4 New Canada PNP Updates In December That You Must Know

Last Updated On 25 December 2025, 10:42 AM EST (Toronto Time)

December marks an important month for Canada Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), with several provinces confirming they have fully exhausted their 2025 nomination allocations.

Furthermore, some PNPs have released early but important information indicating that 2026 will be more restrictive, more sector-focused, and more competitive than in previous years.

Unlike routine draw announcements, these updates directly reshape who can apply, when they can apply, and which occupations and worker profiles will realistically stand a chance of receiving a provincial nomination in 2026.

Below is a province-wise breakdown of the four most important PNP updates released in December that every worker, international graduate, employer, and immigration planner must understand.

British Columbia PNP Updates

On December 18, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada formally notified British Columbia that its 2026 Provincial Nominee Program allocation will be limited to 5,254 nominations.

This figure is significantly lower than what British Columbia requested.

The province had formally asked for 9,000 nomination spaces to address persistent labour shortages across healthcare, construction, skilled trades, and high-growth economic sectors.

The reduction confirms that federal authorities are tightening provincial nomination ceilings as part of a broader recalibration of permanent residence admissions heading into 2026–2028.

However, we expect that these nomination allocations could be increased in mid-2026.

A smaller allocation immediately translates into fewer invitations issued across all BC PNP streams and a stronger preference for candidates with measurable economic impact.

The BC PNP has stated it is reassessing how to deploy this limited allocation and will publish official 2026 priorities in the new year.

Until those priorities are released, candidates should assume that competition will intensify across all categories.

BC PNP fully exhausts 2025 allocation after federal top-up

Earlier in the month, on December 15, 2025, British Columbia confirmed it received an additional 960 nominations from the federal government, raising its total 2025 allocation to 6,214 nominations.

All of these nominations are being applied strictly to priorities announced in April 2025, including:

Healthcare professionals
Entrepreneurs
High economic impact candidates
Select waitlisted International Post-Graduate applicants

The province confirmed it will use 100% of its allocation by December 31, 2025, leaving no remaining nomination capacity entering 2026.

December 10 high economic impact draw reveals new reality

On December 10, 2025, the BC PNP issued 410 invitations under its high economic impact selection category.

Invitations were issued to candidates who met one of the following thresholds:

Job offers paying at least $87 per hour or $170,000 annually in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations
A minimum registration score of 138 points

These are among the highest thresholds ever seen in BC PNP draws and signal that future invitations may increasingly favour senior professionals, specialized roles, and candidates with exceptional labour market value.

Alberta PNP Updates

In December, the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program confirmed it has officially reached its full 2025 nomination allocation.

Alberta began the year with 4,875 nominations, later receiving 1,728 additional spots, bringing its official allocation to 6,603 nominations.

Due to a small Express Entry administrative overage authorized by the federal government, the province ultimately issued 6,750 nominations.

The final rounds of invitations, published retroactively, primarily targeted healthcare professionals.

How Alberta distributed nominations in 2025

Alberta conducted 77 draws in 2025, the highest number among all Provincial Nominee Programs.

Stream-wise distribution:

Alberta Opportunity Stream: 3,712
Rural Renewal Stream: 1,040
Dedicated Health Care Pathways: 563
Tourism and Hospitality Stream: 294
Alberta Express Entry Stream pathways:
- Accelerated Tech Pathway: 452
- Law Enforcement Pathway: 23
- Priority sectors and initiatives: 643
Entrepreneur Streams: 23

While Express Entry draws occurred most frequently, the majority of nominations were issued through the Alberta Opportunity Stream.

What Alberta applicants face going into 2026

As of late December:

1,479 applications remain under processing
45,622 Expressions of Interest are sitting in the pool
No further nominations are expected until 2026 as confirmed by AAIP

This data underscores how competitive Alberta has become, particularly for employer-driven candidates and those outside healthcare and priority occupations.

Saskatchewan PNP Updates

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program has been allocated 4,761 nomination spaces for 2026, matching the total it ended 2025 with.

While the headline number remains unchanged, Saskatchewan is fundamentally restructuring how nominations will be distributed in 2026.

New priority sector framework

Beginning in 2026:

At least 50% of nominations will be reserved for priority sectors
No more than 25% will go to capped sectors
The remaining 25% will be allocated to other sectors

Priority sectors identified by Saskatchewan include:

Healthcare
Agriculture
Skilled trades
Mining
Manufacturing
Energy
Technology

Within this allocation, 750 nominations will be reserved specifically for graduates of Saskatchewan-based designated learning institutions employed in priority-sector occupations.

