Before we talk about ‘Low CRS Score‘ let us talk about PNP first.
Canada is expecting more than 4,20,000+ immigrants to have Canadian permanent residency through Express Entry, Self-Employed, Startup-Visa program, and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) between 2022 -2023.
“Canada aims to welcome 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021, 411,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023.” (source Canada.ca)
PNPs are acting as a major part of Canada’s immigration policy and the federal government.
In this Low CRS score PNP guide, we are going to discuss these main topics:
- What is PNP?
- PNP and Express Entry relation
- Different Provincial Nominee Programs
- Reasons to choose Provincial Nominee Programs
- Eligibility for PNP
- How does PNP Works?
- How does PNP accept applications?
- If Not Express Entry, the scope of PNP
What is PNP (Provincial Nominee Program)?
The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate any person who wishes to immigrate to Canada and who are interested in settling in a particular province after meeting eligibility requirements.
Each province/territory in Canada has its PNP (except: for Nunavut and Quebec).
Each province and territory has signed an agreement with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to select its immigrants to meet their needs for labour or business and ensure the success of the candidate’s establishment.
How does PNP relate to Express Entry?
A successful nomination receipt candidate can earn an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) out of 1200 points under Express Entry-aligned streams
Individuals who wish to apply for a provincial nomination under an enhanced PNP stream must first create an Express Entry profile, and enter the pool.
Once you received a nomination, the provincial government will notify Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and IRCC will update the express entry profile that you have received a nomination from the specific province. You need to accept it after that 600 points will be added in your total Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points.
The major benefit of a provincial nomination is that candidates would get an additional 600 CRS points directly from the province which means that invitation to Apply (ITA) is on the way for sure.
Once received, a provincial nomination remains valid for the next 6 months in most of the cases.
Does that mean you will receive an ITA?
Yes as mentioned above, you would for sure receive an ITA because in every round of Express Entry draws, the applicant would get 600 bonus CRS points added to the candidate’s actual CRS points.
Provincial Nominee Programs throughout Canada
Every province and territory has its own rules and regulations while applying to Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).
You will have to check every PNP’s website to find these 3 things:
- Eligibility
- Requirements
- Procedure to apply
Application procedure and requirements by each province may differ from province to province.
Check out the requirements and procedures of each province by clicking on links:
#1. Alberta AAIP
#3. Manitoba MPNP
#5. Newfound Land and Labrador NLPNP
#6. Northwest Territories NTNP
#7. Nova Scotia NSNP
#8. Ontario OINP
#9. Prince Edward Island PEI PNP
#10. Saskatchewan SINP
#11. Yukon YNP
⚠ NOTE: Nunavut and Quebec have their different way to select candidates. Nunavut does not currently have its PNP and Quebec does not contribute to the federal government’s PNP. |
Why choose PNP if you have a low CRS score?
Although you can choose any province to live in if you directly come via express entry streams like skilled workers, trade workers, etc.
But when you are coming via any PNP then you have to land and live for a certain period in a specific place.
The major reasons behind choosing a Provincial Nominee Program are:
#1. If you have a low CRS score, to get an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you must apply with a Provincial Nominee Programs.
Once a nomination has been issued then you will automatically get an ITA and your low CRS score will increase by 600.
#2. You had finished studies in the province or worked there for a certain period and you are eligible for any stream of PNP.
#3. You received a job offer from an employer in the province.
What are the eligibility factors for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNPs)?
As mentioned above, each province has its own rules and regulations to send nominations. Most of the provinces select applications based on the candidate’s occupation by publishing the occupation in-demand list on their official website.
To successfully achieve a nomination from any province, a candidate must fulfil all the mentioned requirements by province whether it is regarding age, qualification, experience, or intention to live in the province for a long time.
Although Quebec has its restrictions on knowledge of French every province has its different requirements which may differ in various PNP streams.
How do PNPs work?
Each province has its unique portal to apply for various streams of PNP.
Please check the list above for each province’s PNP.
After you apply for PNP for any province, the provincial government will check your eligibility, education, experience, and based on their criteria they will send you a nomination if you successfully qualify and fulfilled all the requirements.
This process can take 4 to 8 months or sometimes it takes 12 months for paper-based applications.
The further step will be held between the provincial government and the federal government.
The provincial government will notify the federal government that they have sent the nomination to a particular candidate and then the federal government will reflect a notification in your express entry profile (or will notify by a paper-based application if not under express entry stream).
In that notification, you will find out that you have received a nomination from a particular province which you can accept or decline within a certain period.
This process will take approximately one week to two weeks.
After you accept the nomination, an additional 600 points will be added to your CRS scores and you will receive an ITA as soon as a draw out under express entry stream.
How does PNP accept application intake?
There are three ways in which a province accepts various applications for nomination:
#1. By selecting a province while creating an express entry program in which you show the interest to live later on if you successfully migrate to Canada. This way is called “Passive”.
Applicants may be contacted by the province via “Notification of interest” rather than an applicant applying for nomination actively.
#2. By submitting your profile to the province as soon as possible when a particular province opens a stream to accept applications for the province nomination program. This way is called “First-come, First-Served”.
You need to submit your application as soon as possible as any province opens the application intake because it generally fills within some minutes due to small application intake e.g. 500 applications from all over the world.
#3. By submitting “Expression of interest”. This includes submitting a different application under a particular province portal which shows the interest of the candidate in moving to the province.
Is there any scope for PNP if I am not eligible for Express Entry?
Every PNP has different streams that allow you to apply online or offline.
Most of the streams allow submitting files online or under express entry profile.
But there are other streams too that do not require having an express entry profile.
So the answer is ‘YES’ there is a scope of PNP if you are not eligible for express entry and have a low CRS score.
Hence, you can submit a paper-based application for PNP without having an express entry profile which demands more processing time than an online application.
More Helpful Guides: |
How can I get Canada PR with a low CRS score?
Canadian PR with a low CRS score is possible in 2024. You will have to explore different PNP options mentioned above, calculate the scores, check their minimum score requirement and then start following the process step by step.
Btw, you must know about this already, You can figure out if you can improve your score by re-taking IELTS exams. To see if you can get a better IELTS score. If you can’t just explore the different PNP options I have explained above and find their minimum requirements.
My CRS score was 373, so that’s the direct answer to your question. If I can do it with low CRS scores, you can do it as well. I have shared all my experiences and the steps I followed to apply SINP on my own. You can check my other blogs to know what and how I achieved my dream.
So, First, believe in yourself and make up your mind that you have set a goal and you want to achieve it.
Keep hustling.
Keep moving towards your goal.
Do not lose hope!
Low CRS Score: Conclusion
PNP is the best way to achieve your Canadian dream if you are having low CRS scores.
Like I have mentioned above, I too had low CRS points below 400.
Must watch: HOW I GOT CANADA PR from INDIA with a LOW CRS SCORE of 373? | without any Agents :
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I hope I have covered all the detailed information and answered all the important questions about low CRS score PNPs (Provincial Nominee Programs).
Must Read | SINP PNP – A 2024 Step-by-Step Guide
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