Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)

The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) is the province’s economic immigration programme for foreign nationals.

The province of Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island (PEI), comprising the main island and several surrounding islands, is Canada’s smallest province. PEI is regarded as the “birthplace of Canada”: the Charlottetown Conference, which led to the formation of the country, was held on PEI in 1864. The island province is known not only for its rich farmland and beautiful coastline, but also as home to a growing economy centred on agriculture, tourism and fisheries.

The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) is the provincial nominee programme of Prince Edward Island. Through this programme, prospective immigrants whose skills and experience match the province’s objectives can obtain a Prince Edward Island Provincial Nomination Certificate, with which they may then apply for permanent residence in Canada with the Government of Canada.

Overview of the PEI PNP

The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) was launched in 2001 to attract and retain more immigrants to the province who can help meet economic and labour market needs while contributing to economic prosperity.

The PEI PNP falls underProvincial Nominee Program (PNP)which is designed to attract immigrants with the skills, experience and education needed to settle successfully on the island. Thanks to the PNP, the province is welcoming a steadily growing number of immigrants.

PEI welcomes the highest number of immigrants per capita in Canada. Before the pandemic, the province’s immigration rate stood at roughly 1.6%, compared with about 0.9% nationally. The province has the highest intake of newcomers relative to population in Canada.

The province has welcomed more than 2,000 new immigrants each year since 2015 and expects to keep welcoming rising numbers. Before the PNP was introduced, the province took in fewer than 200 new immigrants a year.

The province has attracted more immigrants since the PNP was launched in 2001, as well as since the introduction ofAtlantic Immigration Program (AIP)(formerly the Atlantic Immigration Pilot) in 2017. The AIP allows employers in Canada’s Atlantic provinces to hire foreign workers for positions they cannot fill locally. Canada’s Atlantic provinces are New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and PEI.

The PEI PNP has one enhanced category, the PEI PNP Express Entry category. It also has 2 base categories: the Labour Impact category and the Business Impact category.

When a category is linked to the federalExpress Entrysystem, it is described as “enhanced”. Canada uses the Express Entry system to manage permanent residence applications under its main economic immigration programs.

If a candidate is in the Express Entry pool, they are scored under theThe Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Canada holds regular Express Entry draws in which it invites the highest-scoring candidates to apply for permanent residence.

When a candidate is nominated through an enhanced provincial program such as PEI PNP Express Entry, they receive an additional 600 CRS points. This points increase effectively guarantees that the candidate will receive anInvitation to Apply (ITA)for permanent residence in the following draw. Candidates also receive the nomination through their Express Entry profile.

Most immigration streams within PNPs are base streams. This means they are not linked to the Express Entry system. Candidates who receive a provincial nomination must apply directly toImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

PEI immigration categories

Candidates who wish to immigrate to PEI have 3 options:

• PEI PNP Express Entry category: For candidates with a valid Express Entry profile who wish to live and work in Prince Edward Island and whose skills match the province’s current labour market needs.
• Labour Impact category: For skilled workers and international graduates with the skills and experience the PEI labour market requires. This category is divided into 3 streams:
  • Skilled Worker stream
  • Critical Worker stream
  • International Graduate stream
• Business Impact category: For those who wish to invest in a business in PEI. This category allows candidates to live in PEI on a work permit and learn the business they have invested in before receiving a provincial nomination.

Express Entry Prince Edward Island

Detailed article on theExpress Entry Prince Edward Island.

Is a job offer required?

• No job offer required

Application fee

• $300 CAD

Processing time

• 6 months

Minimum requirements

• Must have an Express Entry profile
• Must be eligible for 1 of the 3 main federal economic immigration programs:
  • Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

If the candidate holds aPost-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)orOpen work permit for a spouse:

• The post-graduation work permit must be valid for at least 4 months at the time of submitting theexpression of interest (EOI)
• Must have studied outside PEI (or be the spouse of someone who studied outside PEI)
• Must have at least nine months of work experience with a PEI employer

How it works

If a candidate meets the minimum requirements, the first step in applying to PEI PNP Express Entry is to create a profile in Prince Edward Island’s expression of interest (EOI) system.

When creating the profile, candidates are asked a range of questions and must provide accurate information. Candidates can return and change the information they have provided at any time.

Based on the information provided in the EOI, candidates are scored against the selection system points grid. Candidates can score a maximum of 100 points.

In periodic draws, the province invites the highest-scoring candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. Candidates are notified by email if they are invited.

Candidates will need to complete the application forms, and their employer must complete their own forms as well. Applications must be submitted within 60 days.

If successful, the candidate receives a provincial nomination. The candidate must accept the nomination through their Express Entry account. The candidate is then likely to receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence in the next Express Entry draw.

