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Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program

Named ‘Newfoundelande’ or New Found Land by explorers in the late 15th century, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador is the newest of Canada’s 10 provinces, having joined the confederation only in 1949.

It was in 2001 that the name of the province was officially changed to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Lying across the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Newfoundland is separated from Labrador by the Strait of Belle Isle.

While to the north and east of Labrador can be found the Labrador Sea [the northwestern arm of the Atlantic Ocean], the province of Quebec lies towards the south and west.

Newfoundland and Labrador province is made up of 9 distinct regions. 7 of these are located on the island of Newfoundland. The mainland of Labrador has the other 2 regions. All together these 9 regions make up the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Being the most easterly part of North America, the positioning of NL in the Atlantic Ocean has granted it a strategic importance in terms of defense, communications, and transportation. Interestingly, the capital city of the province – St John’s – is closer to the coast of Ireland as compared to Winnipeg in Manitoba province.

Prominent cities in Newfoundland and Labrador include – St John’s, Torbay, Conception Bay South, Paradise, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Gander, Mount Pearl, Conception Bay South, Corner Brook, Grand Falls-Windsor, and Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s.

A part of the Provincial Nominee Program [PNP] of Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador has its own immigration program – the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program [NLPNP] – for the induction of newcomers into the province.

Through an agreement with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [IRCC], the province can nominate – with an annual allocation of 1,050 – certain applicants to the federal government of Canada for permanent residency.

Newfoundland PNP selects applicants based on the economic needs and provincial labour requirements.

Newfoundland and Labrador PNP streams available

Express Entry Skilled Worker

Skilled Worker

International Graduate

International Entrepreneur

International Graduate Entrepreneur

Linked with the federal Express Entry system, a nomination through the NLPNP’s Express Entry Skilled Worker pathway fetches an individual 600 additional points towards their Comprehensive Ranking System [CRS] scores, thereby guaranteeing an ITA from IRCC in the next federal draw to be held.

Newfoundland and Labrador is also among the four provinces – NL, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island – that together form Atlantic Canada.

Launched in 2017, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot [AIP] offers a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for skilled foreign workers and international graduates that intend working and living in any of the Atlantic Provinces in Canada.

While the AIP had been launched as a 3-year pilot, it has since been extended until December 2021.

A new Canada immigration program has been launched by the NLPNP on January 2, 2021. As per the NL PNP, the new pathway – Priority Skills Newfoundland and Labrador – “will attract highly educated, highly skilled newcomers with specialized experience working in sectors such as technology, where a growing demand has outpaced local training and recruitment”.

Priority Skills NL follows an Expression of Interest [EOI] process wherein those with the highest scores as well as the greatest amount of interest from employers are to be invited to submit an application.

On receiving an NLPNP invitation, the candidate would be required to submit their application through the online portal. Those meeting the eligibility criteria for either the NLPNP’s Express Entry Skilled Worker or Skilled Worker category will be issued a nomination certificate.

This NLPNP nomination certificate can be included in the application for Canadian permanent residence.

According to an official publication – The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador – “immigration is a key component of economic and labour market growth and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to do its part to increase immigration to the province.”

Prospective skilled immigrants have many options when selecting a new place in which to work, settle and raise a family in the province.

Newfoundland and Labrador is being positioned to compete as a destination of choice for many immigrating to Canada for a better future.

Y-Axis Can Help You With

Qualification / Education Assessment
Customized Document Checklist and critical document templates
Guidance on key documentation requirements
Filing of an online application form to create a profile for Invitation

FAQ

Do I need a valid job offer to be eligible?

Yes. In order to be eligible for the NLPNP or the AIP, an individual will be required to have a valid job offer from an NL employer.

What do you mean by a “full-time” job?

By a “full-time” job is meant a job which involves the individual working for at least 30 hours in a week.

What jobs are in demand in Newfoundland and Labrador?

Priority and high-demand sectors in NL include – hospitality, agriculture, aquaculture, technology, and healthcare.

