A provincial nomination is a wonderful vote of confidence: a province or territory has chosen you to build your life there. With Express Entry, that nomination adds 600 points to your score and usually leads to an invitation in the next eligible round. Your e-APR then has to show two things at once: that you still fit your province’s stream, and that you meet one of the three federal Express Entry programs. Read this with our main e-APR guide for the forms, police certificates, medical exam and fees.
From nomination to invitation
- 01
Show the nomination in your profile
Under “Nomination and selection”, answer “yes” to having a nomination and choose the nominating province or territory.
- 02
Give the province your numbers
Contact the province outside your account and give it your Express Entry profile number and Job Seeker validation code, so it can confirm your nomination with IRCC.
- 03
Accept within 30 days
A message at the top of your profile asks you to accept or reject. You have 30 calendar days to choose “accept” or “not accept”.
- 04
Receive your confirmation
You get a PDF letter in your account confirming the nomination, and the province sends you a paper copy of your nomination certificate.
- 05
Get your 600 points and invitation
IRCC adds 600 points. You will normally be invited in the next eligible round, subject to your province’s nomination space and the rules of each round.
How the 600 points work
- Six hundred points is the maximum for additional factors, so if you already had additional points for a job offer or study in Canada, only the 600 for your nomination count.
- You can only receive the 600 points once.
- You can only have one nomination at a time. If you want a different province to nominate you, you must reject the nomination you have first.
- If you reject or ignore a nomination, you stay in the pool if you are still eligible, and you can be invited under another Express Entry program.
Two sets of requirements, both at once
When you submit your e-APR, IRCC’s instructions say you must show that you meet your provincial program’s requirements and the requirements of one federal program: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Federal Skilled Trades Program. The officer only needs you to meet one federal program. If you meet none of them, the application is refused, so check before you apply.
| Check | What it means for your documents |
|---|---|
| Your provincial stream | Your documents should match what you told the province: the same job, NOC, employer and history |
| One federal program | Upload the same proof as other applicants: reference letters, language results, ECA and, where needed, proof of funds |
| Your intention to live there | You must plan to settle in the province or territory that nominated you |
| Admissibility | Medical exam, police certificates and background checks, as for every applicant |
For the federal side, our program guides list the exact documents: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program and Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Do you need proof of funds?
It depends on the federal program you qualify under. IRCC does not require settlement funds for the Canadian Experience Class, or for Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades applicants who are authorized to work in Canada and have a valid job offer. If you only meet the Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades program without that exemption, you need proof of funds. Your province’s stream may have its own funds rules too, so check its guide. The system asks everyone for a funds document; if you are exempt, upload a short letter explaining why.
How long your nomination is valid
When a province confirms your nomination with IRCC, it records the date your certificate was issued and the date it expires. Each province sets its own validity, so the date on your certificate is the one that counts. Two examples from provincial websites, checked on November 8, 2026:
| Province | Validity | If you need more time |
|---|---|---|
| Manitoba (MPNP) | Nomination certificates are valid for 6 months | Ask the MPNP for a new certificate with an extended deadline through its Skilled Worker webform |
| Ontario (OINP) | Your Confirmation of Nomination is valid for 6 months from the date of nomination | An extension may be granted if your IRCC application was returned as incomplete, or you were delayed gathering documents such as a police check |
If your nomination is withdrawn
| When it is withdrawn | What you must do |
|---|---|
| Before you are invited | Withdraw your profile from the pool and submit a new profile |
| After you are invited, before you apply | Decline the invitation, withdraw your profile and submit a new profile |
| After you have applied | IRCC will refuse the application and will not refund your fees |
IRCC also says it will refuse your application, without a refund, if you choose to apply after your nomination was withdrawn. Manitoba, for example, says it can withdraw a nomination at any time before IRCC grants permanent residence if it is not satisfied that you still meet the requirements you were nominated under. Once you have applied, use IRCC’s web form to tell it if a province withdraws your nomination, or if you no longer plan to live in the province that nominated you.
Your nomination documents
- Keep your nomination certificate and approval letter safe. Provinces such as Manitoba and Ontario tell nominees to include them in their permanent residence application.
- Your documents should tell the same story as your provincial application: the same employer, job title, NOC and dates.
- For your dependent children, age is locked on the date your province received your complete nomination application, not the date you submit your e-APR. A child who was under 22 then can still be a dependant.
Frequently asked questions
I was nominated but my profile expired. What now?
You need a new Express Entry profile, and the province needs your new profile number and Job Seeker validation code to confirm the nomination. Ontario, for example, asks for your new profile details if your profile expires while your provincial application is in process.
Can two provinces nominate me?
Not at the same time. You can receive more than one notification of interest, but you can only hold one nomination. To accept a different one, reject the nomination you have first.
Does the nomination guarantee approval?
No. IRCC makes the final decision, including whether you meet a federal program and are admissible. A strong, consistent e-APR gives you the best chance.
What if I no longer plan to live in the province that nominated me?
Tell IRCC through its web form as soon as possible. IRCC says provincial nominees must settle in the province or territory that nominated them, and lists this as a change you must report.
You don’t have to face the wait alone.
Thousands of people have shared their real timelines so the next person isn’t left guessing in the dark. Add yours, keep your own application and your family’s together in one place, and see a grounded estimate of how long your decision might take, drawn from people who are walking the same path.
- Share your timeline and help the next applicant find their footing.
- Track your own and your family’s applications together, in one calm place.
- See a realistic estimate of your wait, based on people on the same journey.
It’s free, and what you track stays private to you. Sharing your timeline with the community is always your choice.
IRCC’s current estimate for an application submitted today. It is a guide to plan around, not a promise about your own file. Details
Key takeaways
- An accepted nomination adds 600 CRS points and usually leads to an invitation in the next eligible round.
- At e-APR time you must still meet your provincial stream and at least one federal Express Entry program.
- Submit before your nomination certificate expires: Manitoba and Ontario certificates are valid for 6 months.
- IRCC: Provincial Nominee Program, Express Entry: who can apply (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Get or confirm a nomination (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Provincial Nominee Program, Express Entry: apply for permanent residence (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Express Entry, after you apply (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Express Entry, proof of funds (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC program delivery instructions: Express Entry via the Provincial Nominee Program (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC program delivery instructions: assessing an Express Entry application (A11.2) (opens in a new tab)
- Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program: nomination and withdrawal of nomination (opens in a new tab)
- Ontario: OINP application process (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026