Newfoundland and Labrador PNP – How It Works

If you are interested in living and working in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Newfoundland and Labrador PNP might be the route to take. As part of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs, its goal is to get the right candidates to settle permanently in this province. Successful nominees of the program go on to become permanent Canadian residents.

What determines the success of the candidates?

The program has strictly defined categories and criteria, including permanent employment and investment, as well as education, age, and more. You can learn about the different ways to apply in the section below.

Why Newfoundland and Labrador?

It’s always good to do plenty of research and look into the peculiarities concerning your specific province of choice.

Over 519,000 people call Newfoundland and Labrador home. What motivates people who are planning to immigrate to the province? Among other factors, high salaries, quality of life, and thousands of kilometers of coastline. St. John is the capital city, and it is located on the Island of Newfoundland. In fact, approximately 95% of the population resides in this part of the province. The same percentage of people speak English, making NL a predominantly English province.

Newfoundland and Labrador PNP (Provincial Nominee Program)

To  know how to apply for Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program, look into the requirements associated with each particular stream:

#1 – Skilled Worker Stream

This branch of the program is for workers with skills in an occupation that the province needs. In order to fulfill the basic requirements, you must either be working in the province at the time of the application or have a valid job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer.

The employer has to give proof that you are the best candidate for the vacancy (and not someone who’s already living in the province). Furthermore, they must list the expected salary which will be compared to the standard in the province and the particular job sector. Most times, tackling the first hurdle – getting a Canadian job offer – is the most difficult one. If you successfully make it through the first step, there are solid chances you’ll become a nominee.

Other than that, there’s the age requirement. Applicants must be 21 to 59 years old. They should not possess a criminal record or have an ownership stake that exceeds 10% in the company where they work. For occupations in NOC Skill Level C or D, candidates have to fulfill minimum language requirements.

Upon submitting the application, the delegated authorities will review it and respond in the next 25 business days.

#2 – Express Entry Stream 

The Express Entry Newfoundland and Labrador Stream is a sort of an express pass for skilled workers who intend to reside permanently in NL. The process is faster than the Skilled Workers Stream, but the applicants must also meet the requirements of the Express Entry program. This automatically means that they are in the Canadian Express Entry Pool and have a valid profile.

The paramount requirement, just like with the first stream, is a valid full-time job offer in the province. Until 2017, the obligatory requirement was proving that candidates have enough settlement funds. Although it’s no longer a permanent requirement, the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism can check whether an individual is able to prove that s/he can economically establish themselves in the province. Thus, our piece of advice is to still maintain some settlement funds in bank accounts when you apply.

Additionally, those of you who want to apply via the Express Entry Stream need to score a minimum of 67 points on the Provincial Nominee Program assessment grid. A foreign education certificate has to be equal to the Canadian post-secondary education standards. Finally, the applicants who wish to become nominees should submit an Expression of Interest. It is not an official application but serves as a sort of notification to the province that someone is interested particularly in that area of Canada.

#3 – International Graduate Stream

The third category is for individuals who possess a university degree (or an equivalent from a post-secondary Canadian educational institution). Basically, there are three levels of education that fit in. Accordingly, a diploma or degree from one of these prove that you’re eligible for this stream:

  • A recognized Canadian post-secondary institution, when at least half of one’s studies were in Canada,
  • A publicly-funded Canadian college or university,
  • One-year post-graduate degree programs.

Also, international graduates need to have an employment offer from a reliable Newfoundland and Labrador employer. If the job corresponds to NOC Skill Level C, candidates have to prove that their language proficiency in all four skills (writing, reading, listening, speaking) meets the CLB 4 or above.

#4 – International Entrepreneur Stream

Do you have sufficient financial means to support yourself and business if you move to the province?

If you can prove your success and experience in being a business owner or senior business manager, this is the stream for you. Furthermore, you must submit documents that will verify your net worth. To qualify, you need to buy an existing business or create a new one in the province.

If all the requirements above have been met, you can start with your business plan and actively operate it for at least one year. Your business should benefit Newfoundland and Labrador. Primarily, it should do so by enhancing their economy and producing jobs. After that, the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism will assess your success. If the report is positive, you’ll become a nominee for the program.

Graduates of Memorial University or College of the North Atlantic who have already bought a business in NL and operated it for a year can also apply.

Final Words on Newfoundland and Labrador PNP

Its high-quality health care, standard of living, and scenic nature make Newfoundland and Labrador a desirable destination for immigration. With the Newfoundland and Labrador PNP, you can get Canadian permanent residence in a straightforward and systematic way.

The criteria are tailored to suit the needs of the province’s workforce and economic situation. At the same time, it motivates candidates who can contribute to those life sectors to apply. If you can foster innovation or fill a vacancy in NL’s labor market, it’s likely that you meet the requirements of one of the four streams.