Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)

Newfoundland and Labrador form one of the four Atlantic Canadian provinces, located in the easternmost part of the country. 

St. John’s is the capital city of the province and almost 40 percent of the province’s population resides in this city. The economy of the province has evolved due to the growth in its energy and natural resources. The province is well-known for its friendly and diverse culture.

Through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP), the province welcomes newcomers to apply for permanent residency in Canada. The NLPNP targets potential immigrants with relevant skills and experience in-demand in the province. Successful applicants obtain a Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nomination, and then they can apply for permanent resident status with the Canadian government.

The NLPNP has multiple categories to invite applications for permanent residence in the province. MakeHomeCanada has briefed all these categories below so that you can get certain if the NLPNP is the pathway for you to immigrate to Canada.

Newfoundland & Labrador Express Entry Skilled Worker Category

Applicants under this stream include skilled workers who are eligible to enter the Express Entry pool, have a job offer from an NL employer, and have the intent to settle permanently in the province. Successful applicants may be nominated by the NLPNP and will receive additional points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Thus, there will be higher chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply and obtaining Canadian permanent residency.

To qualify for this category, a candidate must:

• Be eligible to enter the Express Entry pool and obtain a valid Express Entry key code;
• Have a full-time job offer from an NL employer in the NOC 0, A, or B occupations;
  • The job must not violate the existing bargaining unit agreements or intervene with a labour dispute;
• Have a valid work permit or be permitted to apply for one;
• Have a Canadian post-secondary diploma or degree, or an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report by IRCC;
  • The ECA report verifies that the foreign educational credentials meet the Canadian education standards.
• Have relevant work experience based on the job offer:
  • Have at least one year of paid work experience, which is equivalent to 1,560 hours in total or 30 hours a week, within the last ten years; and
  • Have at least one year of paid experience within the last ten years in a skilled profession (non-trades); or
  • Have at least two years of paid experience in a skilled trade within the last five years.
• Show proof of eligibility for provincial certification, if applicable;
• Show the intent to live and work in Newfoundland and Labrador;
• Show language ability by providing language results that meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark;
• Score at least 67 points out of 100 on the PNP point assessment grid; and
• Show sufficient financial resources to support himself and accompanying family.

Points Assessment Grid

Selection Factors	Points
Age	Maximum 12 points
Education and Training	Maximum 28 points
Skilled Work Experience	Maximum 20 points
Language Ability	Maximum 27 points
Connections and Adaptability	Maximum 13 points
Minimum eligible score	67/100 points

Skilled Worker Category

The stream allows NLPNP to target those candidates who have received a job offer from an employer in Newfoundland and Labrador. The purpose is to fill job positions by recruiting skilled foreign nationals, for which no qualified Canadians or residents are available.

To qualify for this stream, a candidate must:

• Have a full-time job offer from an employer in Newfoundland and Labrador for at least two years;
• Have relevant qualifications, training, skills, and licenses required for the job;
• Have a valid work permit with a minimum of four months remaining at the time of application;
• Have relevant work experience directly related to the job;
• Show the intent to settle in the province permanently;
• Show sufficient financial resources to support himself and his accompanying family; and
• Show proof of language proficiency in either English or French by taking an approved language test:

• • • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
    • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
    • Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF)
    • NOTE: Foreign workers with occupations in NOC code C and D have to score below points to be eligible:

• • • IELTS (General Training):  Listening: 4.5 | Reading: 3.5 | Writing: 4 | Speaking: 4
    • CELPIP (General): Listening: 4 | Reading: 4 | Writing: 4 | Speaking: 4
    • TEF: la compréhension de l’oral: 145 | la compréhension de l’écrit: 121 | l’expression écrite: 181 | l’expression orale: 181

International Graduate Category

Under this category, applicants include international students who have recently graduated from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution and residing in Canada on a Post-Graduate Work Permit. Through this category, the NLPNP targets international graduates with a job or job offer in the province.

To qualify for this category, a candidate must:

• Have completed a minimum of a two-year full-time diploma or degree program. One-year post-graduate degree and certificate programs are also eligible if they have completed a previous degree or diploma (whether or not attained in Canada);

NOTE: If the candidate has completed his studies from an institution outside of NL, then he may have to work for at least one year in the relevant field before applying.