Labour Impact

Detailed article on thethe Labour Impact category.

The Labour Impact category comprises 3 streams:

• Skilled Worker stream: This stream is for workers who have been identified or hired by a PEI employer. To apply under this stream, the candidate must already be working in PEI or hold a job offer from a PEI employer. Eligible candidates will work in a skilled occupation and have relevant experience along with at least one post-secondary degree or diploma.
• Critical Worker stream: This stream is for workers who have been hired by a PEI employer where that employer wishes to support them for permanent residence. Eligible candidates may work in semi-skilled or unskilled occupations.
• International Graduate stream: This stream is for recent graduates of recognised universities and colleges in Prince Edward Island. Candidates must have been hired by a PEI employer. Eligible candidates will work in a skilled occupation related to their field of study.

Application fee

• $300 CAD

Processing time

• 6 months or less

Minimum requirements

• Must be between 21 and 59 years of age
• Must hold a full-time job offer that is permanent or for at least 2 years from a PEI employer for an eligible position
• Must have sufficient funds to settle in PEI
• Must intend to reside in PEI
• Must meet the language requirement ofCanadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4.

Category	Is a job offer required?	Additional requirements
Skilled Worker stream	Yes	– The job offer must be inNational Occupational Classification (NOC)skill level 0, A or B – Must hold at least a 2-year post-secondary degree or diploma – Must have at least 2 years of full-time work experience within the past 5 years – Must hold a valid work permit if living in Canada – Must have legal status in the country of residence if living outside Canada.
Critical Worker stream	Yes	– The job offer must be for one of the following positions: + Truck driver + Customer service representative + Labourer + Food and beverage server + Housekeeping attendant – Must have worked full time for at least 6 months for the PEI employer; must hold a Canadian work permit – Must have at least secondary school education – Must have at least 2 years of related work experience or education within the past 5 years
International Graduate stream	Yes	– The job offer must be in National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A or B – Must have worked at least 6 months for the PEI employer in a position directly related to their education – Must holdPost-graduation work permitsvalid – Must have graduated with a post-secondary degree or diploma from an eligible learning institution in PEI

How it works

The first step is to confirm that the candidate is eligible for one of the Labour Impact streams. Once eligible, they create and submit an expression of interest (EOI) profile.

Based on the information provided in the EOI profile, candidates are scored against the selection system points grid.

PEI holds regular provincial draws in which it invites the highest-scoring candidates to apply for a provincial nomination. If invited, candidates have up to 60 days to submit their application and all required supporting documents.

If successful, the candidate receives a provincial nomination. The candidate can use the nomination certificate to submit a complete application for Canadian permanent residence toImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Business Impact

Detailed article on thethe Prince Edward Island Business category.

The Business Impact category has 1 stream:

• Work Permit stream: This stream is for those who wish to invest in a business in PEI. They will need to begin working in Canada and learn the business while holding a work permit. They can then apply for a PEI provincial nomination for permanent residence.

Application fee

• $10.000 CAD

If the application is refused or withdrawn before the interview, the candidate is refunded $7,500 CAD.

Processing time

• 6 months or less

Minimum requirements

• Must be between 21 and 59 years of age
• Must have a minimum net worth of $600,000 CAD
• Must have at least secondary school education
• Must have transferable management skills or business ownership experience
• Must meet the minimum language requirement of CLB 4
• Must intend to reside and work in PEI
• Must actively manage the proposed business from within PEI
• The business must meet additional requirements

How it works

The first step is to confirm that the candidate is eligible for the Work Permit stream.

The candidate then needs to create a profile to register their interest in PEI’s expression of interest (EOI) system. Some information is required to complete the profile. The profile remains active for six months.

Candidates may amend the profile after completing it, but before being invited to apply.

If successful, the candidate receives an invitation to apply by email. The email also includes further instructions. The candidate has 60 days to submit the application.

Complete the application package, submit all required forms, gather supporting documents and pay the CAD 10,000 application fee.

Candidates may submit the application in person, by courier, or by post. Details are below:

If the application is approved, the Office of Immigration invites the candidate to an in-person interview to discuss the business proposal and plan.

The candidate must then submit the signed Performance Agreement, after which they may receive a letter of support from PEI. The candidate can use this letter to apply to IRCC for a work permit.

On receiving the work permit, the candidate must move to PEI and report to the PEI Office of Immigration within 30 days of arriving.

The candidate is assigned a Settlement Support Officer, who helps establish and run the business and keeps in regular contact to receive progress reports.

If the conditions of the Performance Agreement and the other requirements are met, the candidate is nominated by PEI. The candidate may then apply to IRCC for permanent residence in Canada.

Find out more about the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) on the government website athere.