endorsement.
Alberta's recent draws have targeted software engineers, web developers, accountants, construction managers, and healthcare professionals. The province uses occupation-specific draws, meaning you may receive an invitation even if your CRS score is below the general Express Entry cutoff, as long as your NOC code matches the draw criteria.
Alberta does not require a job offer for Express Entry-aligned candidates if you have previous Alberta work experience or graduated from an Alberta post-secondary institution. That makes it one of the more accessible programs for candidates already in Canada on work or study permits.
Current draw results and stream eligibility are posted at Alberta Immigration. Processing times for provincial nomination certificates average 4–8 weeks once invited.
Manitoba and the Atlantic provinces: smaller draws, direct recruitment
Manitoba takes a different approach. The province issues fewer invitations per draw but uses direct recruitment and employer-driven selection. The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) operates the Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream (for workers currently employed in the province), the Skilled Worker Overseas Stream (for candidates with connections to Manitoba through previous work, study, or family and an invitation from a Strategic Recruitment Initiative), and the International Education Stream (for international graduates of Manitoba institutions).
Manitoba's June 4 draw invited 104 candidates, all through direct recruitment. You typically need an invitation from the province (issued at recruitment events, job fairs, or exploratory visits) before you can apply. Walk-in Expression of Interest submissions are rare.
The Atlantic provinces — Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island — each run smaller PNPs with occupation-specific and Express Entry-aligned streams. Nova Scotia, for example, prioritizes healthcare, skilled trades, and tech occupations. New Brunswick has a separate francophone stream with lower score requirements for French-speaking candidates.
These programs are worth exploring if you have a job offer in the region or studied at an Atlantic institution. The Atlantic Immigration Program (a federal pathway separate from the PNPs) also operates in these provinces and does not require provincial nomination — just employer designation.
How provincial nominee programs work with Express Entry
Most provincial nominee programs offer an Express Entry-aligned stream. You create an Express Entry profile and enter the pool. Your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score determines your rank. If a province nominates you through its PNP, you receive an additional 600 CRS points, which virtually guarantees an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the next federal draw.
Even if your base CRS score is 400 or 420 (below recent federal cutoffs), a provincial nomination bumps you to 1,000+ and moves you to the front of the queue. You then apply for permanent residence through the federal Express Entry system, not directly through the province.
Some provinces require you to notify them that you're in the Express Entry pool by submitting a separate Expression of Interest to the provincial system. Others — like Ontario's now-closed streams — searched the federal pool directly and sent "notifications of interest" to candidates who fit their criteria.
The process adds one step (provincial nomination) but can cut total processing time. Federal Express Entry applications with provincial nomination are prioritized and typically finalize within 6 months of ITA.
If you're already in the Express Entry pool and were hoping for an Ontario notification of interest, redirect your attention to BC, Alberta, or the Atlantic provinces. Check each province's PNP website to see if you need to create a separate provincial profile or if they pull directly from the federal pool.
For candidates not yet in Express Entry, improving your CRS score (through language retests, additional education, or Canadian work experience) remains the baseline strategy. A provincial nomination is the single fastest way to secure an ITA.
What to do if you were planning to apply through Ontario
If Ontario was your target province and you haven't yet applied, you have three options.
Apply to another provincial nominee program now. British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba are the most active as of June 2026. Review each province's stream eligibility on their official PNP pages. If you have a job offer, work experience, or study credentials in any of those provinces, you may qualify immediately.
Wait for Ontario's new streams to launch. The province has proposed four replacement pathways, including an Employer Job Offer stream, a Priority Healthcare stream, and an Exceptional Talent stream. Eligibility criteria were published in a December 2025 consultation document, but Ontario has not confirmed launch dates or final rules. If your profile fits the proposed criteria (especially healthcare workers with provincial registration or tech workers in priority occupations), waiting may make sense. There's no timeline, though.
Pursue federal Express Entry without provincial nomination. If your CRS score is competitive (currently 470+ for general draws, lower for category-based draws), you may receive an ITA without needing a province. Check recent Express Entry draw results to gauge your odds.
If you already submitted an OINP application before May 30, 2026, Ontario has stated it will process your file under the old rules. See what happens to in-process OINP applications for details on that cohort.
For most candidates, applying elsewhere now is the safest path. Waiting for Ontario's new streams is a gamble with no confirmed timeline, and federal Express Entry without provincial nomination requires a CRS score most applicants don't have.
Official current provincial nominee program details are at canada.ca/provincial-nominees; this guide is independent reference content.
A small portion of this article — research support, fact-cross-checking, and copy-editing — was assisted by AI tooling. Editorial decisions, source verification, and final sign-off remain with our team. We cite primary sources from canada.ca for every factual claim.
Source: canada.ca · IRCC.com is an independent news site and not affiliated with the Government of Canada.
