Can moving to other provinces help you get Canadian PR? 

Well, temporary residents in Canada sometimes wonder if moving to another province can help them get permanent residency (PR). In many cases, the answer is yes. Some Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams allow people living in one province to apply to a program in another province. If the province selects you and gives you a nomination, this can greatly increase your chances of becoming a permanent resident.

Moreover, most PNP programs usually prefer candidates who already live or work in that province. However, some PNP streams still accept people from outside the province. If you get PR through one of those streams, you would only need to move to that province after you receive your PR status.

This article explains which PNP options are still open to candidates who are not currently living in that province. All of these programs have held draws in the last two months, which shows they are active and still inviting new applicants.

Note: All provinces require applicants to show that they truly plan to live in that province. Before giving a nomination, provinces want candidates to state that they will move there and make it their long-term home. After receiving PR, PNP candidates are expected to live in the province that nominated them.

Many of the PNP streams in this article are Express Entry–aligned (also called enhanced streams). This means provinces can select people directly from the Express Entry pool if their work experience and background match the province’s needs.

Below is a table showing the provinces, their programs, and which ones recently invited candidates from outside the province:

Province  PNP Stream 
Alberta  Alberta Express Entry Stream 
British Columbia  Skilled Worker Stream 
Entrepreneur Stream (Base and Regional) 
Manitoba  Skilled Worker Overseas
Ontario  Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream
Employer Job Offer: International Student stream
Prince Edward Island  Skilled Worker Outside PEI

Alberta Express Entry Stream

Who This Stream Is For:

The Alberta Express Entry stream is for skilled workers who are inside or outside Alberta and have an active Express Entry profile. Alberta looks for people with experience in high-demand fields such as tech, healthcare, agriculture, construction, aviation, or law enforcement.

The program sometimes holds general draws, but it also has targeted pathways for tech workers, healthcare workers, law enforcement, and other priority areas.

Eligibility Highlights

To be eligible, candidates must have:

  • An active Express Entry profile under FSWP, CEC, or FSTP
  • A CRS score of at least 300
  • A primary occupation that matches Alberta’s priority sectors
  • A job offer only for certain pathways

A job offer is required for:

  • Accelerated Tech Pathway (unless already working full-time in Alberta)
  • Law Enforcement Pathway (must have an offer from an Alberta police agency)
  • Priority Sector Pathways (if the invitation is based on a job offer)

A job offer is not required for:

  • General Alberta Express Entry draws
  • Priority Sectors Pathway (occupation-based selection)
  • Dedicated Healthcare Pathway (depending on AAIP selection)

Most Recent Draw: November 14

Total Invitations In 2025: 2,155

Express Entry–Aligned: Yes

British Columbia Skilled Worker Stream

Who This Stream Is For:

This British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) stream is for skilled workers who have a full-time, permanent job offer from a BC employer in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation. Candidates must also have at least two years of work experience in that job.

BC uses this stream to bring in experienced workers who can help fill key roles in the province’s labour market.

Eligibility Highlights

To apply, candidates must:

  • Have a full-time, permanent job offer from a BC employer
  • Work in a NOC TEER 0–3 occupation
  • Have at least two years of full-time work experience in that occupation
  • Have employer support and a signed Employer Declaration Form
  • Meet minimum education and language requirements (CLB 4 or higher)
  • Be paid at or above the regional median wage
  • Have the skills, certification, or license required for the job (if needed)

Most Recent Draw: October 2, 2025

Total Invitations In 2025: < 568

Express Entry–Aligned: Yes

Note: Because the province received fewer nomination spots in 2025, the province now invites candidates through general draws across all three skilled worker streams.

British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration (Base And Regional Streams)

Who These Streams Are For:

These BC PNP streams target people who want to start or buy a business in British Columbia. The Base Stream is for entrepreneurs with higher net worth who want to set up a business anywhere in BC. On the contrary, the Regional Stream focuses on people who want to run a business in smaller BC communities.

Eligibility Highlights

Criterion  Base Stream  Regional Stream 
Minimum Net Worth  $600,000 CAD  $300,000 CAD 
Business Experience  3 years as owner-manager in past 10 years  3 years as owner-manager in past 5 years 
Minimum Investment  $200,000 CAD in an eligible new/existing business  $100,000 CAD in a new business aligned with the host community 
Job Creation  1 full-time job for a Canadian or PR  1 full-time job for a Canadian or PR 
Language Proficiency  Minimum CLB 4 in English or French  Minimum CLB 4 in English or French 
Business Type  New or acquired business anywhere in B.C.  New business aligned with community priorities 
Community Referral  Not required  Required along with an exploratory visit 

Both streams require candidates to meet licensing standards, wage rules, and business eligibility rules.

