Manitoba

What is the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program? (MPNP)

Nestled between Ontario and Saskatchewan, Manitoba serves as the entry point to western Canada. The commitment to meeting local labor market needs led Manitoba to become the first Canadian province to establish its own continuous immigration program, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). Driven by local requirements, the MPNP selects internationally trained and experienced workers who possess the skills in demand by Manitoba employers. These selected individuals are then nominated to receive Canadian permanent resident visas to settle and work in Manitoba.

Annually, approximately 15,000 immigrants arrive in Manitoba, and the outcomes for internationally experienced workers who immigrate through the MPNP are highly positive.

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) was Canada’s pioneer PNP, officially established in 1998 as a permanent immigration program. Its primary aim was to boost the province’s economy through immigration, addressing its economic and labor market requirements. Manitoba’s success with the MPNP has been significant, with the program playing a crucial role in maintaining the province's GDP, which could have been up to 30 percent lower without it.

Manitoba is a favored destination among newcomers, particularly those with ties in the province, as these connections can facilitate immigration through the MPNP. Over 90 percent of provincial nominee’s secure employment within their first year, and almost 90 percent choose to remain in Manitoba.

The MPNP offers various immigration streams, including base and enhanced streams.

Enhanced streams are integrated with the Express Entry system, which manages permanent residence applications for Canada’s main economic class immigration programs. Nominees through enhanced streams receive an additional 600 CRS points, virtually ensuring an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence, and their nominations are linked to their Express Entry profiles. Base streams, on the other hand, are not aligned with the Express Entry system. Candidates nominated through base streams are required to apply directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Manitoba offers five immigration streams for those seeking to move to the province:

1.     Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream: Designed for qualified temporary foreign workers and international student graduates currently employed in Manitoba, who have received a permanent, full-time job offer from a Manitoba employer.

2.     Skilled Worker Overseas Stream: Targeted at skilled workers who may be outside of Canada but have a strong connection to Manitoba. Qualified individuals already in Canada may also apply under this category.

3.     Manitoba Business Investor Stream: Intended for applicants looking to establish a business in Manitoba.

4.     International Education Stream: Tailored for international graduates of Manitoba post-secondary institutions who intend to settle in Manitoba permanently.

5.     Morden Community Driven Initiative: Geared towards welders, carpenters, cooks, plumbers, and pipefitters interested in establishing themselves in the rural town of Morden.

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Ø The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream offers

Eligibility for the Skilled Worker in Manitoba (SWM) Pathway

To apply for the Skilled Worker in Manitoba (SWM) Pathway, you must demonstrate an established connection to Manitoba through ongoing employment.

Ongoing Manitoba Employment

• Work Permit: You must have a valid work permit.
• Job Offer: A Manitoba company must offer you a full-time, long-term job after you have completed at least six months of continuous full-time employment with them as a temporary foreign worker or international student graduate.

If you can obtain a temporary work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), you may be able to apply to the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) as a temporary foreign worker. Visit the IRCC website for more information about work permit options.

Qualifying Employment

• Employer Requirements: Your employer must be incorporated or registered by an act of the legislature of a province or the Parliament of Canada and operate as a business with established production capability, a plant, or a place of business in Manitoba.
• Employer's Business: The employer must demonstrate their ability to offer you full-time, long-term employment in Manitoba.
• Excluded Work Experience: Self-employment, unauthorized work, or employment during full-time study (e.g., co-op work experience) will not be counted towards the qualifying work experience.
• Ineligible Applicants: Self-employed individuals, business owners, owner-operators, and independent contractors cannot apply under this pathway.

Note: The MPNP will issue a work permit support letter only if there is a demonstrated employee-employer relationship.

Requirements for International Students from Other Provinces

If you graduated from a post-secondary program in another Canadian province and received a job offer in Manitoba, you must work for that Manitoba employer for at least one year before applying.

