Newfoundland and Labrador PNP (NLPNP)

Newfoundland and Labrador form Canada’s most eastern province. It is comprised of two parts (Newfoundland, an island in the Atlantic Ocean and Labrador on mainland Canada). Splendid views and wide-open spaces with low crime rate and highest median wage makes Newfoundland and Labrador one of the best places to live, study and work.

To facilitate economic, social and cultural growth, Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) targets prospective immigrants with desired skills and those interested in transitioning to permanent residency to reside and work in the province.

NLPNP streams

• Express Entry Skilled Worker Stream
• Skilled Worker Stream
• International Graduate
• International Entrepreneur
• International Graduate Entrepreneur

Express Entry Skilled Worker Stream

This stream is for skilled workers who have been accepted into Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada’s Express Entry pool and have a valid job offer from an employer in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Applicants must have a job offer from a NL employer at Skill Level 0, A, or B based on the National Occupational Code (NOC) classification system. The job offer should be for at least two years with the possibility of extension, from an eligible Newfoundland and Labrador employer. Pay should be in the form of a salary and benefits package that meets provincial employment standards and prevailing wage rates.

In addition, Express Entry Skilled Worker applicants must

• Score a minimum of 67 points out of 100 on the PNP point assessment grid.
• Have an IRCC Work Permit with at least 4 months validity at time of application or be entitled to apply for one.
• Possess a Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma, or an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)report from an agency approved by. The ECA submitted with the application must match the education level declared in the Express Entry profile and the points claimed in the points grid.
• Express the intention and ability to settle permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Have sufficient settlement funds or financial resources to successfully establish themselves and any dependents in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Be able to provide language test results from a designated testing agency that match the language level declared in the Express Entry profile.
• If you are an In-Canada Refugee Claimant, one main requirement of both the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) is that you have a valid temporary resident status in Canada. The open work permit granted to you while you await the result of your refugee claim does not give the required temporary status that is required for you to be able to apply for PNP OR AIPP from within Canada. Thus, you must apply for PNP or AIPP from outside Canada.
• If work experience is in an occupation that is regulated in Newfoundland and Labrador and requires mandatory certification or licensing in the province, proof of eligibility for provincial licensure or certification to be able to work in that profession must be submitted with the PNP application.

Skilled Worker Stream

Skilled Worker Stream is for individuals with a specialized skill set and a guaranteed offer of employment from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer. This category is also applicable for candidates who are already working in the province on a valid Work Permit.

An applicant(s) must meet the following criteria to be eligible

• Hold a full-time job or job offer for at least two years with the possibility of extension, from an eligible Newfoundland and Labrador employer. The employment offer must meet provincial employment standards and prevailing wage rates.
• Possess qualifications, training, skills, and/or accreditation required for the job.
• Should be 21 to 59 years old
• Have an Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Work Permit with at least 4 months validity at time of application or are entitled to apply for one.
• Express intent and ability to settle permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Hold sufficient settlement funds and financial resources to successfully establish themselves and any dependents in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• English or French language capability to perform the employment duties. Occupations classified in NOC Code C or D are required to meet Minimum Language Requirements;
• If applicants are an In-Canada Refugee Claimant, one main requirement of the Provincial Nominee Program is that they have a valid temporary resident status in Canada. The open work permit granted to them while they await the result of their refugee claim does not give the required temporary status that is required for them to be able to apply for PNP OR AIPP from within Canada. Thus, they must apply for PNP or AIPP from outside Canada.
• If the applicant has an ownership stake in a business in which they are employed, then the applicant’s share of ownership cannot exceed 10%

Applicants are not eligible for the Skilled Worker category if they:

• Have a Post-Graduate Work Permit, in which case hey must apply under the International Graduate category;
• And/or any dependent family member over the age of 22 have a criminal record.
• Have unresolved custody or child support disputes.
• Intentionally misrepresented themselves in the application.
• Are intentionally misrepresented by the employer or the employer misrepresent themselves in relation to their, or your, role in business; or
• Are Refugee claimants whose claim has been rejected, abandoned, or withdrawn must exit Canada prior to applying to the NL Provincial Nominee Program.
• Are offered Contractual or locum positions (short-term positions usually less than twelve (12) months in duration with little or no possibility of extension).

