The best choice for Canada immigration: Canada PNP vs Canada Express Entry

Here we are to help you figure out the comparative advantages and disadvantages of the 2 main pathways of Canada immigration: Canada PNP and Canada Express Entry. It’s a comparison worth making because it makes sense to determine which is the best way for you to go when it comes to immigrating to Canada.

Understanding the Canada immigration pathways

So, first things first: Let’s understand in brief what Canada Express Entry and Canada PNP are:

Canada Express Entry

There are millions of individuals who think they are fit to migrate to Canada. They have an opportunity with Canada Express Entry to create a profile and give every information and documented proof to establish their worth to be considered fit for Canada immigration. If you are one among them, Canada Express Entry is the system that serves you right at a pan-Canada level.

As obvious as it must be, you are supposed to apply to the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) to get a visa called the Canada PR visa to become a permanent resident of Canada. But before doing that, IRCC must invite you after finding you deserving to immigrate to Canada. They rank you on a list of eligible candidates for which your human capital factors including age, education, work experience, and language proficiency are assigned points. The higher the total score (also called the CRS score), the higher your chances to get invited to apply for Canada PR.

All this procedure is executed under a system that is practically what Canada Express Entry is. This system of managing applications for immigration is done for 3 economic immigration pathways namely FSWP, FSTP, and CEC.

Know your eligibility to immigrate to Canada, through Y-Axis Canada Immigration Points Calculator.

Canada PNP (Provincial Nominee Program)

When the opportunity for immigration is accessed indirectly via provincial selections of the most suitable immigrants, PNP comes into play. Imagine that you, having an Express Entry profile, have all the skillset and experience that’s highly in demand in a certain province of Canada, you can express an interest to immigrate to Canada and settle in that province. Your profile will be checked to determine how resourceful you are to contribute to the development of the regional economy.

If you are found highly suitable for immigration to the province, it will invite you to apply for a provincial nomination. It means that the province nominates you for Canada immigration. Along with the nomination, 600 extra CRS points are granted to you so that you have a much higher overall score when the next federal immigration draw comes and you participate in it.

The answer to “So, what’s the best path for me?”

Let’s help you find the answer by bringing the comparative details of Canada PNP and Canada Express Entry to you.

	PNP	Express Entry
Requirement	You must get a job offer to qualify unless your job is listed in the NOC (National Occupation Classification) list of in-demand occupations.	Your CRS score has to be at least 67/100. This will be based on factors like: ·        Age: 18-55 years ·        Work experience: A minimum work experience of 3 years ·        Education: Graduate with a qualification ·        Adaptability: You must have an experience in Canada ·        Language proficiency in English and/or French (at least band 6) ·        Advantage: Arranged employment
Process	·        Express Entry Method: You create a profile online in the Express Entry system. Then you select provinces/territories you are interested in. You can file a direct application or wait for an NOI from a province/territory ·        Non-Express Entry Method: You file a direct application and submit an EOI if needed.	·        You create an online profile. Then you wait for the ranking you are assigned in the Express Entry pool of candidates. ·        You will get an ITA (invitation) for Canada PR if you happen to be among the candidates who rank the highest.
Notification	·        A letter of nomination will be issued to you if you get acceptance of a province/territory. ·        There will be 600 points added to your CRS score. This will help you to apply for Canada PR.	·        You will receive a nomination letter if you are accepted by a province/territory.
Selection	·        Your selection is based on your CRS score. ·        Your selection is also dependent on the requirements of the labor market of the province/territory.	·        Your selection is based on your CRS score.
Time	·        Express Entry method: It takes 4 to 6 months to complete processing your application. ·        Non-Express Entry method: It takes 15 to 19 months	·        It takes 4 to 6 months to process an immigration application.

So, as you can see, in general, if quicker immigration is your main concern and you have a high CRS score to your support, Canada Express Entry is the pathway to choose. If your CRS scores are average or less and/or agree with the slower processing of an application, PNP is the best way to choose.

While you can live and work anywhere in Canada if you immigrate through Express Entry, for PNP, you will have to commit to settling in a specific Canadian province.

Also, with PNP, you will have to pay the cost of application twice: once as provincial application fees and then federal government fees for Canada PR visa application.

If you are willing to migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the leading immigration and career consultant in the UAE.

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