Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)

Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada’s easternmost province, may be one of the country’s best kept secrets.
The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador is a five-year action plan for increasing immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador. As a province-wide plan, it outlines the actions the province’s population will take collectively to attract and retain immigrants who have the skills needed to build and contribute to the Newfoundland and Labrador economy, how the residents will support and welcome them to urban, rural and remote communities and how Government and its partners will encourage Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans living abroad to return to their home province.

The province consists of two distinct land masses: Labrador, which is connected to the mainland, and the island of Newfoundland. A large number of its residents live in the provincial capital of St. John’s, which enjoys a lively culture that draws heavily from its coastal environment.

The province has recently evolved into a significant economic force in the Canadian landscape due to a boom in energy and natural resources.

Colorful homes in St John's Newfoundland, Canada in Newfoundland, Canada
The NLPNP is Newfoundland and Labrador’s Provincial Nominee Program. Through this program, prospective immigrants with the skills and experience targeted by the province may receive a Newfoundland and Labrador provincial nomination.

The NLPNP accepts applications under the following immigration categories:

 

Newfoundland & Labrador Express Entry Skilled Worker:

• The Express Entry Skilled Worker Category is a path to permanent residence for those intending to reside permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador. Applicants must be accepted into Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry pool, have a job offer in Newfoundland and Labrador, and intend to reside permanently in this province.

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• Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has committed to processing 80 per cent of all Express Entry candidates within six months of receiving the nominated application. 

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• The NL Express Entry Skilled Worker category enables the NLPNP to nominate skilled candidates with job offers through the federal Express Entry immigration selection system. Prospective immigrants who have been accepted into the federal Express Entry pool may be able to apply to the NL Express Entry Skilled Worker category.

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• Individuals nominated by the NLPNP will receive additional points under the Comprehensive Ranking System, resulting in an Invitation to Apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Skilled Worker Category:

• This category is for international workers and prospective immigrants who have skills that are beneficial to the labour market. Eligible applicants are required to have a guaranteed offer of employment from a local employer, or be currently working in the province on a valid work permit. Employers must also demonstrate a need for the applicant’s skill set.

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• The NLPNP accepts applications under this category from individuals who have received a guaranteed job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer. Individuals who are currently working in the province on a valid work permit may also be eligible.

 

International Graduate Category:

• This category is for recent graduates who have a Post-Graduate Work Permit and a job or job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer.

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• The NLPNP accepts applications under this category from recent graduates of an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution who remain in Canada on a Post-Graduate Work Permit. Applicants must also have either a current job or job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer, and must be working in their field of study at the time of application.

 

Priority Skills NL Category:

• The Priority Skills NL process is intended for individuals who have work experience in occupations in demand in Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as have a high level of education and language ability, and who wish to express their interest in either staying in, or coming to the province and becoming a permanent resident of Canada.

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• Currently, Expressions of Interest (EOI) are being accepted from:

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1. Individuals who have worked in a specialized, highly skilled, in-demand occupation for at least one full year in the last 10 years. A list of in-demand occupations can be found in Appendix A, and the most up-to-date listing can be found here.

2. Individuals who have completed PhD or Master’s degrees from Memorial University within the past three years in the following specialties: Technology, Health Care, Aquaculture, and Agriculture.

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• Priority Skills NL requires the completion of a questionnaire, which is scored. Applicants who exceed the minimum score of 60 points will be accepted and their information will be viewable by staff and local employers who have accounts with the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism.

• Candidates who have submitted EOIs with the highest scores, and who have received the most interest from local employers, may receive invitations through Priority Skills NL, to submit an application to the Provincial Nominee Program without a job offer.

International Entrepreneur Category:

The International Entrepreneur category is intended for experienced business owners or senior business managers who wish to permanently reside in Newfoundland and Labrador.  They must start a new business or buy an existing business and must actively participate in the day-to-day management of the business.  After operating the business for at least one continuous year, the international entrepreneur may be nominated for permanent resident status, subject to fulfillment of certain criteria outlined by the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism.

 

International Graduate Entrepreneur Category:

The International Graduate Entrepreneur category is intended for graduates of Memorial University or College of the North Atlantic who have already started or bought a local business and maintained day-to-day operations for at least one continuous year. In order to receive nomination for permanent resident status, the graduate entrepreneur must fulfill certain criteria outlined by the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism.