Provincial Nominee Program and Express Entry: How to Get 600 Points
A provincial nomination linked to Express Entry adds 600 points to your CRS score. Without one, the maximum anyone can reach is 600, so a nomination almost guarantees an invitation in the next provincial nominee round. In 2026 those rounds have had cut-offs between 697 and 805, scores only nominated candidates can reach.
Enhanced vs base nominations
| Enhanced (linked to Express Entry) | Base (separate application) | |
|---|---|---|
| Linked to Express Entry | Yes | No |
| CRS points | +600 | None |
| Must qualify for FSWP, CEC or FSTP | Yes | No |
| Federal application | Through Express Entry | A separate PNP application to IRCC |
| Processing after nomination | Usually faster | Usually longer |
Only an enhanced nomination gives you the 600 points. Every province and territory with a nominee program, which is all of them except Quebec and Nunavut, has at least one stream linked to Express Entry.
Two ways to get nominated
The province finds you. Some provinces search the Express Entry pool for people who fit what they need, for example a certain occupation, French skills or a connection to the province. If you match, you get a notification of interest in your IRCC account and then apply to the province.
You go to the province first. You pick a stream, check its rules, send the province an expression of interest or an application, and create your Express Entry profile. If they nominate you, you accept the nomination in your profile.
To be found, keep your profile complete and accurate, and when the profile asks which provinces you’re interested in, choose all of them or the ones you’d genuinely move to.
After you’re nominated
- Accept the nomination in your IRCC account. Your score goes up by 600.
- Wait for the next PNP round, which is usually a matter of weeks.
- Send your application within 60 days of the invitation. Our documents checklist covers what you need.
- Pay the federal fees (from $1,590 for the principal applicant) plus any provincial fee.
You also have to intend to live in the province that nominated you.
What provinces tend to look for
- Work experience in jobs the province needs.
- A job offer or current work in the province.
- Study in the province.
- French skills, especially for Francophone communities outside Quebec.
- Family in the province.
- A decent CRS score, since some streams set a minimum.
Stream rules change often, and some streams open and close with little warning. Always check the province’s own website before you apply.
Switch the PNP answer in the calculator to compare.
Quick answers
Do I need a job offer to get nominated?
Not always. Some Express Entry streams pick people by occupation or ties to the province without a job offer. Others require one.
Which province is easiest?
There isn’t one easiest province. The best one is whichever stream fits your job, where you live and your language skills.
How long does it take?
Provincial processing can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. After you’re invited, IRCC’s posted processing time for Express Entry-linked PNP applications was around 6 months in September 2026. Check IRCC’s processing times tool for the latest figure.