On April 1, 2021, IRCC launched an online permanent residence application portal enabling applicants who apply for select economic permanent resident programs to submit their applications online. These programs include:

1. Non-Express Entry (base) Provincial Nominee Program
2. Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
3. Agri-Food Pilot
4. Atlantic Immigration Pilot
5. Quebec Selected Investor Program
6. Quebec Entrepreneur Program
7. Quebec Self-Employed Persons Program

In addition, IRCC updated the terminology used in the departmental documents and guides removing the term “paper-based” applications under the Provincial Nominee Program to “non-Express Entry” applications under the Provincial Nominee Program. Those applications will now be called base nominations, while Express Entry PNPs will be called enhanced nominations. This means that almost all economic immigration applications have been digitalized.