Provinces and territories nominate candidates who fit their own labour-market needs.
Almost every province and territory runs its own immigration streams, selecting people who fit that province's specific labour market. A nomination is not permanent residence by itself — it is a province telling the federal government that it wants you — but it carries enormous weight in the federal system.
There are two shapes to be aware of. An enhanced stream is aligned with Express Entry: a nomination adds 600 CRS points to your federal profile, which is half the maximum possible score and in practice decisive. A base stream sits outside Express Entry entirely, with its own separate application to IRCC afterwards and its own timeline.
Because each province sets its own criteria and its own intake, this is the most fragmented area of Canadian immigration. Streams open and close, criteria change, and what is true of one province tells you very little about another. Most provinces also expect a genuine intention to settle in that province specifically.
| Run by | Individual provinces and territories |
|---|---|
| Enhanced streams | Aligned with Express Entry — nomination adds 600 CRS points |
| Base streams | Outside Express Entry, with a separate application to IRCC |
| Criteria | Set by each province, and changed by each province |
| Nomination is | A step toward permanent residence, not a grant of it |
What an application on this route usually involves. Not a checklist that guarantees anything — IRCC sets the requirements, and they change.
Whether it fits you is what a consultation is for. This page cannot answer that and does not try to.
Once you are in the Express Entry pool, the CRS decides where you rank. These are IRCC's published maximums, out of a total of 1,200.
Changed in 2025: Arranged employment no longer earns CRS points. IRCC removed job offer points on 25 March 2025 — previously 200 for senior management roles and 50 for other skilled occupations. Older guides and third-party calculators still show them.
| Section | With a spouse | Without a spouse |
|---|---|---|
| A. Core / human capital factors | 460 | 500 |
| B. Spouse or common-law partner factors | 40 | n/a |
| C. Skill transferability factors | 100 | 100 |
| D. Additional points | 600 | 600 |
| Maximum total | 1,200 | 1,200 |
| Factor | With a spouse | Without a spouse |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 100 | 110 |
| Level of education | 140 | 150 |
| First official language | 128 | 136 |
| Second official language | 22 | 24 |
| Canadian work experience | 70 | 80 |
| Factor | Maximum points |
|---|---|
| Provincial or territorial nomination | 600 |
| French language skills | 50 |
| Post-secondary education in Canada | 30 |
| Brother or sister living in Canada (18+, citizen or permanent resident) | 15 |
| Age | With a spouse | Without a spouse |
|---|---|---|
| 17 or younger | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | 90 | 99 |
| 19 | 95 | 105 |
| 20 to 29 | 100 | 110 |
| 30 | 95 | 105 |
| 31 | 90 | 99 |
| 32 | 85 | 94 |
| 33 | 80 | 88 |
| 34 | 75 | 83 |
| 35 | 70 | 77 |
| 36 | 65 | 72 |
| 37 | 60 | 66 |
| 38 | 55 | 61 |
| 39 | 50 | 55 |
| 40 | 45 | 50 |
| 41 | 35 | 39 |
| 42 | 25 | 28 |
| 43 | 15 | 17 |
These are IRCC's published maximums, reproduced for reference. A score is not an eligibility decision and does not predict an invitation: IRCC sets the cut-off for each round after the fact, and it moves. ZIMMR does not publish target scores.
Reproduced from IRCC's published criteria, verified 14 August 2026. See the official page
There is no common provincial framework. Criteria, intake and processing differ, and guidance written about one province is frequently wrong about another.
Many streams open for short periods, sometimes with little notice, and close once a quota is met. Preparation has to be done before the window, not during it.
The federal application that follows is assessed separately, including admissibility, and can be refused on grounds the province never examined.
Applications that read as though the province was chosen only for the points tend to be assessed that way.
600 CRS points, which is half the 1,200-point maximum and by a wide margin the largest single factor in the system.
Nomination is granted on the basis that you intend to live in that province. Mobility rights exist under the Charter, but applying with no genuine intention to settle where you are nominated is a misrepresentation risk, not a loophole.
Enhanced streams connect to your Express Entry profile and add the 600 points. Base streams run entirely outside Express Entry with their own separate application to IRCC afterwards.
Provinces run their own processes and each has its own rules about concurrent applications. Some restrict it. This needs checking per province rather than assuming.
That is the one question this page cannot answer. Start with the free assessment, then bring your situation to a consultation with the RCIC-IRB.
Start Your AssessmentBook a paid consultationThis page is general information. It is not an assessment of your eligibility, and nothing on it is immigration advice for consideration. Provincial Nominee Programs matters at ZIMMR are advised on directly by Irshad Osman, RCIC-IRB.
Verify on the CICC public registerThe categories were overhauled in February 2026 and the occupation lists were rewritten with them. The STEM category in particular is much narrower than it once was: it no longer includes software engineers, software developers, data scientists, computer engineers or web developers. Guides written before 2026 — and most third-party category checkers — still show the old lists.
The only category based on language rather than occupation. No job list applies — it turns on French test results.
