From 2022 onwards PNP - Provincial Nominee Program has emerged as one of the foremost immigration pathways for Canada. The success of PNP is projected to continue according to the Immigration Levels Plan in Canada for 2023-2025.

The two options to apply for PNP are:

Outside of Express Entry

The application process outside Express Entry is referred to as Base Provincial Nomination. In this process, applicants have to decide their destination to reside in Canada and file an application for nomination with that territory or province directly.

The candidates who get the nomination from the territory or province can then submit an application for Canada PR Visa in that region through IRCC - Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Via Express Entry

The second option is to file an application for PNP through Express Entry. Candidates have to be qualified for a minimum of 1 of the 3 programs managed through the Express Entry System:

·         Federal Skilled Worker Program

·         Canadian Experience Class

·         Federal Skilled Trades Program

After the candidate becomes eligible and creates a profile in Express Entry, they will be assessed for receiving an ITA depending on their score under CRS - Comprehensive Ranking System.

A few of the factors impacting the core under CRS are unchangeable. For example, you can consider the age of the candidates. But a few factors included under CRS score are variable like Education. For offering details about their overseas education, candidates have to obtain the ECA - Educational Credential Assessment.

IRCC reviews ECA for understanding how the educational credentials obtained overseas are on par with standards in Canada

The significance of an ECA for the PNP

When a candidate creates a profile in Express Entry, they have to also indicate any particular territory or province that they are inclined to immigrate to. It will highlight to the specific governments in the regions that the candidate is keen to get the PR Visa to settle in that territory or province.

Territories and Provinces managing a PNP also periodically search for potential candidates in Express Entry who are eligible for receiving their nominations for immigration to that specific region.

In both instances, ECA will offer a higher score in CRS and enhance the appeal of the candidate in Express Entry for territories and provinces. This enhances their prospects of receiving the PNP nomination.

PNP streams that need an ECA

A few streams under PNP require ECA for fulfilling minimum eligibility criteria. For example, if the candidate has earned academic credentials overseas, they have to get the ECA to fulfill the eligibility criteria to receive ITA under FSWP.

However, this condition holds well only for those candidates who are qualified for FSWP. It is not applicable for those candidates who are eligible for FSTP or CEC under Express Entry.

So in this manner, your ECA can have a considerable influence on your PNP application.

To know how you can leverage your ECA for immigration to Canada, contact New Land Visas the Best Immigration Agency for Canada.