Big Picture: PNP at the Heart of the 2026–28 Levels Plan Under the 2026–28 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada plans to admit 91,500 permanent residents through
Big Picture: PNP at the Heart of the 2026–28 Levels Plan
Under the 2026–28 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada plans to admit 91,500 permanent residents through Provincial Nominee Programs in 2026, up sharply from a 55,000 PNP target in 2025. That 66% increase restores PNP volumes to levels similar to 2023–24 and confirms that provinces will again play a leading role in selecting economic immigrants to fill local labour gaps.
IRCC has explicitly stated that the 2026 targets “boost admissions under the PNP,” which means more provincial nominations will be needed across the country to meet these federal numbers. As a result, candidates who can align with regional labour needs in provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and others will see more opportunities to secure nominations.
Provinces Are Raising Their Nomination Quotas
To hit a national target of 91,500 PNP admissions, IRCC must allocate larger nomination quotas to each province and territory. Projections and early announcements show significant increases in expected nominations, with examples like Ontario moving into the 14,000+ range for 2026 and other provinces following a similar upward trend from their 2025 base levels.
This expansion means:
- More spaces across Express Entry‑aligned (enhanced) PNP streams and base PNP streams.
- Additional room to clear backlogs from 2025 while still opening new intake in 2026.
- Ongoing prioritisation of in‑demand sectors like healthcare, construction, tech, agri‑food and skilled trades.
Even with higher quotas, provinces are signalling that competition will remain strong and that they will continue to focus on applicants who match specific occupational and regional needs.
Expect More Express Entry‑Aligned PNP Draws
Because many provincial streams are “enhanced,” they are directly linked to the federal Express Entry system. Provinces use these enhanced streams to search the Express Entry pool, issue nominations to suitable candidates, and then rely on IRCC to finalize permanent residence applications.
With higher PNP admissions targets, we can realistically expect:
- More frequent Express Entry‑aligned PNP draws at the provincial level (for example, Ontario, BC, Alberta and others issuing more Notifications of Interest or invitations).
- More PNP‑specific rounds of invitations in the federal Express Entry system, as IRCC invites nominated candidates to apply for PR in separate PNP rounds.
Recent Express Entry data already shows that PNP‑specific rounds remain small in volume but have very high CRS cut‑offs, indicating that nominees often start with lower base scores and use the provincial boost to secure invitations.
The +600 CRS Advantage for PNP Nominees
One of the main reasons PNP is so powerful is the CRS bonus it provides. Under the Express Entry system, a provincial nomination adds 600 points to your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This boost usually moves a candidate from being below the cut‑off to effectively “guaranteed” an Invitation to Apply in the next PNP‑focused Express Entry draw.
In practice, this means:
- Skilled workers with provincial nominations can receive ITAs even when general Express Entry cut‑offs are very high.
- Candidates with modest base scores (for example, older applicants, those with lower language scores or fewer years of experience) can still become competitive with the help of PNP.
- For many new applicants planning ahead for 2026–28, building a provincial strategy is just as important as building a strong CRS profile.
Enhanced PNP streams require a valid Express Entry profile, while base PNP streams operate outside Express Entry and have longer federal processing timelines.
Who Benefits Most from the 2026 PNP Boost?
Given the higher PNP targets and rising provincial quotas, the following groups stand to benefit the most:
- Skilled workers in in‑demand occupations (healthcare, tech, construction, trades, agri‑food, logistics, etc.).
- Candidates already living or working in a Canadian province on work or study permits.
- Applicants who are slightly below recent Express Entry CRS cut‑offs but can align with specific provincial selection criteria.
- Employers outside major metropolitan centres who rely on PNP pathways to retain or recruit foreign talent.
For these candidates, the 2026–28 plan is a strong signal to monitor provincial announcements closely and to be ready when new PNP intakes or targeted draws open.
How NewSteps Immigration Can Help New Clients in 2026–28
For new clients, understanding how PNP fits into your overall permanent residence strategy is now essential. At NewSteps Immigration, we help you:
- Identify which provinces and PNP streams match your occupation, language ability and settlement goals.
- Build or optimize your Express Entry profile so you are visible for enhanced PNP searches and ready for a +600 CRS boost.
- Prepare a step‑by‑step plan that combines PNP, Express Entry and, if needed, study or work permit options to build Canadian experience.
With PNP targets jumping to 91,500 in 2026 and remaining high through 2027–28, this is one of the best windows in recent years to explore provincial pathways to Canadian permanent residence