2025 Year in Review : Provincial Immigration Across Canada
Canada PNP in Review: Key Changes in 2025 and the Outlook for 2026
Provincial immigration in Canada underwent sweeping changes in 2025, altering how provinces select newcomers and how applicants must plan their permanent residence strategies. What began as a routine policy cycle quickly evolved into a year of recalibration, as federal decisions significantly reduced Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) admissions and forced provinces to rethink their approach to immigration.
Federal Policy Shift Sends Shockwaves Through PNPs
The most consequential change came from Ottawa’s revised immigration planning. When the federal government released the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan in October 2024, it introduced a sharp reduction in PNP admissions for 2025. The national target for PNP landings was set at 55,000, compared to 110,000 in 2024. This abrupt adjustment represented a 50% reduction in provincial immigration admissions within a single year.
What made the cut more striking was how far it deviated from earlier expectations. Under the 2024–2026 Immigration Levels Plan, provinces had been preparing for 120,000 PNP landings in 2025. The revised plan, therefore, removed 65,000 expected spots, forcing provinces to immediately scale back their immigration ambitions.
Federal Target Comparison
| Levels Plan | Overall PR admissions target (2025) | PNP admissions target (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024–2026 plan | 500,000 | 120,000 |
| 2025–2027 plan | 395,000 | 55,000 |
Lower federal landings targets directly reduced the number of nomination certificates available to provinces, triggering widespread program changes.
Provincial Nomination Allocations Shrink Nationwide
The initial provincial and territorial allocations for 2025 were as follows:
| Province/Territory | Initial 2025 allocation |
|---|---|
| Alberta | 4,875 |
| British Columbia | 4,000 |
| Manitoba | 4,750 |
| New Brunswick | 2,750* |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 1,525* |
| Northwest Territories | 150 |
| Nova Scotia | 3,150* |
| Ontario | 10,750 |
| Prince Edward Island | 1,025* |
| Saskatchewan | 3,625 |
| Yukon | 215 |
Atlantic provinces often reported combined figures for PNP nominations and Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) endorsements. These reduced numbers immediately limited how many skilled workers, international graduates, and entrepreneurs could be nominated for permanent residence.
How Provinces Reengineered Their Immigration Systems
Common Provincial Responses in 2025
- Suspension or closure of select PNP streams
- Merging multiple pathways into fewer, occupation-focused programs
- Narrowing eligibility to priority sectors and employers
- Increasing reliance on Expression of Interest (EOI) ranking systems
- Prioritising candidates already residing and working in Canada
These adjustments reshaped immigration access in provinces such as Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and the Atlantic region.
Quebec’s Separate Direction
Ottawa Expands Allocations After Provincial Pushback
Conditions Linked to the Increases
- Some allocation increases were conditional on at least 75% of nominees being inside Canada
- In certain cases, additional economic nominations were linked to agreements involving humanitarian or asylum intake
Final 2025 Allocations After Federal Increases
| Province/Territory | Initial 2025 allocation | Later 2025 (after increases) | Net change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | 4,875 | 6,403 | +1,528 |
| British Columbia | 4,000 | 6,214 | +2,214 |
| Manitoba | 4,750 | 6,239 | +1,489 |
| New Brunswick | 2,750* | 4,250 | +1,500 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 1,525* | 2,525 | +1,000 |
| Northwest Territories | 150 | 300 | +150 |
| Nova Scotia | 3,150* | 3,709 | +559 |
| Ontario | 10,750 | 10,750 | +0 |
| Prince Edward Island | 1,025* | 1,600 | +575 |
| Saskatchewan | 3,625 | 4,761 | +1,136 |
| Yukon | 215 | 282 | +67 |
2026 Immigration Levels Plan Brings Renewed Optimism
A significant policy reversal arrived in November 2025 with the release of the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan. Under this framework, Ottawa raised the national PNP admissions target to 91,500 in 2026, with a projected range of 82,000 to 105,000.
What the Higher PNP Target Means for Provinces
- Larger nomination allocations
- More frequent EOI draws
- Reopening or expansion of paused immigration streams
- Improved planning for employers and labour shortages
- Greater emphasis on converting temporary residents to permanent residents
Governor General’s Role Remains Advisory
Key Questions for Provincial immigration in Canada
Going forward, provinces are expected to prioritize candidates with Canadian work experience, strong language skills, and long-term settlement intent, while limiting low-wage or short-term applications.
Express Entry–aligned PNP streams remained highly competitive, as nominees received an additional 600 CRS points, making provincial nomination one of the most reliable pathways to permanent residence.
Key changes included more targeted occupation-based draws, stronger employer requirements, increased use of Express Entry–aligned streams, and stricter compliance measures to ensure genuine job offers and regional retention.
Provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia conducted frequent draws, focusing on healthcare, technology, trades, education, and agri-food occupations.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) played a central role in 2025, with provinces selecting candidates aligned with local labour shortages, regional settlement goals, and economic priorities, reducing reliance on federal-only selection.
Looking Ahead: A Reset, Not a Return to the Past
For immigration candidates, the lesson is clear: provincial pathways remain highly viable, but success will increasingly depend on timing, occupation alignment, and strategic program selection. As Canada moves deeper into 2026, provincial nominee programs are poised to regain momentum, albeit with a more selective and structured approach than in previous years.