International Graduate

This stream for recent graduates who have a Post-Graduate Work Permit and a job or job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer.

Applicants must fulfill the following requirements

• Completed at least half of their studies in Canada.
• Demonstrate proof of graduation from an eligible publicly funded Canadian college or university.
• Completed a minimum of two-year diploma or degree program on a full-time basis. One-year post-graduate degree programs and certificate programs which require a previous degree or diploma (which may have been obtained abroad), are also eligible.
• Hold a full-time job or job offer of at least two years with the possibility of extension, from an eligible Newfoundland and Labrador employer. Pay should be in the form of a salary and benefits package that meets provincial employment standards and prevailing wage rates.
• Should be 21 to 59 years old.
• Possess qualifications, training, skills, and/or accreditation required for the job.
• Have an Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Post-Graduate Work Permit that must be valid for at least four months at the time of application.
• Show intention and ability to settle permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Have sufficient settlement funds and financial resources to establish themselves and any dependents in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Desired English or French language capability to perform employment duties.
  • If you are nominated in an occupation classified in NOC C or D you will have to meet Minimum Language Requirements. Note that NOC D positions are not normally considered under the International Graduate category.
• Hold a job or job offer related to their field of study if they completed their studies at a recognized post-secondary institute outside of Newfoundland and Labrador. A minimum of 1-year work experience prior to submission of your PNP application may also be required.
• If the applicant has an ownership stake in a business in which they are employed, then the applicant’s share of ownership cannot exceed 10%.

International Entrepreneur

The International Entrepreneur stream is for prospective entrepreneurs who have the intention to reside permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador.

To qualify under International Entrepreneur stream, an individual must:

• be 21 to 59 years of age.
• provide a business plan with supporting financial documentation verified by a recognized third-party professional.
• have a minimum of Canadian high school diploma or equivalent foreign credential verified by an Education Credential Assessment (ECA), taken in the last five years prior to the date of Expression of Interest submission.
• intend to live permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador while owning and actively managing a local business that can create significant economic benefit to Newfoundland and Labrador.
• have at least $600,000 CAD in unencumbered net business and personal assets that can readily be transferred to Canada.
• be able to invest at least $200,000 CAD of their own money to establish a business in the Newfoundland and Labrador with a minimum ownership of 33.3 per cent, or $1 million in equity investment.
• show capability to create at least one full-time equivalent job for local population (permanent residents and Canadian citizens).
• demonstrate that the business is a for-profit entity with the key aim of earning profits through the sale of goods and/or services.
• have at least two years’ experience actively managing and owning a business (25 per cent minimum ownership) in the last five years OR 5 or more years’ experience in a senior business management role in the last ten years.
• have a score of at least 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmark in all abilities in English or French (acceptable tests are Canadian English Language Proficiency Program (CELPIP) General Test, or International English Language Testing System (IELTS), General Training Test; or Test d’evaluation de francais (TEF);
• complete an online Expression of Interest (EOI); and
• receive an Invitation to Apply from the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism.

Additional Criteria

There are two streams within the International Entrepreneur category and each stream has unique criteria in addition to the criteria noted above.

• Starting a new business
• Purchasing an existing business

Additional criteria when starting a new business

If starting a business, the applicant must create a minimum of one full-time equivalent employment opportunity for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Newfoundland and Labrador. This position must:

• be over and above any position filled by the approved applicant. For clarity, jobs created for or filled by dependents or relatives of the applicant are not eligible.
• be relevant and directly-related to the applicant’s business; and
• meet the prevailing wage levels.

