On March 12th, 2019, the Government of Canada announced 2,000 additional spaces under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This is great news for temporary foreign workers as the announcement provides more possibility for those who are eligible to be admitted to Canada as a permanent resident.
The additional 2,000 PNP spaces are intended primarily for existing long-term Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada with intermediate skills classified as National Occupational Code “C” who have integrated into Canadian society.
The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship commented on the announcement emphasizing the value of Temporary foreign workers to the Canadian economy.
“Temporary foreign workers fill long-term labour market needs and contribute to the growth of our economy. We recognize the need to provide opportunities for them to transition to permanent residence – and these additional spaces under the Provincial Nominee Program will do just that.”
The PNP encourages participating provinces and territories to nominate a fixed number of economic immigration candidates for permanent residence so the provinces can meet local labour market needs.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) also said that the additional spaces will not impede IRCC’s progress in decreasing processing times overall for the PNP, while also aiming to help address ‘worker vulnerability’.
For 2019, Canada has increased its admissions target to 61,000 for the PNP under its Multi-Year Immigration Levels plan, an increase of 6,000 when compared to last years target.
To find out if you are eligible under the PNP or have any questions about permanent residence please contact us directly.
