On March 26, 2026, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) conducted its sixth selection round of the year and issued 14 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) under the Skilled Worker Stream through the Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Worker Overseas pathways. This draw targeted candidates who had declared in their Expression of Interest (EOI) profiles that they had received a direct invitation from the province under a strategic recruitment initiative.
Key takeaway from this round: Francophone Community initiative led the invitations
Looking at the distribution of invitations, the Francophone Community initiative was the main source of selections in this round, accounting for eight of the 14 LAAs issued, or more than half of the total. The remaining invitations were distributed across Employer Services, Ethnocultural Communities, and the temporary public policy pathway.
Invitations by strategic recruitment initiative
| Strategic recruitment initiative | Invitations issued |
|---|---|
| Employer Services | 4 |
| Ethnocultural Communities | 1 |
| Francophone Community | 8 |
| Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate Work Permits for Prospective Provincial Nominee Program Candidates (TPP) | 1 |
The MPNP also noted that no LAAs were issued through the Regional Communities initiative in this draw.
Invitation requirements: EOI profiles had to properly declare a strategic recruitment invitation
According to the province, candidates could only be invited in this draw if they had declared in their EOI profiles that they had received an invitation through one of the following channels:
- A direct invitation from Manitoba under a strategic recruitment initiative; or
- Eligibility under the Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate Work Permits for Prospective Provincial Nominee Program Candidates (TPP).
In addition, three of the 14 LAAs issued in this round went to candidates who had also declared valid Express Entry profile numbers and job seeker validation codes. This suggests that some invitees were not only eligible under Manitoba’s selection criteria, but were also already in the federal Express Entry system, potentially giving them more flexibility in their immigration pathway.
Why might some eligible candidates still not receive an LAA?
The MPNP specifically noted that even if a candidate appears to meet the selection criteria, they may still not receive an LAA. This can happen for two main reasons:
- The candidate indicated that they had taken an approved third-party language test in English or French, but did not provide a valid test number in their EOI, or their test results were no longer valid; or
- The candidate indicated that they had received an Invitation to Apply under a strategic recruitment initiative, but did not provide a valid invitation number.
In such cases, the province advises candidates to update their EOI profiles with the correct information so that they can be considered in the next draw.
What signal does this round send?
This latest round suggests that Manitoba continues to use targeted selection methods to identify skilled workers, especially those who align with the province’s priority groups and community-based needs. The strong representation of the Francophone Community initiative also points to Manitoba’s ongoing support for Francophone population growth and related labour force needs.
At the same time, although the overall number of invitations was relatively small, the draw still covered in-province candidates, overseas applicants, and individuals connected to Express Entry. This reflects Manitoba’s continued move toward a more refined and targeted nomination strategy in 2026, rather than simply expanding invitation volumes. For candidates hoping to immigrate through Manitoba, ensuring that EOI information is complete, accurate, and still valid remains a key step in improving their chances of receiving an invitation in future rounds.