What are the Canadian work permits available?

There are 2 basic kinds of Canada work permits available. The open work permit is not job-specific and allows the holder to work for any employer in Canada. Examples of an open work permit for Canada include Open Spousal Work Permit and Post-Graduate Work Permit.

A closed work permit is employer-specific, allowing the permit holder to work only for that particular employer while in Canada.

Can my family come with me to Canada?

You can bring family members to Canada with you if they were included as dependents in your Canadian permanent residence application.

Can my family members enter Canada before me?

No. Do keep in mind that your dependents cannot arrive in Canada before you do. They must either enter the country with you or at a later date.

Which Canadian provinces are a part of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot [AIP]?

4 Canadian provinces are a part of the AIP of Canada. These are – Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

What is the processing time for AIP applications?

A majority of completed applications [that is, where all information has been provided and no documents are missing] are processed within 6 months.

Can I include my parents in my PNP application?

No. Parents of the applicant cannot be included in the PNP application.

Can I include my brother/sister in my PNP application?

No. Brothers/sisters of the applicant cannot be included in the PNP application.

Is IELTS mandatory for Canada immigration?

No. You have the option of appearing for either of the following English language tests –

the International English Language Testing System [IELTS – General Training] or
The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program [CELPIP].

What are the details of the Newfoundland and Labrador PNP?

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nomination Program (Newfoundland and Labrador PNP) enables the province to nominate people who have the relevant skills and experience that is required to meet the labor shortage in the province.

The PNP has the following categories

· Newfoundland Express Entry Skilled Worker: This stream is for Express Entry candidates who have a job offer in Newfoundland. Qualifying candidates will get 600 additional points for their CRS score and an ITA in a subsequent Express Entry draw.

· Skilled Worker: This category is for applicants who have an eligible job or job offer in Newfoundland.

· Priority Skills: This category is aimed at highly educated and skilled individuals who have experience in any of the in-demand sectors in the province.

· International Graduate: This stream is for recent graduates who have a post-graduation work permit and have a job or job offer from an employer in the province.

· International Graduate Entrepreneur: This stream is for international graduates belonging to the Memorial University in Newfoundland or College of the North Atlantic who have started or bought a local business in Newfoundland and are carrying out its day-to-day operations for at least one continuous year.

· Entrepreneur: This stream is for experienced business owners or senior business managers who want to build a new life, and continue their business career, in Newfoundland and Labrador.

What are the eligibility requirements for the Express Entry stream?

Be admitted into the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Express Entry pool

Score at least 67 points out of a possible 100 on the Provincial Nomination Program Assessment Grid

A job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer that meets the government’s wage and work standards; You must either have a valid Work Permit or meet the criteria to apply for one.

Have a Canadian tertiary degree, diploma, or an Educational Certificate Assessment (ECA) that certifies that your international qualifications meet Canada’s educational standards;

Had the aim of relocating to Newfoundland and Labrador to live and work;

Have ample funds to move yourself and your dependents to the province;

Provide appropriate language test results demonstrating that you have the requisite language skill to perform the duties of your work.

What are the eligibility requirements for the Skilled Worker stream?

Have a full-time job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer, or a job/job offer with a salary and benefits package that meets provincial employment standards and that does not contravene any existing bargaining unit agreements or employment disputes;
Have a valid work permit or be eligible to apply for one;
Have the requisite experience, including accreditation, to perform the job;
Demonstrate desire to live in the province
Have enough money to settle in the province;
Proof of English or French proficiency is required.

How do I apply for the Newfoundland and Labrador PNP?

Potential applicants must first determine which category they fall under – Skilled Worker, Express Entry Skilled Worker, or International Graduate – as the first step in the application process. Then they must download and complete all provincial and federal forms required for publishing through Newfoundland and Labrador PNP. The completed forms and supporting documents can then be sent to the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism.

Other requirements for applicants include:

Complete and clear a medical examination.
Have security clearance.
Have proof of sufficient funds to support oneself and dependents after arriving in Canada