[Published
21 Apr, 2025 | 05:46 AM]
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In recent months, several Canadian provinces have updated the way they select candidates for permanent residence (PR) through their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Previously, many PNPs offered direct application streams - usually requiring a job offer - where eligible foreign nationals could apply and, if successful, receive a provincial nomination.
Now, most PNPs have shifted away from direct applications. Instead, you must first create a profile in the province’s Expression of Interest (EOI) system. The province then selects candidates through invitation-only draws. If you receive an invitation, you can submit a full application for the province to consider you for a nomination.
An Expression of Interest (EOI) system is a way to manage immigration applications.
Individuals who wish to immigrate to a particular province or territory start by submitting an EOI, where they provide details about their skills, work experience, education, and other qualifications. Here’s what the process looks like:
Provinces may also conduct special draws with added criteria beyond the basic stream requirements. For instance, Manitoba might hold a draw specifically for candidates who have completed post-secondary education within the province.
Recently, Yukon announced a major change to its Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) that foreign nationals can no longer apply directly. Instead, their employers must now submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) on their behalf for consideration under the program. With this update, Yukon becomes the first territory to adopt the EOI model, joining a growing number of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) making similar changes.
In March 2025, New Brunswick transitioned two of its enhanced pathways under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) to an EOI system. Whereas, in February 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador confirmed it would implement an EOI model for both its PNP and its portion of the Atlantic Immigration Program.
Earlier in September 2024, Alberta introduced an EOI system for select streams within the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP).
The following provinces and territories use an EOI system for at least one of their immigration streams:
Provinces and Territories that have not adopted the EOI systems
The following provinces and territories have not operated an EOI system for immigration:
Every eligible candidate under the EOI system competes with other candidates for a limited number of invitations. There are several things you can do to increase your chances of success when you apply for Canada PR through an EOI system:
In 2022/23, every Canadian province and territory saw record-high immigration, with the largest population gains from international migration since 1971. However, each region faces a fixed annual quota for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nominations, set by the federal government.
In the 2025 Canada Immigration Levels Plan, PNP targets were cut by 50%, forcing provinces to reduce nominations. Some, like Newfoundland and Labrador, secured increases by accepting more humanitarian immigrants. To better align immigration with labour market needs, many provinces now use Expression of Interest (EOI) systems.
Unlike first-come models, EOIs let provinces create a pool of candidates, select those with in-demand skills, streamline processing, and keep applicants eligible year-round, improving flexibility and responsiveness to economic needs.
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