Two provinces issue ITAs in general draws. Quebec and British Columbia have issued invitations to apply to candidates through provincial immigration programs this week. Most Canadian provinces and territories (with the exception of Quebec and Nunavut) operate their own Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs). Through these programs, interested candidates may be invited to apply for a provincial nomination. Although provincial nomination is not in itself the same as a permanent residence, it can act as the first step towards gaining permanent residence from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

1. Quebec and British Columbia issue
invitations for provincial
immigration

2.  Quebec and British Columbia have issued invitations
to apply to candidates through provincial
immigration programs this week.
 Most Canadian provinces and territories (with the
exception of Quebec and Nunavut) operate their own
Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs). Through
these programs, interested candidates may be invited
to apply for a provincial nomination. Although
provincial nomination is not in itself the same as a
permanent residence, it can act as the first step
towards gaining permanent residence
from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Canada (IRCC).

3.  Quebec’s immigration programs are administered by
the province and are distinct from Canada’s
immigration programs. Quebec is the only province
that has control over all economic class immigrants.
 The PNP accounts for over 80,000 PR admissions
per year. It began in 1998 and the steady increase in
the number of PNP admissions in Canada each year
is because the federal and provincial governments
consider it an effective tool to promote the economic
development of the country outside of the provinces
and urban centres with already high immigrant
populations.

4. Quebec
 Quebec invited 1,195 skilled workers to apply for
permanent selection on September 29.
 There were no specific NOC’s or locations targeted in this
draw. Candidates had to have profiles in
the Arrima Expression of Interest system with scores of
at least 597 points. This is a lower score than the last
general draw that took place on September 15, when the
score was 620.
 This is the twelfth draw Quebec has held in 2022 and the
third draw in the month of September. This is unusual as
Quebec typically only holds draws once a month. Quebec
does not release draw results until one to two weeks after
draws occur.

5.  The invitations were issued by the Ministère de
l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration
(MIFI) to immigration candidates applying under
the Quebec Regular Skilled Worker
Program (QSWP)
 Those who are invited to apply for permanent
selection by Quebec have a maximum of 60 days to
submit their application and pay processing fees.
Quebec aims to process complete applications within
six months, starting on the date all the required
information has been received. This includes all
forms and documents.

6. British Columbia
 More than 364 candidates were invited to apply
for provincial nomination in British Columbia on
October 12.
 The province invited 320 candidates in a general
draw. The invitations were issued to candidates in
the Skilled Worker and International Graduates
categories and included Express Entry candidates.
 Candidates in the general draw had minimum SIRS
scores of 78 for Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
candidates. SIRS acts much like the Express
Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) but is
only used for British Columbia’s PNP.

7.  The province also held rounds of invitations for candidates
working in the following occupations.
 25 early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 4214) with
scores of at least 60 points; and
 19 Healthcare workers from the Skilled Worker, International
Graduate, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (includes EEBC
option) with scores of at least 60 points
 Healthcare assistants from the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
category with minimum scores of 60 and;
 Other priority occupations with minimum scores of 60
 This will be the final draw for the BC PNP for a month as
British Columbia recently announced that it will be pausing
draws between October 12 and November 16 due to the
transition from NOC 2016 to NOC 2021, an updated method
of assessing a candidate’s skill level in economic immigration
programs.

8. THANK YOU