Manitoba Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway: Skilled Workers in Manitoba

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) is one of the only Canadian immigration programs to actively recruit newcomers abroad through its Strategic Recruitment initiatives. The new Manitoba Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway will on current Strategic Recruitment initiatives to target skilled workers overseas whose expertise is required in Manitoba.

Potential candidates through this pathway work closely with a Manitoba-based employer to build their application, starting with an interview which takes place overseas. A job offer is required, along with further eligibility requirements (see below). However, the pathway does not have a points requirement to meet, and is not aligned with the federal Express Entry system.

Step 1: Find employment in Manitoba

Potential candidates to the Manitoba Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway first need to be identified and recruited by a Manitoba employer, and then be invited to apply.

The MPNP currently holds overseas recruitment events through the Strategic Recruitment initiative, which link employers with promising candidates around the world. While the format of these events may change with the introduction of the new Employer Recruitment pathway, it will still remain the case that anyone hoping to apply through this pathway will need to be interviewed by the MPNP and an eligible employer, and receive a Letter of Advice to Apply from the MPNP.

Manitoba Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway eligibility

Step 2: Be eligible for the MPNP

Candidates for the Manitoba Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway must also be eligible for the MPNP more generally. In the Skilled Worker in Manitoba category, of which the Manitoba Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway is a part, there is no minimum points requirement that candidates must meet in order to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). Review the criteria in step 1, and note that the following people are not eligible to apply to the MPNP:

The following are not eligible to submit an application to the MPNP:

• Refugee claimants, or individuals involved in a federal appeal or removal process.
• Live-in Caregivers currently living in Canada.
• Temporary foreign workers currently working and residing in a province other than Manitoba.
• Spouses of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
• Individuals who have been refused by the MPNP within the last six months and who are not able to address the reason(s) for refusal.
• Individuals who have an active immigration application with any other provincial immigration program in Canada.

Step 3: Submit an EOI

Eligible candidates can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and enter the candidate pool, at which point they will be assigned a points score out of 1,000. Top-ranking candidates are issued Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) in periodic draws from the pool, and may then submit a full application. The EOI submission is an electronic process, which involves answering some questions online and uploading supporting documents.

An EOI is valid for one year after submission – if you haven’t received a LAA after one year, your EOI will expire and you will need to submit a new one to remain in the candidate pool.

The EOI can be updated at any time, even after submission. This means that if you become eligible for a higher points score, you don’t have to wait until your EOI expires to update your situation. For example, if you take another language test or complete more work experience after you submit your EOI, you can update your profile and improve your points score.

An EOI is not an application for immigration; rather, it allows the government of Manitoba to determine candidates’ eligibility in various immigration categories. There is no limit to the number of candidates who can submit an EOI, and there is no deadline – the system is always open to receive EOIs. (Having said that, the province does reserve the right to limit EOIs from candidates in certain occupations, if there is a significant overload.)

After submitting an EOI, candidates receive a score out of 1,000 based on work experience, education, language ability, adaptability, and other factors. ‘Adaptability’ assesses a candidate’s connection to the province – for example, through relatives, work experience, or education – as such a connection may mean a candidate is likely to be able to settle successfully and long-term in the province.

• You can submit your Manitoba EOI here.

Step 4: Receive a LAA

Manitoba conducts draws to invite top-ranking candidates to submit a full application to the MPNP: these candidates receive a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA). Draws are conducted roughly every month, although historically there has been no regular schedule or advance notice for draws.

Once you receive a LAA, you have 60 days to complete and submit an application to the MPNP. It is strongly recommended that candidates start preparing documents when they enter the pool, as it can take some time to gather the required documents in the right format.

Step 5: Apply for Canadian permanent resident status

If your application to the MPNP is successful, you can then apply directly to the Canadian government for permanent resident status.

PNP Live Tracker

As further changes to the MPNP are expected, the above information – including eligibility criteria – may change as Manitoba continues to develop and upgrade its skilled worker immigration categories. To get the latest updates, follow these and other changes across Canada’s immigration programs with Moving2Canada’s exclusive PNP Canada Live Tracker.