Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) is the economic immigration programme of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador for foreign nationals who wish to live and work in the province.

Newfoundland and Labrador is Canada’s easternmost province and has grown into a significant economic force within the Canadian landscape.

The province consists of two separate land masses: Labrador, which is connected to the mainland, and the island of Newfoundland. The NLPNP is the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program. Through this programme, prospective immigrants whose skills and experience match the province’s objectives can receive a Newfoundland and Labrador provincial nomination.

Overview of the NLPNP

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) has been in operation since 1999. It is one of theprovincial nominee programs (PNPs)first put in place.

Like other provincial nominee programs, it aims to attract more immigrants to the province in order to meet its economic and labour market needs.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) attracts skilled workers, entrepreneurs and international graduates with the skills, experience and education needed to succeed in this Atlantic province.

Together withAtlantic Immigration Program (AIP), Newfoundland and Labrador is welcoming a growing number of immigrants.

The AIP is a fast-track immigration programme that allows employers in the Atlantic provinces to hire international workers. The Atlantic provinces are New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

The province welcomes 1,200 new immigrants each year and is working towards welcoming 1,700 new immigrants annually.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) has one enhanced stream, the Express Entry Skilled Worker – Newfoundland and Labrador stream. The remaining streams are base streams.

An enhanced stream is a stream aligned with the federal Express Entry system. A base stream, by contrast, is one that is not aligned with Express Entry.

Express Entryis the system thatImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)uses to manage its main economic immigration programmes.

Candidates with an Express Entry profile are scored on the basis ofThe Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

In periodic Express Entry rounds of invitations, Canada invites the highest-scoring candidates to apply for permanent residence.

If a candidate is nominated through a provincial programme such as the Express Entry Skilled Worker – Newfoundland and Labrador stream, they receive an additional 600 CRS points.

This means they will receiveInvitation to Apply (ITA)to apply for permanent residence in the next round of invitations.

The candidate will also receive the nomination through their Express Entry profile, which they must accept before the additional points are awarded.

The advantage of enhanced streams is a far shorter processing time. It can take as little as six months for a candidate to obtain permanent residence in Canada.

Base streams account for the majority of immigration streams under the provincial nominee programs. These streams are not aligned with Express Entry. If a candidate receives a provincial nomination through a base stream, they will need to apply directly toImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Unlike enhanced streams, base streams generally have a standard processing time of 12 months or more.

Newfoundland and Labrador immigration streams

Candidates who wish to immigrate to Newfoundland and Labrador have five options:

• The Express Entry Skilled Worker – Newfoundland and Labrador streamis for skilled workers who hold a job offer and have a profile inExpress Entry.
• The Skilled Worker streamis for skilled workers with a job offer from an employer in Newfoundland and Labrador. This includes workers already in the province holding a validwork permitis valid.
• The International Graduate streamis for recent international graduates remaining in Canada on a Post-Graduation Work Permit who hold a job or a job offer from an employer in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• The International Entrepreneur streamis for foreign nationals who wish to settle in Newfoundland and Labrador and start, co-manage or purchase a business in the province. Candidates must operate their business for one year on a temporary Work Permit before applying for a provincial nomination.
• The International Graduate Entrepreneur streamis for international graduates of a post-secondary institution in Newfoundland and Labrador who wish to establish, co-own or run a business in the province, with a pathway to Canadian permanent residence.

Express Entry Skilled Worker – Newfoundland and Labrador

Detailed article on theExpress Entry – Skilled Worker category.

Is a job offer required?

• Yes

Application fee

• $250 CAD

Processing time

• 25 business days

Minimum requirements

• Must have an Express Entry profile
• Must have full-time employment or a job offer from an employer in Newfoundland and Labrador (NOC skill level 0, A or B)
• Must hold a valid Work Permit, or be eligible to apply for one
• Must hold a post-secondary degree or certificate
• Must meet the minimum work experience level for their occupation
• Must be eligible for provincial licensing or certification where required
• Must demonstrate a genuine intention to settle in the province
• Must meet the minimum language requirements
• Must score at least 67 out of 100 on the PNP assessment grid
• Must have sufficient funds to settle themselves and their family in the province
• The candidate’s employer must meet certain requirements

How it works

If a Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) candidate meets the minimum requirements set out above, the next step is to apply online on theprovincial website.

Make sure the candidate’s passport and work permit are still valid.

Before submitting, review the application carefully along with the list of required documents.

Once the online application has been completed, the candidate may be asked to attend an interview with a provincial immigration officer.

If successful, the candidate will receive a provincial nomination within the Express Entry system, which they must accept.

On accepting the nomination, the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) candidate receives an additional 600 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

This all but guarantees that the candidate will receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence in the next Express Entry round of invitations.

Skilled Worker

Detailed article on thethe Skilled Worker category.

Is a job offer required?

• Yes

Application fee

• $250 CAD

Processing time

• 25 business days

Minimum requirements

• Must have full-time employment or a job offer from an eligible employer in Newfoundland and Labrador for at least two years;
• Must have the qualifications, training, skills and certification required for the job;
• Must hold a valid Work Permit with at least four months remaining;
• Must have experience relevant to the job;
• Must have sufficient funds to settle in the province;
• Must meet the minimum language requirement.