The largest category by occupation count, spanning physicians and nurses through to technologists, assistants and social services roles.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 31100 | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 1 |
| 31101 | Specialists in surgery | 1 |
| 31102 | General practitioners and family physicians | 1 |
| 31103 | Veterinarians | 1 |
| 31110 | Dentists | 1 |
| 31111 | Optometrists | 1 |
| 31112 | Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 1 |
| 31120 | Pharmacists | 1 |
| 31121 | Dietitians and nutritionists | 1 |
| 31200 | Psychologists | 1 |
| 31201 | Chiropractors | 1 |
| 31202 | Physiotherapists | 1 |
| 31203 | Occupational therapists | 1 |
| 31209 | Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 1 |
| 31300 | Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 1 |
| 31301 | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 1 |
| 31302 | Nurse practitioners | 1 |
| 31303 | Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 1 |
| 32101 | Licensed practical nurses | 2 |
| 32102 | Paramedical occupations | 2 |
| 32103 | Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 2 |
| 32104 | Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 2 |
| 32109 | Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment | 2 |
| 32111 | Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 2 |
| 32120 | Medical laboratory technologists | 2 |
| 32121 | Medical radiation technologists | 2 |
| 32122 | Medical sonographers | 2 |
| 32123 | Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 2 |
| 32124 | Pharmacy technicians | 2 |
| 32129 | Other medical technologists and technicians | 2 |
| 32201 | Massage therapists | 2 |
| 33101 | Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 3 |
| 33102 | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates | 3 |
| 33103 | Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 3 |
| 41300 | Social workers | 1 |
| 41301 | Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies | 1 |
| 42201 | Social and community service workers | 2 |
Much narrower than its name suggests. It is built around engineering and engineering technology — not software.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 20011 | Architecture and science managers | 0 |
| 21220 | Cybersecurity specialists | 1 |
| 21300 | Civil engineers | 1 |
| 21301 | Mechanical engineers | 1 |
| 21310 | Electrical and electronics engineers | 1 |
| 21321 | Industrial and manufacturing engineers | 1 |
| 21331 | Geological engineers | 1 |
| 22300 | Civil engineering technologists and technicians | 2 |
| 22301 | Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians | 2 |
| 22310 | Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians | 2 |
| 63100 | Insurance agents and brokers | 3 |
Construction and skilled trades, plus the management roles that run them.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 22303 | Construction estimators | 2 |
| 63201 | Butchers — retail and wholesale | 3 |
| 70010 | Construction managers | 0 |
| 70011 | Home building and renovation managers | 0 |
| 72100 | Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors | 2 |
| 72102 | Sheet metal workers | 2 |
| 72106 | Welders and related machine operators | 2 |
| 72200 | Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 2 |
| 72201 | Industrial electricians | 2 |
| 72300 | Plumbers | 2 |
| 72302 | Gas fitters | 2 |
| 72310 | Carpenters | 2 |
| 72311 | Cabinetmakers | 2 |
| 72320 | Bricklayers | 2 |
| 72400 | Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 2 |
| 72401 | Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 2 |
| 72402 | Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 2 |
| 72422 | Electrical mechanics | 2 |
| 72501 | Water well drillers | 2 |
| 72999 | Other technical trades and related occupations | 2 |
| 73100 | Concrete finishers | 3 |
| 73110 | Roofers and shinglers | 3 |
| 73112 | Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) | 3 |
| 73113 | Floor covering installers | 3 |
| 82021 | Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling and services | 2 |
School teaching and early childhood education. Post-secondary teaching sits in the researchers category instead.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 41220 | Secondary school teachers | 1 |
| 41221 | Elementary school and kindergarten teachers | 1 |
| 42202 | Early childhood educators and assistants | 2 |
| 42203 | Instructors of persons with disabilities | 2 |
| 43100 | Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants | 3 |
A short list weighted towards aviation, plus vehicle mechanics.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 22313 | Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors | 2 |
| 72404 | Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors | 2 |
| 72410 | Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers | 2 |
| 72600 | Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors | 2 |
The same three physician occupations as the healthcare category, but the experience must have been gained in Canada.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 31100 | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 1 |
| 31101 | Specialists in surgery | 1 |
| 31102 | General practitioners and family physicians | 1 |
The four TEER 0 senior management occupations, with Canadian experience required.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 00012 | Senior managers — financial, communications and other business services | 0 |
| 00013 | Senior managers — health, education, social and community services and membership organizations | 0 |
| 00014 | Senior managers — trade, broadcasting and other services | 0 |
| 00015 | Senior managers — construction, transportation, production and utilities | 0 |
University teaching and research roles, with Canadian experience required.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 41200 | University professors and lecturers | 1 |
| 41201 | Post-secondary teaching and research assistants | 1 |
A narrow route tied to the Canadian Armed Forces' Foreign Skilled Military Applicant process, not to ordinary work experience.
| NOC | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|
| 40042 | Commissioned officers of the Canadian Armed Forces | 0 |
| 42102 | Specialized members of the Canadian Armed Forces | 2 |
| 43204 | Operations members of the Canadian Armed Forces | 3 |
Being eligible for a category does not mean an invitation will follow. Candidates must first qualify for one of the three Express Entry programs to enter the pool at all, and category-based rounds still invite by ranking. IRCC sets and changes these categories, and the occupation lists are revised — check the IRCC page linked here for the version in force on the day you apply. ZIMMR does not publish target scores or predict rounds.
Reproduced from IRCC's published criteria. IRCC page last modified 22 June 2026; checked against the source on 12 September 2026.
Category-based selection on canada.caGeneral information. Which program fits your situation is a consultation question.
September 12, 2026
The OINP's streams are closed. Ontario now nominates through the Workforce Priority stream, using an Expression of Interest score and a job offer requirement.
ReadSeptember 12, 2026
Most Express Entry rounds now invite by category, not score alone. The ten categories, what each asks for, and why a high CRS score is no longer enough.
ReadSeptember 12, 2026
Your NOC code decides which Express Entry programs and categories apply to you. It is assigned on duties, not job titles — which is where most people go wrong.
Read