Canada Provincial Nominee Program From Pakistan: 11 Provinces, 600 Extra Points and the CAD 1,590 Fee

Short answer: Canada's Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) lets 11 provinces and territories pick skilled people for permanent residence. You apply to a province first. If it nominates you through Express Entry, you get 600 extra points, which usually means an invitation to apply. If you are not in Express Entry, you apply for permanent residence directly after the nomination. IRCC's fee for the main applicant is CAD 1,590, including the right of permanent residence fee, plus CAD 85 for biometrics. Quebec and Nunavut have no PNP.

We read IRCC's PNP page and fee list on canada.ca on 6 November 2026. On 5 November 2026, IRCC also said its 2027 to 2029 levels plan increases planned admissions under the PNP, though it gave no figures. For a Pakistani engineer, nurse, IT worker or tradesperson, the PNP is now one of the main routes to Canada, next to federal Express Entry.

Each province runs its own streams, sets its own rules and decides how many people it nominates each year. This guide lists all 11, explains the two routes, and shows the costs and the scams to avoid.

Provincial Nominee Program means a province chooses you first

Under the PNP, a province or territory names people who have the skills, education and work experience its economy needs, and who want to live there. The province's nomination does not make you a permanent resident. IRCC still checks your health, security and documents and makes the final decision.

Provinces use "streams", which are small programmes aimed at groups such as skilled workers, semi-skilled workers, students and business people. Some streams need a job offer from an employer in that province. Others choose from Express Entry profiles. The rules change often, so always read the province's own page before you start.

All 11 provincial nominee programmes and where to apply

IRCC lists 11 programmes. Quebec selects its own immigrants under a separate system, and Nunavut has no programme.

Use only these government websites, or the links from IRCC's own PNP page. Pages that copy a province's name and ask for a "registration fee" are not official.

The Express Entry route adds 600 points to your score

If you qualify for both a provincial stream and one of the 3 federal programmes managed through Express Entry, you use the Express Entry route. Express Entry is Canada's online system that ranks skilled workers by a points score.

1. Check that you qualify for a provincial stream and an Express Entry programme.
2. Create an Express Entry profile and select the provinces you are interested in.
3. If a province sends a "notification of interest" to your account, or you apply to it directly, apply for its nomination.
4. If nominated, update your Express Entry profile to show the nomination. IRCC adds 600 points.
5. Wait for an invitation to apply, then submit your permanent residence application online.

600 points is a large jump in the ranking. Our Express Entry eligibility guide explains the federal programmes and the language and education checks most Pakistani applicants need.

The non-Express Entry route goes straight to IRCC after nomination

If you qualify for a provincial stream but not for a federal Express Entry programme, you use the non-Express Entry route. This often suits semi-skilled workers who have a job offer in the province.

1. Check that you meet the province's stream rules.
2. Apply to the province for a nomination.
3. If nominated, apply to IRCC for permanent residence online.

IRCC's page warns that processing times may rise on either route if more people apply than the levels plan allows. Check the current time in IRCC's processing time tool before you plan a move.

PNP fees: CAD 1,590 to IRCC, plus the province's own fee

IRCC charges the same fee for a provincial nominee as for other economic immigration applications. The province may charge its own nomination fee as well. That fee is set by each province, and we have not listed it because it varies by stream.

A married applicant with one child would pay IRCC CAD 1,590 plus CAD 1,590 plus CAD 270, plus CAD 170 for family biometrics. That is CAD 3,620, before the province's fee, language tests, credential assessment and medical exams.

What the new levels plan changes for provincial nominees

IRCC's 2027 to 2029 levels plan says planned PNP admissions will increase, working with provinces. It also creates a one-time workers cohort of up to 100,000 people already in Canada, who provinces can nominate with extra space. That cohort is for people already living in Canada, not applicants in Pakistan. The plan keeps permanent resident admissions at 380,000 a year to 2029.

For an applicant in Pakistan, the useful message is that provinces will have more room. The way to use it is still the same: a strong Express Entry profile, a good language score, and an eye on the streams of the provinces that need your job.

Avoid PNP scams that target Pakistani applicants

No agent can sell a provincial nomination. Provinces decide nominations themselves, and IRCC makes the final decision. Be careful of three common offers:

• A "guaranteed nomination" or "guaranteed PR" for a fee.
• A job offer that you must pay for, often called an LMIA letter for sale. Read how one Karachi Canada work visa scam worked.
• A website with a province's name that is not the province's official domain.

If you hire a consultant, check the licence first with our CICC licence guide. Paid representatives must be authorised, and the applicant must sign the application personally.

Common questions

Can I apply for a Canada PNP from Pakistan?

Yes. Many streams accept applicants who live abroad, especially those linked to Express Entry. Some streams need a job offer in the province or study in Canada, so read each stream's rules.

How many points does a provincial nomination give?

600 extra points in Express Entry, according to IRCC. That usually leads to an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

What is the IRCC fee for a provincial nominee?

CAD 1,590 for the main applicant including the right of permanent residence fee, CAD 1,590 for a spouse, CAD 270 per child and CAD 85 for biometrics. The province may charge its own fee too.

Which provinces do not have a PNP?

Quebec and Nunavut. Quebec runs its own selection system. Nunavut has a separate immigration page.

Does a PNP nomination guarantee permanent residence?

No. IRCC still checks your medical exam, police certificates and documents before it decides. A nomination makes approval more likely but is not a visa.

Is the 100,000 workers cohort open to people in Pakistan?

No. IRCC says it is for people already living in Canada, nominated by provinces using extra space in 2027.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 6 November 2026. The PNP routes, the 600 points, the list of provinces and the warning on processing times are from IRCC's "Immigrate as a provincial nominee" page on canada.ca, dated 14 September 2026. Fees are from IRCC's fee list, dated 21 September 2026. The planned PNP increase and the workers cohort are from IRCC's levels plan backgrounder of 5 November 2026. Provincial nomination fees were not checked.