From September 17, 2020 to November 17, 2020, provincial and territorial jurisdictions may request that paper-based Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications be placed on hold in cases where an applicant no longer has a valid job offer as a result of COVID-19 and their application was received prior to March 18, 2020. Applications will be put on hold until March 17, 2021, or until a new job offer is received along with a confirmation from the province or territory that it continues to support the nomination, whichever comes first.

This processing pause also applies to applicants nominated in a provincial or territorial business, entrepreneur, or self-employed stream. For these streams, the province or territory will issue a confirmation that the nomination on file is maintained or issue a new nomination.

Provinces and territories are responsible for advising the applicant that IRCC will put their PNP application on hold. Following the province or territory’s request, the applicant will be contacted via email by IRCC and provided with additional instructions on how to submit additional documentation. In the event an applicant contacts IRCC directly to request that their application be put on hold, IRCC will redirect the applicant to the nominating jurisdiction.

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