Additional criteria when purchasing an existing business

• The business must have been in continuous operation by the same owner for the previous five (5) years.
• All applicants purchasing or partnering in an existing business must complete an exploratory visit to meet the current owner(s) if the applicant is applying from outside of the province.
• Applicants must provide evidence that reasonable efforts were taken to establish a fair market value for the business.
• The business must be actively in operation and not in receivership; and
• Applicants must offer employment on similar terms and conditions to existing staff, including maintaining existing wages and employment terms.

Ineligible Applicants for International Entrepreneur Category

• Individuals living illegally in their country of residence.
• A person who has had a removal order issued against them by IRCC or Canada Border Services Agency.
• A person who is prohibited from entering Canada.
• Individuals who intend to invest in a Newfoundland and Labrador business with extremely limited or no involvement in the day-to-day management of the business; and
• An individual who does not have status (ineligible to apply until their status is restored).

Ineligible Businesses for International Entrepreneur Category

• Businesses that are conducted remotely i.e., from another Canadian jurisdiction or from another country.
• Property rental, investment, and leasing activities.
• Real estate construction/development/brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage; unless the applicant can prove their business in one of these areas is of compelling benefit to the Province.
• Professional services or self-employed business operators requiring licensing or accreditation.
• Pay day loan, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machines.
• Pawnbrokers.
• Taxi companies.
• Home-based businesses: unless the applicant can prove their business will have a compelling benefit to the Province.
• Businesses involved in the production, distribution, or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products or services.
• Not-for-profit businesses.
• Investments into a business operated mainly for the purposes of deriving passive investment income.
• Businesses operating primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income such as interest, dividends, or capital gains.
• Business that will compensate employees solely based on commission.
• Any other type of business that by association could tend to bring OIM, NLPNP, or the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador into disrepute.

International Graduate Entrepreneur

This stream is for international graduates who have attended Newfoundland and Labrador post-secondary institutions and who wish to establish, co-own or run a business in the province with a pathway to Canadian permanent residence. To be eligible under this category, candidates must:

• Be at least 21 years old.
• Provide a business continuity plan with supporting financial documentation verified by a recognized third-party professional service.
• Hold a degree or diploma after at least two academic years of full-time, in-person study at Memorial University or College of the North Atlantic. The degree or diploma must have been completed within two years of submission of the Expression of Interest.
• Have a valid post-graduate work permit.
• Intend to live permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador while owning and actively managing a local business that has the potential to create significant economic benefit to Newfoundland and Labrador.
• Have at least one year’s continuous experience actively managing and owning the current business (33.3 per cent minimum ownership).
• Demonstrate ability to create at least one full-time equivalent job for local population (permanent residents and Canadian citizens).
• Showcase that the business is a for-profit entity with the key aim of earning profits through the sale of goods and/or services.
• Have a score of at least 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmark in all language abilities in English or French.
• Complete an online Expression of Interest; and
• Receive an Invitation to Apply from the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism.

There are two streams within the International Graduate Entrepreneur category and each stream has unique criteria in addition to the above criteria:

• Starting a new business
• Purchasing an existing business

Additional criteria when starting a new business

If opening a new business, the applicant must create a minimum of one full-time year-round equivalent employment opportunity for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Newfoundland and Labrador. This position must:

• Be over and above any position filled by the approved applicant. For clarity, jobs created for or filled by dependents or relatives of the applicant are not eligible.
• Be relevant and directly- related to the applicant’s business.
• Meet the prevailing provincial wage levels.

Additional criteria when purchasing an existing business

If the applicant is purchasing an existing Newfoundland and Labrador business, all the following apply:

• The business must have been in continuous operation by the same owner for the previous five (5) years.
• Applicants must provide evidence that reasonable efforts were made to establish a fair market value for the business.
• The business must be actively in operation and not in receivership.
• Applicants must offer employment on similar terms and conditions to existing staff, including maintaining existing wages and employment terms.