On December 2, the Canadian province of Manitoba organized a new immigration draw, in which the province invited 438 immigration candidates under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).
The province issued these invitations under below three immigration streams of MPNP:
- Skilled Workers in Manitoba – A total of 358 candidates were invited under this stream, with a minimum EOI score requirement of 449 points.
- Skilled Workers Overseas – A total of 51 invitations were issued under this stream, with a minimum EOI score requirement of 726 points.
- International Education Stream – A total of 29 invitations were issued under this stream, and candidates under this stream had no specified requirement for EOI score.
Out of these 438 invites, 71 were issued to the candidates who applied under Express Entry.
Introduction: Express Entry System
The Express Entry system is popularly known as a fast-track immigration pathway to Canada. This is a management system for immigration applications received under the three federal high-skilled immigration programs of Canada as below:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Candidates need to start with submitting an online profile. In the Express Entry system, after submission of the profile, candidates are ranked against each other based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), depending on various factors such as age, work experience, language skills, education, adaptability, and others. The candidates with maximum CRS scores are sent out an ITA for permanent residence by the IRCC.
It is not mandatory to apply to a PNP; a candidate can be issued an ITA for permanent residence by directly applying through the Express Entry system. However, a successful provincial nomination rewards an additional 600 CRS points to the candidate, which increases his/her chances of receiving an invitation in the following Express Entry draw.
Immigration Programs to Manitoba
The government of Manitoba regulates immigration in the province through its PNP, called the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). The Canadian provinces are not authorized to grant permanent residency to the candidates; however, they can support an application through a provincial nomination.
The applicants are required to register an EOI with the MPNP, showing their interest in settling in Manitoba in order to seek benefit from the provincial nomination. Thereafter, if the candidates meet the eligibility requirement, they will be issued an LAA (Letter of Advice to Apply) by the provincial government through either of the below streams:
- The Skilled Workers in Manitoba stream
- The Skilled Workers Overseas category
Under the above programs, Manitoba targets applicants who can fulfill the workforce requirements of the province. After registration of an EOI with the MPNP, the province will score the candidate’s profile out of 1000 points based on specified human capital factors. The province prioritizes candidates with close connections to Manitoba.
The applicants overseas can show strong connections to the province, such as:
- Previous study/work experience,
- Close family connections, or
- Obtaining an invitation through a Strategic Recruitment Initiative of the province.
Note: It is not required for candidates to be residing in Manitoba while applying to meet the eligibility.
Candidates are required to obtain a full-time employment offer from an employer in the province to be eligible to obtain an ITA under the Skilled Workers in Manitoba Category. In addition, under the International Education Stream, international graduates who finished their education in the province can secure an invitation by showing they have the required skills to fill in an in-demand position.
