Difference between PNP and Express Entry
The federal government, as well as the provinces and territories, are allowed to run their own immigration programmes in Canada. However, whether a candidate is granted permanent residence is ultimately decided by the federal government.
Three of the several economic immigration programmes run by the federal government are managed through Express Entry.
Provinces and territories can inform the federal government that an immigrant candidate satisfies the economic needs of their region through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Such candidates receive a provincial nomination, which they can submit with their federal application for permanent residency.
The single most important factor for Express Entry's CRS is a provincial nomination, which awards an additional 600 points to the candidate's CRS score and all but ensures that they will be granted an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
Even if an Express Entry candidate does not originally have a high enough ranking score to acquire an ITA from the federal government, they may receive a nomination from a province or territory through Express Entry, boost their CRS score by 600 points, and then receive an ITA from the federal government during the following Express Entry pool draw.