Temporary Foreign Workers

Conditions:

• Long-Term Employment: The job offer must be from the same employer for whom you have been working full-time for the required period.
• Qualifications: You must have the necessary qualifications, training, education, and any required licenses or certifications.
• Language Proficiency: You must demonstrate job-ready English or French proficiency to fulfill your job duties.
• Stronger Connection to Manitoba: Your connection to Manitoba through employment must be stronger than ties to another province.
• Settlement Plan: You must submit a Settlement Plan demonstrating your intention to live, work, and establish your life in Manitoba as a permanent resident.

Note: People exempt from requiring a work permit to work in Manitoba (e.g., Ministers of Religion) are not eligible to apply under this category.

International Student Working Graduates

Eligibility:

• Graduates of Manitoba Institutions: Only graduates from authorized post-secondary institutions in Manitoba are eligible.
• Continuous Employment: You must have a long-term job offer following at least six months of continuous full-time employment on a valid post-graduation work permit.
• Post-Graduation Work Permit: You must have a valid post-graduation work permit issued by IRCC.

Conditions:

• Authorized Education Program: You must have attended a full-time authorized education or training program at a public or registered private vocational post-secondary institution in Manitoba (language programs are excluded).
• Program Duration: The program must be at least one academic year in duration.
• Successful Completion: You must have completed the program and been awarded a diploma, degree, or certificate.
• Employment: You must have been continuously working for the same employer for at least six months.
• Stronger Connection to Manitoba: Your connection to Manitoba through employment must be stronger than ties to another province.
• Settlement Plan: You must submit a Settlement Plan demonstrating your intention to live, work, and establish your life in Manitoba as a permanent resident.
• Qualifications: You must have the necessary qualifications and language proficiency to fulfill your job duties.

Note: International graduates not meeting the conditions may apply through the Skilled Worker Overseas Pathway or a Business Investor Stream pathway.

Ineligible Applicants

The following individuals cannot apply 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 residing and working in a province other than Manitoba
• Spouses of Canadian citizens or permanent residents
• Individuals refused by the MPNP within the last six months and unable to address the reason(s) for refusal
• Individuals with active immigration applications with other provincial or federal programs (Express Entry profiles are not considered applications)
• Individuals or their spouses with an active MPNP application cannot submit an additional application to any other MPNP stream/pathway.

Ø The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream

Skilled Worker Overseas (SWO) Pathway Overview

To apply for the Skilled Worker Overseas (SWO) Pathway, you must establish a connection to Manitoba through one of the following:

1. Manitoba Support: Support from family members or friends.
2. Manitoba Experience: Previous education or work experience in the province.
3. Manitoba Invitation: An Invitation to Apply received directly from the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) as part of a Strategic Recruitment Initiative.

Additionally, you must score at least 60 points based on five factors: language proficiency, age, work experience, education, and adaptability. If you do not have a connection to Manitoba, you are not eligible to apply under the SWO, regardless of your points total.

Connection to Manitoba

Manitoba Support

A Manitoba Supporter is an established resident of the province who is a friend or relative of the applicant. They must be willing and able to review and endorse the applicant's plan for settling and finding employment in Manitoba. Requirements for a Manitoba Supporter include:

• Must be a close relative or friend/distant relative of the applicant.
• Must have lived in Manitoba continuously for at least one year.
• Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Must demonstrate close ties to the applicant and Manitoba.
• Must have successfully supported previous applications for permanent economic establishment in Manitoba.
• Must support the applicant's Settlement Plan.

Close relatives can support multiple applications simultaneously if they can demonstrate their ability to do so. Close relatives include:

• Sister or brother
• Niece or nephew (child of your sister or brother)
• Aunt or uncle (sibling of your parent)
• First cousin (child of your aunt or uncle)
• Mother or father
• Grandmother or grandfather

Friends and distant relatives must not currently be supporting another MPNP applicant or nominee under another Canadian immigration program.

Note: Your Manitoba Supporter cannot be a paid immigration representative, someone without a demonstrable relationship to the applicant or their spouse, or a Canadian elected official or their staff.

Applicants must declare their Manitoba Supporter and provide their contact information for MPNP correspondence. The MPNP requires up-to-date contact information for your Supporter, and if the MPNP cannot contact your Supporter, your application may be refused.

