PEI PNP Update: Eighth Draw of 2025 Targets In-Province Skilled Workers and Graduates from Designated Institutions
Details of This Draw
According to the latest announcement from the Prince Edward Island Office of Immigration, the draw on August 21, 2025, resulted in 132 invitations being issued through two main categories:
- Labour Impact
- PEI Express Entry
The focus of this draw was on applicants who have already established a work and life foundation within PEI, aiming to meet the province's ongoing labour market needs.
Prioritized Applicant Categories
This draw specified its priority selection criteria, concentrating on the following two groups:
- Workers in Key Sectors: Individuals working in sectors identified by the provincial government as critical to its economic growth and labour needs were given priority. Earlier this year, PEI designated healthcare, trades, and manufacturing as in-demand sectors.
- International Graduates from Specific Institutions: To retain locally trained talent, international graduates from the following three PEI post-secondary institutions also received additional priority in the selection process:
- University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI)
- Holland College
- Collège de l’Île
Notably, this is the third draw this year to use these specific selection criteria, indicating PEI's sustained focus on its local labour market and talent retention in its immigration policy.
2025 Draw Overview
Reviewing the invitation data for 2025 so far, the PEI PNP has issued a total of 792 invitations. The vast majority (791) were issued through the Labour Impact and PEI Express Entry categories, while only a single invitation was issued through the Work Permit Stream of the Business Impact category. This distribution clearly indicates that PEI's current immigration focus is on attracting skilled workers and applicants with local experience.
How to Apply for the PEI PNP
For individuals interested in immigrating through the PEI PNP, the first step is to create an account on the official PEI Office of Immigration website and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). An EOI profile remains valid for six months, during which time an applicant can only have one active profile.
The PEI Office of Immigration regularly reviews the EOI pool to select candidates who meet the province's current economic and labour market needs, and then issues them official invitations to apply for a provincial nomination. Successful candidates who receive a provincial nomination can then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
It is important to note that candidates wishing to be considered under the PEI Express Entry category must submit a separate EOI directly to PEI in addition to having an active profile in the federal Express Entry system.
Prince Edward Island Holds Largest Provincial Nominee Draw of the Year, Focusing on In-Province Workers and International Graduates
The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) recently conducted its largest immigration draw of the year, issuing invitations to apply for provincial nomination to nearly 200 candidates through the "Labour & Express Entry" category. This draw primarily targeted candidates already working in the province, while giving priority consideration to applicants with French language proficiency and international graduates from specific institutions. This move reflects the province's strategic intent to attract skilled talent capable of directly contributing to the local economy.
11/25/2025
British Columbia Expands Entrepreneur Immigration Invitations, Marking Largest Draw of 2025
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11/24/2025
Alberta Issues 1,125 Provincial Nominee Invitations in Mid-November, Maintaining High-Frequency Draws Across Key Streams
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11/22/2025
Canada’s Conservatives Push for Major Amendments to Border and Immigration Bill C-12
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11/21/2025
Alberta Announces Sweeping Changes to AAIP Rural Renewal Stream: Community Quotas and New Work Permit Rules to Take Effect in 2026
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11/20/2025
Ontario Suspends Express Entry Skilled Trades Stream and Returns All Applications
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11/19/2025
Newfoundland and Labrador issues 330 ITAs in latest draw, marking the largest round since July
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11/18/2025
IRCC releases latest processing time update with notable shifts across key immigration categories
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11/17/2025
Canada issues new round of Express Entry invitations for Healthcare and Social Services occupations
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new Express Entry draw on November 14, 2025, issuing 3,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Healthcare and Social Services occupations category. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this draw was 462—the lowest cutoff among the six Healthcare and Social Services draws held this year. This was also the third Express Entry draw of November, highlighting IRCC’s continued priority on recruiting healthcare professionals.
11/15/2025
Canada Issues 1,000 ITAs to CEC Candidates in Latest Express Entry Draw
On November 12, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new round of Express Entry invitations, issuing 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required was 533, and candidates needed to have created their Express Entry profile before 3:39 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on October 17, 2025. To date, IRCC has issued more than 82,000 ITAs in 2025, with CEC, French-language category, and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws remaining key priorities.
11/14/2025
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