Processing Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications: Making a final decision on the application

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

Approving the application

• send the CoPR and permanent resident visa (if applicable) to the applicant’s address in Canada
• inform the applicant that, in order to become a permanent resident, they have the option of either
  • presenting the CoPR and permanent resident visa (if applicable) to an officer at a Canadian port of entry
  • contacting the IRCC Call Centre to request an appointment at a local IRCC office.

  Refusing the application

  A provincial nominee who meets all statutory admissibility requirements can be refused a visa when the officer has reason to believe that one or more of the following applies

  • the applicant does not intend to live in the province that has nominated them
  • the applicant is unlikely to be able to successfully establish economically in Canada
  • the applicant is participating in, or intends to participate in, a passive investment or an immigration-linked investment scheme as defined in subsections R87(5) to R87(9) of the Regulations
  • the applicant has failed to meet the requirements of A11.2 (in the case of applications submitted through Express Entry).

  The Federal-Provincial/Territorial agreements include provisions on consulting nominating provinces and territories before refusal of PNP cases. They outline the consultations required for refusals, as well as the timeframe within which the province or territory has the opportunity to respond before the final refusal decision is made.

  All refused applicants must be provided with a formal refusal letter.

  Note: In any case where a refusal is based on the lack of (or withdrawal of) a provincial nomination certificate, the legal reference should be to R87(2). Refusal letters addressed to provincial nominees should not cite Immigration and Refugee Protection Act A20(2). This subsection of the Act is specific to Quebec cases only.