Many Canadian immigration programs use an Expression of Interest (EOI) system to select candidates for permanent residence (PR).
Canada’s immigration framework allows individuals to submit EOIs to multiple immigration programs at the same time. Doing so can significantly improve a candidate’s chances of receiving an invitation to apply for PR.
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This article explains what is allowed and what is not when submitting EOIs across different programs, and how to navigate the invitation and application stages.
Canada’s three main economic immigration pathways are Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).
Express Entry
To be considered for PR through Express Entry, candidates must meet the eligibility requirements for at least one of the programs managed under the system and submit an EOI by creating an Express Entry profile.
You may only have one active Express Entry profile at a time. However, you can be eligible for more than one Express Entry program simultaneously. Immigration authorities consider candidates in the following order: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, and Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Each candidate is assigned a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on factors such as age, education, work experience, and language ability. Candidates with the highest scores are issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) during Express Entry draws.
You may maintain an active Express Entry profile while also having an active EOI under another PR pathway, such as a Provincial Nominee Program.
If you receive an ITA through Express Entry, you can apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for PR. Even after submitting a PR application through Express Entry, you may remain eligible under other programs, such as a PNP or Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ), in case the Express Entry application is unsuccessful.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
To obtain PR through the PNP, candidates must first receive a provincial nomination. After securing a nomination, they can apply to IRCC for PR.
To receive a nomination, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria of a specific provincial stream and demonstrate a genuine intention to live and settle in the nominating province.
Submitting EOIs under the PNP
Rules for submitting multiple EOIs vary by province:
- Some provinces, such as Ontario, allow candidates to submit one EOI per stream.
- Others, such as Manitoba, restrict candidates to one active EOI across the entire program.
At the EOI stage, candidates are generally allowed to submit profiles to multiple provinces because they are not yet required to demonstrate intent to reside.
Intent to reside becomes mandatory at the nomination application stage. This typically involves submitting a written declaration and supporting evidence, such as employment, family ties, or housing plans in the province.
If a candidate receives invitations to apply for provincial nomination from more than one province, they must choose only one. It is not permitted to have multiple provincial nomination applications in progress at the same time. Doing so would be considered misrepresentation and may lead to serious consequences, including refusal of applications, removal from Canada, or a five-year ban from entering the country.
Express Entry and the PNP
Candidates are allowed to have an active Express Entry profile and an active EOI under a PNP at the same time. In fact, this approach often increases the likelihood of obtaining PR.
Most provinces operate both Express Entry aligned (enhanced) streams and non Express Entry linked (base) streams.
If a candidate receives a nomination through an enhanced PNP stream, they can add it to their Express Entry profile. This grants an additional 600 CRS points, virtually guaranteeing an ITA in a future Express Entry draw.
Having an Express Entry profile also allows provinces to identify suitable candidates. Provinces may issue a Notification of Interest (NOI), inviting candidates to apply for provincial nomination.
A candidate may receive NOIs from more than one province, but they may only proceed with one provincial nomination application. Any additional invitations must be declined.
Unless a province explicitly prohibits it, candidates may also submit EOIs under both enhanced and base PNP streams at the same time, provided eligibility requirements are met.
At the EOI stage, candidates may simultaneously have EOIs under Express Entry, one or more PNPs, Quebec’s Skilled Worker Selection Program, the AIP, and other programs.
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
The Atlantic Immigration Program offers a PR pathway for skilled workers and certain international graduates who wish to settle in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, or Nova Scotia.
The AIP is employer driven. Candidates must secure a job offer from a designated employer in Atlantic Canada, and the employer must obtain provincial endorsement of the offer.
Once an endorsement certificate is issued, the candidate can apply to IRCC for PR.
Many Atlantic provinces now use an EOI-style system under the AIP, treating initial candidate or employer submissions as EOIs.
To submit an EOI under the AIP, a candidate must already have a qualifying job offer. As a result, candidates cannot be considered across multiple Atlantic provinces unless they hold job offers in each province.
Candidates may be considered under multiple AIP streams until they receive an endorsement certificate from one province. Receiving an endorsement confirms intent to reside in that province.
Unless otherwise stated by a province, candidates are generally allowed to have an active AIP EOI and a PNP application at the same time for the same province.
At the same time, candidates may also maintain an Express Entry profile and indicate interest in settling in one or more Atlantic or non Atlantic provinces, allowing provinces to issue NOIs if they identify the candidate as a strong match.
Fictional example
Rayesha has worked in Alberta as a dental assistant on a Post Graduation Work Permit for two years. Before that, she studied in Saskatchewan, where her family currently lives.
She wishes to obtain Canadian PR and prefers to settle in Alberta, but she also has strong ties to Saskatchewan.
Rayesha qualifies under the Canadian Experience Class and creates an Express Entry profile, indicating interest in both Alberta and Saskatchewan. Her CRS score is 505, which is below recent Express Entry cut off scores.
To improve her chances, she submits an EOI to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program under the Alberta Opportunity Stream after receiving a job offer. At the same time, she submits an EOI to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program under the International Skilled Worker Occupations in Demand stream, which does not require a job offer.
Three months later, Saskatchewan invites her to apply for provincial nomination, and she submits her application. While that application is still in process, Alberta also issues her an invitation.
Because Rayesha already has a nomination application in progress with Saskatchewan and has declared intent to reside there, she cannot proceed with Alberta unless she withdraws the Saskatchewan application.
She chooses to withdraw her Saskatchewan application, submits her nomination application to Alberta, and is approved. With her provincial nomination, she applies to IRCC for PR.
A note on Quebec
Candidates may have an EOI in Quebec’s Arrima system while also having EOIs in other programs at the initial stage.
However, once a candidate accepts an invitation from Quebec and proceeds with that application, they must demonstrate intent to reside in Quebec. At that point, they cannot simultaneously pursue PR through programs designed for settlement outside Quebec, such as Express Entry or the PNP.
This would create a conflict of intent and would be considered misrepresentation under Canadian immigration law.