Most Recent Draw: November 18

Total Invitations In 2025: 103

Express Entry–Aligned: No

Manitoba Skilled Worker Overseas Stream

Who This Stream Is For:

This stream is for skilled workers living outside Canada who have a real connection to Manitoba and plan to live in the province permanently.

You can meet the “genuine connection” requirement if you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through a Manitoba-led recruitment initiative. These special programs target workers from outside the province who match Manitoba’s labour and immigration needs.

This stream is also a good option for people who have family members already living in Manitoba.

Eligibility Highlights

To qualify, candidates must:

  • Score at least 60/100 on the MPNP assessment
  • Show a valid connection to Manitoba (family, past work/study, or an official Manitoba Invitation)
  • Show employability and a good settlement plan
  • Meet language requirements (CLB 5 or CLB 4 for TEER 4/5 jobs)
  • Have enough settlement funds
  • Not have stronger ties to another province

Most Recent Draw: November 20

Total Invitations In 2025: < 1045

Express Entry–Aligned: Yes

Ontario Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream

Who This Stream Is For:

This stream is for people, inside or outside Canada, who have a job offer in Ontario for a skilled job (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3). It also includes eligible doctors, even if they don’t currently have a job offer, as long as they meet certain conditions. Unlike other streams, applicants must have either the required work experience or the proper license for their job.

Eligibility Highlights

Candidates must:

  • Receive an invitation to apply after completing an EOI profile
  • Have a full-time, permanent job offer in a TEER 0–3 job
  • Be paid at or above the median wage
  • Show the job is urgently required by the employer
  • Show intent to live and work in Ontario’s post-permanent residence
  • Have legal status in Canada (if applying from within Canada)
  • Have either:
    • Two years of work experience in the same NOC within the last 5 years, or
    • A required license for regulated jobs

Job Offer Requirement: Job offers must be from an employer who meets certain eligibility criteria, including business revenue thresholds, number of full-time Canadian/ permanent resident employees, and domestic recruitment efforts (unless exempt). 

Most Recent Draw: October 9

Total Invitations In 2025: 4,128

Express Entry–Aligned: No

Ontario Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream

Who This Stream Is For:

This stream is for recent international graduates from approved Canadian schools who have a full-time, permanent job offer in Ontario in a skilled job (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3). It lets international students, whether they are in Canada or abroad, apply for permanent residence without needing any previous work experience.

Eligibility Highlights

Candidates must:

  • You must get an invitation to apply after submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).
  • You need a job offer in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 job. The job must:
  • Be full-time (at least 30 hours per week)
  • Be permanent (no end date)
  • Be mainly based in Ontario
  • Be important for the employer’s business
  • The job offer must pay at least the low-wage level for that job and region in Ontario.
  • You must have completed one of the following in the last two years:
  • A full-time diploma or degree program (at least two years) at an approved Canadian school, or
  • A full-time graduate diploma or certificate program (at least one year) at an approved Canadian or Ontario school.
  • You must have completed more than half of your studies while living in Canada.
  • You must have a valid licence or authorization if your job is in a regulated profession.
  • You must plan to live and work in Ontario after getting PR.
  • If you are applying from inside Canada, you must have valid legal status.

Most Recent Draw: October 9

Total Invitations In 2025: 5,540

Express Entry–Aligned: Yes

Prince Edward Island Skilled Workers Outside Canada Stream

Who This Stream Is For:

This stream is for skilled workers living outside Canada who have a job offer from a PEI employer in a high-skilled job. It helps PEI fill labour shortages in important sectors like healthcare, trades, and childcare. The employer must be approved by the PEI Office of Immigration before the worker can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).

Eligibility Highlights

To apply, candidates must:

  • Have a full-time, non-seasonal job offer in a TEER 0–3 job
  • Ensure the employer has authorization from PEI’s Office of Immigration
  • Have two years of full-time experience within the past five years
  • Have legal status in their current country
  • Have a two-year post-secondary diploma or degree
  • Be between ages 18 and 59
  • Meet language requirements (CLB 4 minimum)
  • Have proof of settlement funds
  • Intend to reside in PEI

Job Offer Requirement: Job offers must be pre-authorized by PEI’s Office of Immigration and meet conditions of being permanent or at least two years in duration.

Most Recent Draw: November 20

Total Invitations In 2025: > 659

Express Entry–Aligned: No

Is More Coming Next Year?

Canada’s new Immigration Levels Plan shows that PNP admissions will increase by 41,000 spots next year compared to 2025. This means provinces are expected to play a much bigger role in immigration in 2026.

Although nothing is guaranteed, this increase may give more chances to people who are open to moving to other provinces to get a nomination. With larger quotas, provinces might be able to invite more candidates from outside their own province, but we’ll have to wait and see how this actually plays out.

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