Express Entry and PNP: how they work and what to check first

These are programs through which candidates are selected by provinces

Full PNP name:

PNP is a provincial selection program.

Each participating province determines its own rules.

For example, she might search:

• people who already work in the region;
• candidates with a job offer;
• graduates of local educational institutions;
• specialists of certain professions;
• French-speaking candidates;
• other groups that the province needs.

If a province selects an individual, it may issue a provincial nomination.

In simple words:

nomination means that the province has selected the candidate under its program and is willing to support their continued immigration application.

But a nomination does not mean that permanent residence has already been approved.

The final decision still rests with IRCC.

When a province does not participate in the selection

The path looks like this:

1. check compliance with CEC, FSW or FST;
2. create an Express Entry profile;
3. get CRS;
4. participate in suitable rounds;
5. get an ITA if IRCC invites you;
6. apply for permanent residence.

This option is worth checking carefully if:

• you already qualify for one of the federal programs;
• know your current CRS;
• there are rounds that relate to your profile;
• you have French or another selection category that may be important;
• there is no explicit provincial program related to your situation.

Important:

Having an Express Entry profile does not guarantee an ITA.

Both federal and provincial rules apply here

To use this path, you must pass two separate checks.

Federal

You must meet CEC, FSW or FST.

Provincial

You must meet the specific provincial program requirements.

After this:

1. the province is considering your candidacy;
2. if the decision is positive, issues a nomination;
3. you are accepted into Express Entry;
4. the system adds 600 CRS;
5. the profile continues to participate in invitation rounds;
6. after the ITA, you apply for permanent residence.

The main thing:

PNP via Express Entry does not replace Express Entry.

It adds a provincial stage to the federal path.

Here CRS is not used at all

Some provincial programs operate independently of Express Entry.

The path looks like this:

1. find a provincial program;
2. check its requirements;
3. submit an application or other provincially mandated screening process;
4. get nominated;
5. then file a federal application for permanent residence.

In this version:

• no CRS rating;
• no Express Entry round;
• no ITA required from Express Entry.

Therefore, if such a provincial program is right for you, the question “how to increase CRS?” may not matter at all for this path.

Main conclusion:

PNP through Express Entry is not an “instead of Express Entry”, but an additional provincial selection within the general Express Entry path.

First, check your eligibility for the program: 600 points alone is not enough

PNP is especially worth learning if:

• the province has already sent a notification of interest in your profile;
• you work in this province;
• there is a job offer from a local employer;
• you studied in this province;
• your profession relates to the current priorities of the region;
• French is program specific;
• you have another real connection with the province;
• are you really ready to live there after immigration.

A low CRS in itself does not qualify for nomination.

The province conducts its own selection.

PNP may still make sense, but not always

A high CRS does not mean that provincial programs can be eliminated outright.

PNP may be relevant if:

• the province is already interested in your profile;
• you have a local job;
• there is a suitable employer;
• the program matches your situation well;
• you really want to live in this region.

But going through an additional provincial stage just for the sake of the number 600 itself is also not always wise.

If you already have a strong federal path, it needs to be evaluated separately.

It can be important at both the federal and provincial levels

Strong French can:

• give regular CRS language scores;
• give extra CRS points;
• open a separate federal selection in French;
• be relevant in some provincial programs.

Therefore, having French does not automatically mean:

"need to go to PNP."

Both levels need to be compared.

As of March 25, 2025, it no longer provides the previous 50 or 200 CRS

IRCC has removed CRS points for job offers.

But a job offer can still be very important:

• for requirements of certain federal programs;
• for many provincial programs;
• for programs where employer participation is mandatory.

That is:

a job offer no longer earns individual CRS points, but may completely change the list of available PNPs.

The province selects a candidate specifically for its region

The PNP exists so that provinces can attract people to suit their needs.

Therefore, with PNP, it is important to have a real intention to live in the province that nominates you.

This should not be taken as a formal tick.

The PNP should not be used just as a technical way to add 600 CRS if the person does not actually intend to live in that province.

Yes

It's not necessarily an either/or choice at the first stage.

A person can:

• have an Express Entry profile;
• study provincial programs in parallel;
• receive notification from the province;
• pass the provincial selection;
• receive and accept a nomination;
• after that you will receive an additional 600 CRS.

That is, PNP may appear after the Express Entry profile has been created.

There is no universal answer

You can't honestly say:

• Express Entry is always faster;
• PNP is always faster;
• PNP is always more difficult;
• the path without a province is always easier.

PNP usually adds a separate step:

• provincial requirements;
• additional selection;
• sometimes the employer;
• additional documents.

But Express Entry without PNP also does not guarantee an invitation.

The timing depends on:

• type of program;
• rounds of invitations;
• number of places;
• provincial work;
• federal review;
• completeness of the application;
• additional checks.

Therefore, you need to compare paths based on applicability to your situation, and not on the universal label “faster.”

Situation 1. There is a good Express Entry profile, but there is no connection with the province

Person:

• CEC compliant;
• knows his CRS;
• participates in suitable rounds;
• does not have a job offer or other connection with a specific province.

Here it is logical to first fully evaluate Express Entry and selection by category.

PNP can be explored, but it does not have to be the first option.

Here's one sentence:

"I have a low CRS"

not enough.

You need to check separately:

• current Ontario program;
• requirements for the employer;
• TEER;
• work experience;
• language;
• current provincial selection procedure.

If the program is truly relevant to the candidate's situation, the PNP may create an additional pathway.

In such a case, CRS may not be a major issue at all.

You need to check the PNP outside of Express Entry and the federal stage that follows the nomination.

You need to check at the same time:

• Federal CRS;
• federal selection in French;
• suitable provincial programs.

You cannot automatically select PNP just because French is important for one of the provinces.

This is especially useful if:

• there are several possible provinces;
• An Express Entry profile has already been created;
• CRS is close to recent qualifying rounds;
• the province has sent a notice of interest;
• there is a job offer;
• a spouse or partner can also be the main applicant;
• have strong French;
• experience relates to several NOCs;
• there is self-employment;
• the duration of the work permit affects the plan;
• it is unclear whether to wait for the federal round or use the provincial program;
• the province's program has recently changed.

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