Candidates in priority sectors benefit from:

Continuous application intake
No six-month work permit expiry restriction
Ability to apply from outside Canada

Capped sectors and strict intake windows

The province is limiting nominations for the following sectors:

Accommodation and food services: up to 714 nominations
Trucking: up to 238 nominations
Retail trade: up to 238 nominations

Applications from capped sectors will only be accepted during 6 scheduled intake windows throughout 2025 and 2026, and candidates may only apply during the final six months of their work permit validity.

All capped-sector applications will be processed in 2026.

New restrictions for students and PGWP holders

Saskatchewan also announced sweeping eligibility changes effective in 2026:

Only graduates of Saskatchewan DLIs working in their field while living in the province qualify under the Student category
PGWP holders who studied outside Saskatchewan are no longer eligible after six months of work
PGWP holders are restricted to specific pathways such as health, agriculture, tech, and employment offer streams
Certain open work permits, including some spousal permits, are no longer eligible
Additional proof of Saskatchewan residency may be required

The province will host virtual information sessions on the recent program changes for employers on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at 10 a.m. (Join via Teams) and Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 3 p.m. (Join via Teams).

Ontario PNP – OINP Updates

On December 17, 2025, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program confirmed it issued its full 10,750 nomination allocation for 2025.

OINP will continue to accept new applications and those already submitted, but OINP will count all further decisions toward Ontario’s 2026 allocation.

Stream-wise invitation breakdown in 2025

Invitations issued by stream:

Employer Job Offer Foreign Worker: 4,860
Employer Job Offer International Student: 6,605
Employer Job Offer In-Demand Skills: 1,063
Masters Graduate: 0
PhD Graduate: 0
Entrepreneur: 0

The complete absence of invitations under the undergraduate and entrepreneur streams highlights Ontario’s increasing reliance on employer-driven immigration pathways.

Furthermore, OINP did not issue any provincial nomination invitations under its Express Entry streams during the entirety of 2025.

Taken together, December’s PNP announcements reveal a clear national shift:

Provincial nomination allocations are tightening, not expanding
Priority sectors dominate selection decisions
Employer support and wage levels carry greater weight than ever
International graduates face narrower pathways unless aligned with labour market demand

For candidates planning their immigration strategy in 2026, choosing the right province, occupation, and timing will be critical.

Programs are becoming more selective, more targeted, and far less flexible for general applicants.

December has made one reality clear: Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs are entering a new phase, and informed, province-specific planning will be essential for success.

Canada PNP Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the difference between a Provincial Nominee Program and Express Entry?

Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs allow provinces and territories to select immigrants based on local labour market needs, while Express Entry is a federal system that manages applications for economic immigration programs.
A key difference is control and selection logic. Provinces use PNPs to nominate candidates who match regional priorities, often requiring a job offer or local work experience. Express Entry, by contrast, ranks candidates nationally using the Comprehensive Ranking System and issues invitations based on score thresholds.
Many PNP streams are aligned with Express Entry, meaning a provincial nomination can add 600 CRS points, virtually guaranteeing an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

Do I need a job offer to apply for a Provincial Nominee Program?

Not always, but in many cases, yes.
Some PNP streams require a valid job offer from an employer in the province, especially employer-driven or in-demand occupation pathways. However, other streams focus on factors such as education, work experience, language ability, or previous ties to the province and may not require a job offer.
Whether a job offer is mandatory depends entirely on the province, the specific stream, and the applicant’s profile.

How long does the Provincial Nominee Program process usually take?

Processing times vary widely depending on the province, stream, and whether the application is Express Entry-aligned.
The process typically has two stages. First, the provincial nomination stage, which can take several months. Second, the federal permanent residence application stage, which is processed by the federal government.
Express Entry-aligned PNPs are generally faster overall than non-Express Entry streams, but timelines can still vary based on application volume and complexity.

Is a Provincial Nominee Program easier than Express Entry?

Express Entry is highly competitive because candidates are ranked nationally, often with very high score cutoffs. PNPs, on the other hand, focus more on occupation, regional demand, and employer needs rather than pure ranking scores.
For candidates with moderate CRS scores, specific work experience, or strong provincial ties, a PNP can be a more realistic pathway to permanent residence than relying on federal draws alone.

Satinder Bains

Satinder brings expertise, knowledge, and experience related to internal work flows at IRCC. She worked at Canadian Consulate in Chandigarh before moving to Canada. Her articles on “Chinook – An internal IRCC tool used to bulk process temporary applications” was one of the notable work on our news website