Provincial Nominee Program Update — May 18, 2026
Monday, May 18, 2026
Multiple provinces held significant PNP draws in late April and early May 2026: New Brunswick issued 373 invitations (April 30–May 3), British Columbia issued 333 Skills Immigration invitations (May 6), Manitoba issued 906 Letters of Advice to Apply (May 7), and Quebec invited 2,555 skilled workers across PSTQ streams (April 30).
As of March 30, 2026, a regulatory update transferred authority from IRCC to provinces and territories, making provinces solely responsible for assessing certain eligibility factors for PNP applicants.
Ontario's OINP underwent a major overhaul effective May 2026, and Manitoba began targeted MPNP Expression of Interest (EOI) draws, while Nova Scotia introduced new EOI validity period rules.
What You Should Do
- If you are targeting British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, or Quebec, check each province's official PNP portal immediately: BC PNP at welcomebc.ca, Manitoba at immigratemanitoba.com, New Brunswick at welcomenb.ca, and Quebec PSTQ at immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca — draw invitations are being issued now and eligibility criteria vary by stream.
- Review Ontario's updated OINP streams effective May 2026 at ontario.ca/oinp to confirm your eligibility under the new program structure before submitting an Expression of Interest.
- If you received a provincial nomination after March 30, 2026, be aware that provinces are now solely responsible for assessing certain eligibility factors under the new regulatory changes — confirm with the nominating province that your nomination file is complete and compliant with the updated rules.
- Nova Scotia applicants: Check the new EOI validity period rules at novascotiaimmigration.com to ensure your EOI does not expire before you receive an invitation.
Sources
Topics Covered
PNP Federal-Provincial Authority Transfer: Effective March 30, 2026, regulatory changes transferred responsibility for assessing certain PNP eligibility factors from IRCC to provinces and territories, giving provinces sole authority over those assessments.
PNP Express Entry Draw Trends: Provincial draws remain active across Canada in May 2026, with Manitoba issuing 906 Letters of Advice to Apply, Quebec inviting 2,555 skilled workers, BC issuing 333 invitations, and New Brunswick issuing 373 invitations in a single week.
More Provincial Nominee Program Updates
Provincial Nominee Program Update — June 4, 2026
Jun 4, 2026
Provincial Nominee Program Update — June 1, 2026
Jun 1, 2026
Provincial Nominee Program Update — May 30, 2026
May 30, 2026
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