Important: The MPNP is an economic immigration program, not a sponsorship program. Applicants must be employable and adaptable skilled workers with job-ready English, sufficient settlement funds, and a genuine intention to economically establish in Manitoba.

Manitoba Experience

Manitoba Experience means you have previously lived in the province as a temporary foreign worker or international student. Requirements include:

• For temporary foreign workers: Worked full-time for a Manitoba employer for at least six consecutive months. You must submit a signed letter of reference on company letterhead and a copy of your Manitoba work permit.
• For international students: Completed an authorized education or training program at a public or registered private vocational post-secondary institution in Manitoba (language studies are not authorized). You must submit your study permit(s), academic transcripts, and the certificate, diploma, or degree you received.

Manitoba Invitation

The MPNP issues Invitations to Apply to qualified candidates identified through Strategic Recruitment Initiatives in Manitoba and overseas. To apply with a Manitoba Invitation, you must upload the Letter of Invitation you received from the MPNP after an interview with a program officer during a recruitment mission or exploratory visit.

Recruitment missions: The MPNP travels overseas, often with Manitoba employers, to identify potential candidates.

Exploratory visits: A pre-arranged trip to Manitoba to research communities and employment opportunities. After an interview during an exploratory visit, you may be invited to submit an MPNP Online application. Note that the Invitation to Apply, not the exploratory visit, establishes the Manitoba connection.

Eligibility criteria for exploratory visits and missions generally include:

• Age between 21 and 45.
• No stronger connection to another province.
• Demonstrable employability and adaptability.
• Completed at least a one-year post-secondary education or training program.
• Worked at least two years full-time in the past five years.
• Genuine intention and ability to establish in Manitoba as a permanent resident.
• Language proficiency equivalent to at least CLB 5 in each category, based on an approved language test taken within the past two years.

Note: Approval of your exploratory visit request, actual visit and interview, or Invitation to Apply does not guarantee approval of your MPNP Online application or subsequent permanent resident visa application to the Government of Canada.

For more information on each connection type and how to apply, please refer to the detailed guidelines provided by the MPNP.

Ø The Manitoba Business Investor Stream offers two pathways

1. Farm Investor Pathway:

The Farm Investor Pathway (FIP) is tailored for individuals with substantial farm business experience and investment capital who aim to establish a farming enterprise in rural Manitoba.

How the Farm Investor Pathway works:

Candidates for the Farm Investor Pathway must conduct a Farm Research Visit in Manitoba within one year before starting the process.

Next, complete the Interest Guidelines and Farm Business Concept forms, and submit them along with the Code of Conduct for Immigration Representatives if necessary.

If you receive a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA), you can submit an application for the Farm Investor Pathway and may be invited for an interview.

If approved, you'll receive a Deposit Agreement to sign and submit a deposit of CAD $75,000. Once nominated, you can apply for permanent residence through the Canadian federal government.

Applicants must meet the following requirements for the Farm Investor Pathway:

• Possess a minimum of three years of farm business management or ownership and operation experience.
• Demonstrate proficiency in English or French.
• Commit to investing at least CAD $300,000.
• Intend to establish the farming business in rural Manitoba.
• Submit a comprehensive farm business plan.
• Conduct a Farm Business Research Visit.
• Intend to reside on the farm and actively participate in its management.
• Have a net worth of at least CAD $500,000

2. Entrepreneur Pathway:

The Entrepreneur Pathway allows eligible foreign business owners to move to Manitoba. They must intend and have the ability to establish or purchase a new business, or co-own an existing business within the first two years after arriving in Manitoba on a temporary work permit.

Application Fee: CAD $2,500

Processing Time: 6 months

How the Entrepreneur Pathway works:

First, determine eligibility and research your business concept, exploring Manitoba and preparing the Business Concept Form.

Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) along with your Business Concept Form, Self-Assessment Form, and Code of Conduct for Immigration Representatives (if applicable).

If you meet the criteria and your Business Concept is approved, you'll receive a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA).