How it works

First, the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) candidate must make sure they are eligible for the programme.

The next step is to complete the application on theprovincial website.

Once submitted, the application is forwarded to an immigration officer, who reviews it and makes a recommendation to the delegated authority.

The delegated authority then reviews the officer’s assessment and makes the final decision.

Within roughly 25 business days of submitting the application, the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) candidate will be informed whether their application has been approved or refused.

If the application is approved, the candidate can use the provincial nomination to apply for permanent residence directly withImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

International Graduate

Detailed article on theInternational Graduate category.

Is a job offer required?

• Yes

Application fee

• No fee

Processing time

• 25 business days

Minimum requirements

• Must have completed at least half of the programme of study in Canada and graduated from an eligible college or university
• Must have completed a degree or certificate programme of at least two years (full-time)
• Must have a full-time job offer from an eligible employer in Newfoundland and Labrador
• Must hold aPost-graduation work permitsfrom IRCC
• Must have the qualifications, training, skills or certification required for the job
• Must have sufficient funds to settle in Newfoundland and Labrador
• Must meet the minimum language requirements

How it works

First, make sure the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) candidate is genuinely eligible and meets the minimum requirements set out above.

Once eligibility is confirmed, the next step is to gather the required documents and complete the online application through the provincial website athere.

After roughly 25 business days, the candidate will learn whether their application has been approved or refused.

If the application is approved, the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) candidate will be able to use the provincial nomination to apply for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

International Entrepreneur

Detailed article on theInternational Entrepreneur category.

Application fee

• $1.000 CAD

Processing time

• Depends on the time required to verify documents.

Minimum requirements

• Must be between 21 and 59 years of age
• Must meet the English or French language requirements
• Must have a net business and personal worth of $600,000 CAD
• Must score at least 72 out of 120 on the expression of interest (EOI) assessment grid
• Must be able to invest at least $200,000 CAD to establish a business with 33.3% ownership (or a $1,000,000 CAD equity investment)
• Must have at least two years of business management or ownership experience within the past five years, or five years of experience in a senior business management role within the past ten years
• Must have a business plan with the required supporting documents
• Must hold at least a secondary school diploma
• Must intend to live permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador
• Must create at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Must demonstrate that the business will operate for profit
• Must make an exploratory visit to the province before starting or purchasing a business
• Additional criteria may apply when purchasing or starting a business. The business itself must also meet specific criteria

How it works

The first step is to make sure the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) candidate is eligible for the International Entrepreneur stream. Once this is confirmed, the candidate must complete an expression of interest (EOI) online.

Submitting an EOI is not considered an application and does not guarantee that the candidate will become a permanent resident. It is a screening process that takes place before the application.

If successful, the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) candidate will receive an Invitation to Apply from the provincial immigration office.

At this point, the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) candidate must select a Net Worth Verifier, who will verify their net worth.

The candidate must then gather the required documents, including a Business Establishment Plan, and submit the application.

The candidate must also submit the Net Worth Verification Report.

If the application is approved, the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) candidate will be able to use the provincial nomination to apply for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

International Graduate Entrepreneur

Detailed article on theInternational Graduate Entrepreneur category.

Application fee

• $250 CAD

Processing time

• Depends on the time required to verify documents.

Minimum requirements

• Must be at least 21 years of age
• Must provide a business continuation plan with supporting financial documents
• Must have graduated from Memorial University or the College of the North Atlantic within the past two years, from a programme lasting at least two years
• Must hold aPost-graduation work permitsvalid
• Must meet the minimum language requirement in English or French (CLB 7)
• Must have at least one year of experience managing a business in the province in which they hold at least a one-third share
• Must create at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• Must demonstrate that the business operates for profit
• Additional criteria may apply when purchasing or starting a business. The business itself must also meet specific criteria.

How it works

First, make sure the candidate is eligible for the International Graduate Entrepreneur stream. The next step is to complete an expression of interest (EOI).

Submitting an EOI is not the same as submitting an application. It is a screening process that takes place before the application and does not guarantee that the candidate will become a permanent resident.

If successful, the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) candidate will receive an Invitation to Apply from the provincial immigration office.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) candidate must then gather the required documents and submit the application. This includes a Review Engagement Report and a special purpose report.

These documents must be provided by a verifier licensed to offer this service. The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) candidate may choose the verifier.

The Review Engagement Report covers a review of the business’s financial statements. The special purpose report covers an opinion on the financial viability of the business, recommendations for the business to improve its viability, the identification of any issues or challenges relating to the financial statements, and a review of the business itself.

If the application is approved, the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) candidate will be able to use the provincial nomination to apply for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Atlantic Immigration Program

Detailed article on theAtlantic Immigration Program (AIP).

The Atlantic Immigration Program is a federal fast-track immigration programme that allows employers in the Atlantic provinces to hire international workers for positions they cannot fill locally.

The Atlantic provinces are:

• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island

The process involves:

• Step 1:Once an employer finds a suitable candidate, they must first offer the candidate the job. Employers do not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which makes the process faster.
• Step 2:Once the candidate accepts the job, the employer connects the candidate with a designated settlement service provider to assess their needs and build a settlement plan.
• Step 3:If the employer needs to fill the position quickly, the candidate is eligible for a temporary Work Permit so they can come to Canada and start work as soon as possible.