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The province of Manitoba is introducing three distinct new Canadian immigration pathways for students and graduates under the Manitoba International Education Stream of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), with a renewed focus on entrepreneurship, innovation and skilled employment.

The Manitoba International Education Stream is dedicated to helping international graduates in Manitoba remain in the province as permanent residents. Manitoba’s intention is to provide a faster route to Canadian permanent resident status for international graduates who have studied at a university or college in Manitoba.

There are three pathways under the Manitoba International Education Stream.

Take note! The Manitoba International Education Stream may seem similar to the current requirements for international graduates in Manitoba applying through the Skilled Workers in Manitoba stream. However, there is a key difference: international graduates who studied in Manitoba and have a job offer in an in-demand occupation (see below) no longer need to work for six months before they can apply.

Career Employment Pathway

If you studied in a post-secondary program in Manitoba, you may be eligible to apply under the Career Employment Pathway so long as you have a qualifying job offer and meet certain further criteria (see below).

Step 1: Be eligible under the Manitoba International Education Stream: Career Employment Pathway

Minimum requirement
EducationGraduated in the past 3 years from a designated post-secondary institution in Manitoba (minimum 1 year, 2 semesters, full-time).
Language abilityMinimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7
Current Employment in ManitobaApplicants require a full-time job offer from an eligible Manitoba employer, with a minimum 1-year contract, in a job on Manitoba’s published In-Demand Occupations list (see below). The job or job offer must be in Training, Education, Experience, Responsibilities (TEER) category 0, 1, 2, or 3, and must be aligned with your completed study or training program.

Manitoba may impose program or occupation-specific limits.
If you have completed a bridging program and passed the initial stage of certification as determined by the appropriate regulatory body, you are not required to have a job offer at the time of application.
AdaptabilityMust be residing in Manitoba at the time of application and must show the intent to continue to reside in Manitoba after nomination, including the submission of a Career Employment Plan demonstrating opportunities for a successful career track in Manitoba.
Settlement fundsDemonstrate liquid funds equivalent to Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) requirements for independent financial resources for a six-month period; OR
Must be employed in a full-time, long-term position in Manitoba.

International graduates of study programs outside Manitoba will not be eligible under this stream. However, if you studied elsewhere in Canada and are now working in Manitoba, or have a job offer from a Manitoba employer, there may still be options for you to apply under other streams, including the Skilled Workers in Manitoba stream.

MPNP in-demand occupations

1 - Business, finance and administration occupations

2 - Natural and applied sciences and related occupations

3 - Health occupations

4 - Occupations in social science, education, government service and religion

5 - Occupations in art, culture, recreation and sport

6 - Sales and service occupations

7 - Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

8 - Occupations unique to primary industry

9 - Occupations unique to processing, manufacturing and utilities

* Regulated Occupation
** Compulsory Trade

Rural In-Demand Occupations

In addition to the occupations listed above, the following occupations are considered in-demand for applicants with the MPNP streams listed as long as the employment is based outside of the Manitoba Capital Region.

NOCOccupation TitleTEER CategoryMinimum CLBEligible MPNP Stream(s)
33102Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates37International Education Stream
94141Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers47International Education Stream

Step 2: Be eligible for the MPNP

Potential candidates must also be eligible for 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.

EOI pool factor 1: Language

EOI pool factor 2: Age

EOI pool factor 3: Work experience

EOI pool factor 4: Education

EOI pool factor 5: Adaptability

EOI pool factor 6: Risk assessment

Step 4: Receive a LAA

Manitoba periodically 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 residence.

Manitoba Graduate Internship Pathway

The Manitoba Graduate Internship Pathway provides faster nomination pathways for international students graduating from a Master’s or Doctoral (PhD) study program who then complete an internship contributing to industry innovation in Manitoba.

International graduates of study programs outside Manitoba will not be eligible under this stream. However, if you studied elsewhere in Canada and are now working in Manitoba, or have a job offer from a Manitoba employer, there may still be options for you to apply under other streams, including the Skilled Workers in Manitoba stream.

Manitoba Graduate Internship Pathway eligibility criteria

Minimum requirement
EducationCompleted a master or doctoral degree program in Manitoba within the past 3 years
Language abilityMinimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7
Internship in ManitobaCompleted a Mitacs Elevate or Accelerate internship with an eligible industry and research enterprise in Manitoba
Employment in ManitobaYou are not required to have a job offer at the time of application
AdaptabilityMust be residing in Manitoba at the time of application and must show the intent to continue to reside in Manitoba after nomination, including the submission of a Career Employment Plan demonstrating opportunities for a successful career track in Manitoba.
Settlement fundsDemonstrate liquid funds equivalent to Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) requirements for independent financial resources for a six-month period; OR
Must be employed in a full-time, long-term position in Manitoba.

If you meet the criteria outlined directly above, please see steps 2 through 5 above under ‘Career Employment Pathway’, as these steps will also be in place for the Manitoba Graduate Internship Pathway.

Manitoba International Student Entrepreneur Pilot

The Manitoba International Student Entrepreneur Pilot provides international students who have graduated in Manitoba the opportunity to pursue entrepreneurship rather than employment. Once the applicant meets the conditions of their Business Performance Agreement, they are nominated for permanent residence.

Attending an information session is required before an applicant may submit any forms under this pilot. Interested candidates should email [email protected] to register for an information session.

Manitoba International Student Entrepreneur Pilot eligibility criteria

Minimum requirement
Business ExperienceA business plan is required.

You must operate the business as a senior manager on a daily basis from the place of business in Manitoba for at least 6 months prior to nomination while on a valid temporary work permit, consistent with the requirements of your Business Performance Agreement (BPA).

Business equity ownership of at least 51%.
EducationComplete a full-time post-secondary program in Manitoba that is at least 2 years in duration. (distance learning or compressed academic programs are not eligible)

Studies and/or work/business experience outside of Canada will be considered as beneficial but not are not an eligibility requirement.
Language abilityMinimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 (For this pathway only, IELTS – Academic is accepted in addition to other language proficiency tests)
Age21-35
AdaptabilityYou must:
- Have a valid open work permit or post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the time of application;
- Have continuously resided in MB since graduation; and
- Show intent to continue to reside in MB after nomination.
Settlement fundsA deposit is not required.

Minimum net worth is not an eligibility criterion; however, net worth/ source of funds will be considered for the purpose of evaluating the potential for you to successfully execute on your business plan

Demonstrate liquid funds equivalent to Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) requirements for independent financial resources for a six-month period.

Your personal net worth will be verified by a third-party supplier approved by the MPNP. A verification report, along with the application, must be submitted to the MPNP within 120 days of receiving your LAA.
Business Performance AgreementAfter an application is approved, a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) must be signed prior to the MPNP issuing you a letter of support for applying for a work permit.

Applicants must also be eligible for 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.

Further eligibility criteria may emerge as the pathway develops and once it is launched.

PNP live tracker

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

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