An OINP nominee (points added Feb 2023, express entry invitation June 2023, awaiting COPR) asked whether he could move to another province for work. Member consensus:
- A PNP nomination carries a residency expectation. If you obtain PR through a provincial nomination, you are expected to stay in the nominating province for a minimum period. Members treated this as applying from the nomination approval onward, and one put the commonly cited figure for Ontario at about 2 years after getting PR.
- The commitment starts with the nomination, not later. When asked whether the stay requirement applies 'after getting PR or after approval of PNP', the reply was: after PNP approval. Moving away while the PR application is still in process (before COPR) is the riskiest window, since the application rests on your stated intention to reside in that province.
- Practical takeaway for this case: wait until PR is granted, and plan to establish yourself in Ontario for roughly the first two years before relocating for a job elsewhere.
Caveat: this reflects group members' understanding, not legal advice. Canadian PRs have Charter mobility rights, and how provinces treat early moves varies — anyone considering relocating soon after a provincial nomination should confirm with a licensed immigration professional, as misrepresenting intent to reside can have consequences.