Submit a complete application to the MPNP and may be invited for an in-person interview.

If successful, sign a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) with the MPNP, then operate your business in Manitoba and provide regular updates on its performance.

Upon meeting the BPA terms, you'll receive a provincial nomination for permanent residence.

Minimum requirements-

Applicants must fulfill the following requirements:

• Three years of experience as an active business owner or in senior management within the past five years.
• Meet the minimum language requirement of CLB 5.
• Hold at least a Canadian high school certificate equivalent.
• Make a minimum investment of CAD $250,000 if the business is in the Manitoba Capital Region (Winnipeg area), or CAD $150,000 if outside the Manitoba Capital Region.
• The business must create at least one job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Manitoba.
• Submit a detailed business plan.
• Conduct a Business Research Visit within one year before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI).
• Sign a Business Performance Agreement upon approval of the application.
• Have a net worth of at least CAD $500,000.

Ø The International Education Stream (IES)

Aims to offer faster pathways to permanent residence for graduates who meet industry needs.It comprises three pathways: Career Employment, Graduate Internship, and Student Entrepreneur.

The IES targets international graduates of Manitoba educational institutions, providing accelerated pathways to permanent residency. You have three options:

1. Career Employment Pathway:

Designed for post-secondary graduates with long-term employment in Manitoba in an in-demand occupation.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Graduated (minimum 1 year/2 semesters) from a Manitoba post-secondary institution within the past three years.
• Meet the minimum language requirement of CLB 7.
• Hold a full-time job offer of at least 1-year duration from an eligible current employer in an In-Demand Occupation.
• Have sufficient funds for a six-month period or be employed full-time in a long-term position in Manitoba.
• Reside in Manitoba at the time of application.

2. Graduate Internship Pathway:

For international master's and doctoral graduates who complete an Accelerate or Elevate internship with Mitacs, an organization partnering with the Manitoba government.

Applicants must fulfill the following conditions:

• Hold a master’s or doctoral degree from Manitoba obtained within the last three years.
• Meet the minimum language requirement of CLB 7.
• Have completed a Mitacs Elevate or Accelerate (including Accelerate Entrepreneur) internship within an eligible industry and research enterprise in Manitoba.
• Possess sufficient funds for a six-month period or be employed full-time in a long-term position in Manitoba.
• Reside in Manitoba at the time of application.

3. International Student Entrepreneur Pathway:

Offers up to 20 international graduates of Manitoba institutions the chance to become entrepreneurs. They must meet the conditions of a Business Performance Agreement before nomination for permanent residence.

Applicants are required to:

• Provide a business plan.
• Manage the business on a daily basis in Manitoba for a minimum of 6 months before nomination.
• Own at least 51% of the business.
• Meet the language requirement of CLB 7.
• Complete a full-time post-secondary education program in Manitoba lasting at least 2 years.
• Be aged between 21 and 35 years old.
• Have sufficient funds for a six-month period.
• Hold a valid open work permit or Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
• Reside in Manitoba continuously since graduation.
• Have the intention to remain in Manitoba.
• Sign a Business Performance Agreement upon approval of the application.

Application Fees:

• Career Employment Pathway: CAD $500
• Graduate Internship Pathway: CAD $500
• International Student Entrepreneur Pathway: CAD $2,500

Processing Time: 6 months

How it works:

Start by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) online, where you'll answer a series of questions to receive a score.

Top-scoring candidates may be invited to submit an MPNP application. If successful, Manitoba will nominate you for immigration, enabling you to apply directly to the Canadian federal government for permanent residency visas for you and your family.

Ø The Morden Community-Driven Immigration Initiative

Is an opportunity for individuals to become permanent residents of Canada by relocating to Morden, Manitoba, a town located 112 km southwest of Winnipeg. Morden seeks immigrants in specific occupations that match the town’s labor market demands.

To be eligible, applicants must meet requirements related to age, education, language proficiency, and work experience. They should not have ties to any other part of Canada and must intend to reside in Morden. Additionally, applicants must demonstrate sufficient settlement funds.

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