2025 Canada PNP Update: Provinces Gain More Nomination Spots

Provincial Nominee Program Allocations See Boost Across Most Provinces in 2025

Immigration is a big part of what keeps Canada thriving — from growing our economy to supporting essential industries. That’s why the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) plays such a vital role in ensuring skilled newcomers can settle and succeed in communities across the country. In 2025, despite some initial cuts, most provinces and territories saw increases to their PNP nomination allocations, giving them more flexibility to welcome newcomers based on regional labour market needs.

If you’re considering applying for permanent residence through a PNP, this year’s changes could be good news for you. Let’s break down what’s happened with PNP allocations in 2025, why it matters, and what it could mean for your immigration journey.

Key Highlights

• Most provinces and territories saw an increase in their 2025 PNP nomination allocations after a rocky start to the year.
• Alberta, New Brunswick, and Manitoba received the largest allocation increases.
• Ontario and Prince Edward Island did not see any additional nomination slots in 2025.
• Several provinces implemented new stream restrictions or priorities to align with federal mandates.
• Federal cuts earlier in the year halved overall PNP targets, but increases followed as provinces negotiated for more spots.
• Allocation increases may signal a higher PNP landing target in 2026.

What Happened with the PNP Allocations in 2025?

At the beginning of 2025, most provinces were working with significantly reduced nomination allocations. The federal government had halved the PNP targets compared to 2024 in their Immigration Levels Plan (2025–2027), creating uncertainty and leading some provinces to pause or restrict certain immigration streams.

Thankfully, throughout the year, many provinces successfully negotiated increases to their allocations. In total, 8,683 additional nomination spots were granted across the country, bringing the total number of nominations available to 45,048 for 2025.

Who Benefited the Most?

Here’s a quick look at the top three provinces that received the largest increases this year:

• Alberta: Gained an additional 1,528 spots, bringing its total allocation to 6,403.
• New Brunswick: Received 1,500 extra nominations, raising its total to 4,250.
• Manitoba: Added 1,489 nominations to reach 6,239 in total for 2025.

Other provinces like British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador also saw meaningful increases. Meanwhile, Ontario and Prince Edward Island did not receive any additional spots beyond their initial allocations.

Why Were PNP Allocations Cut in the First Place?

In late 2024, Canada’s federal government announced significant cuts to provincial economic immigration targets in an effort to slow overall immigration growth and manage processing backlogs. The PNP targets for 2025 dropped from 120,000 planned admissions in 2024 to just 55,000 — a drop of over 50%.

At the same time, the government introduced a new rule requiring that 75% of nominees must already be in Canada — a major shift that influenced how provinces selected candidates. This meant that provinces had to adjust their streams, often prioritizing temporary residents in key sectors already working in Canada.

How Provinces Adapted

To comply with the reduced allocations and new federal guidelines, several provinces made notable changes to their PNPs:

• British Columbia paused three new graduate streams and waitlisted certain applications.
• Nova Scotia focused on healthcare, construction, and social assistance workers with expiring permits.
• Prince Edward Island prioritized workers in healthcare, trades, and childcare.
• New Brunswick halted new Expressions of Interest for one stream and focused on key sectors like healthcare and education.
• Saskatchewan limited overseas recruitment and introduced nomination caps for certain industries.

Despite these challenges, most provinces still managed to secure increases in their 2025 allocations — a promising sign for the future.

What This Means for Immigration Candidates

If you’re currently working or studying in Canada and considering applying for permanent residence, these changes could work in your favour. Since internal candidates are being prioritized, you’ll likely have a better shot at being nominated if you already have Canadian work experience or a valid job offer.

For those applying from overseas, the path may be narrower, but not impossible — especially if you have experience in high-demand sectors like healthcare, construction, or skilled trades.

To explore your options, consider using our PNP eligibility assessment tool or learning more about how points are calculated under programs like the Manitoba PNP.

Quick Refresher: How the PNP Works

The Provincial Nominee Program is designed to allow provinces and territories (except Quebec and Nunavut) to select immigrants who can help meet regional labour market needs. There are two main ways to apply:

1. Base PNP Stream

In this route, you apply directly to a province. If nominated, you then submit a separate application for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Processing times can be longer — often more than a year.

2. Enhanced PNP Stream

This option is linked to Express Entry, Canada’s online system for skilled immigration. If a province nominates you through an enhanced stream, you’ll receive 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, practically guaranteeing an invitation to apply for PR in the next draw. Processing times are generally faster — around six months.

Final Thoughts

While 2025 started off with uncertainty for provincial immigration, things have stabilized for the most part — and even improved. Most provinces are now working with expanded allocations, giving skilled workers more opportunities to apply for permanent residence through the PNP.

If you’re already in Canada or have skills in high-demand fields, now is a great time to explore your options and prepare your application. With potential increases to PNP landing targets in 2026, your pathway to permanent residency could be just around the corner.

Looking to find out if you qualify for a PNP? Use our PNP assessment tool to check your eligibility and take the next step toward your Canadian immigration journey.