Advantages of the Prince Edward Island Canada Provincial Nominee Program — Express Entry Category

In recent years — Prince Edward Island (PEI), the smallest and least populated Canadian province — has welcomed a record-high number of new immigrants. In 2018, more than 2,000 newcomers chose to migrate to PEI due to the high demand for skilled workers, a broad range of job opportunities, affordable cost of living, and a moderate climate in the province. The Canada Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) provides a direct pathway to permanent residence in PEI.

Each Canadian province and territory, except Quebec, has established its own dedicated PNPs, which are run by the provincial government in collaboration with the federal government. These PNPs nominate eligible foreign nationals to live and work in the province, under various immigration categories. Nominated candidates can then apply for permanent residence (PR) to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

The PEI PNP’s Express entry Category has minimal eligibility requirements and a streamlined procedure, which explains its popularity among aspirants who are targeting PEI as their desired destination. There are several additional advantages associated to the Express Entry category:

· The PEI PNP ranks and selects candidates based on a point allocation grid — similar to that of the Saskatchewan PNP. Highest-ranking candidates are invited to apply for nomination. This ensures that the selection process is entirely merit-based and transparent.

· Under the Express Entry Program, a provincial nomination can add 600 points to the CRS score, thus drastically increasing the likelihood of receiving an invitation to apply for PR.

· Certain pathways such as the Atlantic Immigration Pilot and British Columbia PNP require a full-time permanent job offer from a local employer to be nominated for by the province. A major advantage of the PEI PNP is that while a job offer can certainly enhance eligibility under the Express Entry stream, it is not a mandatory requirement.

· There is no fee applicable for submitting an Expression of Interest under the PEI Express Entry Category. To apply for nomination, the applicant is required to follow a very simple application process; and submit a nominal fee of $300 CAD, which is far lower in comparison to the nomination application fee of other provinces such as Ontario and British Columbia.

· Unlike the Manitoba PNP, candidates for PEI’s Express Entry stream do not have to demonstrate an established connection to the province.

By pursuing the Express Entry Category of PEI’s Canada Provincial Nominee Program, immigration aspirants can gain access to diverse employment opportunities, rewarding social benefits, and a balanced lifestyle for themselves and their families in one of Canada’s most tranquil and idyllic provinces.