PNP and AIP Program Updates: Growing Restrictions Across Canadian Provinces (As of July 2025)

In 2025, several Canadian provinces and territories have introduced new limits and priority criteria for their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). These changes are largely due to a significant increase in application volume and limited nomination allocations. Below is a summary of the latest updates by region.

Nova Scotia is prioritizing applicants who are:

• Already living and working in the province, with work permits expiring in 2025
• Especially those working in:
  • Healthcare and social assistance (NAICS 62)
  • Construction (NAICS 23)

Applicants from abroad in these priority sectors are still being considered, while most applications from non-priority sectors are not currently being processed.

Additionally, since April 17, 2024, Nova Scotia has stopped accepting new PNP applications in the Accommodation and Food Services sector (NAICS 72) due to a backlog of existing applications.

The Government of Yukon has implemented a controlled intake for the Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) in 2025. Invitations to apply are being sent only to selected employers who submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) during the intake period.

Priority applicants include:

• Foreign nationals who have lived and worked in Yukon for at least one year
• Graduates of Yukon University
• Francophone or French-speaking candidates
• Recipients of a previous temporary measure letter of support

Remaining nomination spots are being distributed via random selection, rather than a first-come, first-served model.

As of April 4, 2025, New Brunswick has paused the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) for the remainder of the year, having reached its full nomination allocation.

• New endorsement applications and new employer designations under AIP are no longer being accepted.
• Applications submitted on or before April 4 will continue to be processed.
• Applications submitted after that date are being closed.

Due to the high volume of submissions, processing times are significantly delayed, and there is no guarantee that applications will be evaluated before current work permits expire.

British Columbia has announced that out of its 4,000 PNP nomination spots for 2025, 2,900 will be used to process existing applications, leaving only 1,100 spots for new applicants.

New nominations are focused on:

• Candidates in the Health Authority Stream (healthcare professionals)
• Entrepreneurs under the Entrepreneur Immigration stream
• Skilled workers who can contribute significantly to BC’s economy

The Northwest Territories Nominee Program is open only for a limited intake period in 2025:

• Applications are accepted between 9 a.m. (MST) on July 2 and 5 p.m. (MST) on July 9.

Across Canada, PNP and AIP application processes are being restructured to prioritize applicants who:

• Are already residing and working in the region
• Work in high-demand sectors such as healthcare, construction, and social services
• Have ties to the province through study, work history, or language

Many provinces have moved away from a first-come, first-served model and are implementing quota-based selection systems or temporary pauses in response to overwhelming demand.

Prospective applicants should carefully review the current criteria for each province and seek professional guidance to plan accordingly.

Shiraishi Visa JP Canada continues to monitor these developments and is available to assist with immigration strategy and application support tailored to current program realities.