The Canada Express Entry Program is a points-based immigration program for professionals looking to settle in Canada. It awards points to professionals based on skills, experience, Canadian employment status and provincial/territorial nomination.
Canada’s provincial nominee programs (PNPs) offer a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for individuals who are interested in immigrating to a specific Canadian province or territory. Each Canadian province and territory operates its own PNP designed to meet its specific economic and demographic needs.
The first step is to apply to the province or territory for nomination under the non-Express Entry stream. If you meet the eligibility requirements and qualify through the individual In-demand Occupation Lists of some provinces, you will get a nomination from the province if your occupation is on the list. You can then apply for a Canada PR Visa. You will now have to submit a paper application for your PR visa. The processing time is usually longer than through the Express Entry system.