• Have an eligible full-time employment offer from an NL employer related to study;
• Have a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit from IRCC; Recent graduates must apply when they have a minimum of six months of validity on their Post-Graduation Work Permit;
• Have the required skills, training, and qualifications for the job;
• Show the intent to settle permanently in the province;
• Show sufficient financial resources to support himself and his accompanying family members; and
• Show language proficiency in either English or French required to perform the job.

International Entrepreneur Category

Under this category, the NLPNP targets foreign nationals who are willing to establish a new business or purchase an existing business in the province. Candidates have to actively manage their business on a temporary work permit to be eligible for a provincial nomination in this category. This category has two streams, these are:

• Starting a New Business Stream
• Purchasing an Existing Business Stream

This stream operates on an Expression of Interest (EOI) system. Potential candidates have to submit an EOI to the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism in the province. EOI must demonstrate the intent to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for the program.

To apply for this stream, a candidate must:

• Be 21 to 59 years old;
• Have a personal net worth of CAD 600,000, free from any debts and liabilities;
• Be able to make a minimum investment of CAD 200,000 to set up the business with at least 33.33% of ownership, or $1million in equity investment;
• Have a minimum of two years of experience as a business owner with at least 25% of ownership, or have a minimum of five years of experience in a senior management role in the previous ten years;
• Meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in either English or French:
  • Have to submit the test results (not older than two years) with the application from one of the following approved language tests to prove language proficiency:
    • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
    • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
    • Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF)
• Score a minimum of 72 out of 100 points on the EOI assessment grid;
• Design a business plan with anticipated financial outline verified by designated third-party professionals;
• Have at least a Canadian high school diploma or an equivalent credential verified by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report in the last five years from the date of submission of EOI;
• Show the intent to reside permanently in the province while actively managing the business;
• Show the ability to generate at least one full-time employment opportunity for permanent residents or Canadian citizens in the province;
• Show that the business is a for-profit entity;
• Organize a compulsory explanatory visit to the province before starting or purchasing a business;
• Submit an EOI online; and
• Obtain an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism in the province.

EOI Assessment Grid

Factors	Points
Age	Maximum 12 points
Language	Maximum 32 points
Education	Maximum 30 points
Business Ownership/Managerial Experience	Maximum 24 points
Newfoundland and Labrador Economic Priorities	Maximum 12 points
Adaptability	Maximum 10 points

International Graduate Entrepreneur Category

Under this stream, the NLPNP targets international students who have graduated from an NL post-secondary institution and are willing to establish a new business or purchase an existing business in the province. These candidates have to gain at least one year of experience as an owner or senior manager to obtain a provincial nomination.

To start with the application process, candidates have to submit an EOI to the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism in the province.

To qualify for this category, a candidate must:

• Have graduated or completed a two-year program from a public post-secondary institution;
• Show English or French language proficiency in all four abilities (Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking) by scoring an equivalent to CLB 7; and
• Have at least one year of experience in actively managing or owning a business in Newfoundland and Labrador with a minimum of one-third (33.33%) of ownership.

NOTE: No investment is required to be made by applicants under this category.

Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP)

The AIPP was introduced in 2017 with collaboration with the Canadian government. The program allows skilled workers, intermediate level workers, and international graduates to immigrate to one of the four Atlantic provinces. The purpose is to meet the workforce shortages for job positions that cannot be filled by hiring residents in the province. 

Employers who are willing to recruit foreign nationals have to first receive an employer designation in the AIPP. 

Applicants under this stream include foreign nationals outside of Canada or residing in Canada on a temporary status. Candidates must have an offer of employment from a designated employer in the province to apply under this category.

Designation process assures that:

• The AIPP is the most suitable immigration program to meet the employer’s workforce demands;
• The employer wants to recruit a full-time, non-seasonal foreign candidate;
• The employer and his business are in an efficient position;
• The employer has shown his ability to meet the international candidate’s and his accompanying dependants’ needs; and
• The employer confirms and meets the reporting needs of the program.

We hope that this guide has improved your understanding of the Newfoundland and Labrador PNP. Still, have doubts? Do not worry, Make home Canada is here to address them all. Reach out to our expert immigration consultants for any of your Canadian immigration-related queries. We will help you to determine the best pathway for you to immigrate to Canada, including the Express Entry system and different PNPs. Let us join you on this immigration journey to Canada.