Manitoba and Prince Edward Island Issue Invitations to Apply for Provincial Immigration
On February 20, 2025, Manitoba and Prince Edward Island each held draws through their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), offering eligible candidates the opportunity to apply for provincial nominations.
Manitoba (February 14-21, 2025)
On February 20, 2025, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) held two draws. The first draw targeted the International Education stream, inviting 19 eligible applicants to apply for provincial nomination. Candidates must meet the following criteria to qualify for this stream:
- Hold a Master’s degree or higher;
- Have a Manitoba supporter, who must be a close relative, a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and have lived in Manitoba for at least one year.
The second draw was for the Skilled Worker Overseas stream, inviting 22 candidates who indicated they had received a direct invitation from the MPNP under a strategic recruitment initiative. The lowest score among the invited candidates in this draw was 711.
Details of Manitoba’s Provincial Nominee Invitations:
| Draw Category | Number of Invitations Issued | Minimum Score of Lowest-Ranked Candidate Invited |
|---|---|---|
| International Education Stream | 19 | N/A |
| Skilled Worker Overseas stream | 22 | 711 |
Prince Edward Island (February 14-21, 2025)
On February 20, 2025, the PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) held a draw targeting Labour Impact and Express Entry categories. A total of 87 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued, primarily to candidates employed in occupations and priority sectors essential to PEI’s economic development. Additionally, candidates who had been living and working in PEI for at least one year were prioritized, as well as international student graduates from specific educational institutions. The eligible institutions included:
- University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI)
- Holland College
- Collège de l’Île
Details of Prince Edward Island’s Provincial Nominee Invitations:
| Draw Category | Number of Invitations Issued |
|---|---|
| Labour Impact / Express Entry | 87 |
Conclusion
These immigration draws highlight the provinces’ demand for highly educated professionals and key labor market candidates in local industries. In the future, more qualified immigration applicants are expected to obtain Canadian immigration status through these Provincial Nominee Programs.
Canadian Home Care Worker Pilot Program Fills Up on Opening Day Amid Fierce Competition
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officially opened the application portal for its highly anticipated Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWP) on March 31, 2025. However, due to the large number of applicants, the online application quotas for the two sub-categories aimed at in-Canada applicants – the Child Care Pilot and the Home Support Pilot – rapidly reached their annual caps on the afternoon of the opening day. This reflects the program's immense popularity and the intense competition among applicants. Currently, the stream for overseas applicants has not yet opened.
04/02/2025
Manitoba PNP Prioritizes In-Province Graduates in Latest Draw; Northwest Territories Closes 2025 Nomination Intake
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) conducted its latest draw on March 21, prioritizing invitations for candidates with post-secondary education completed in Manitoba, along with some Skilled Workers Overseas. Concurrently, the Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP) has announced the closure of its 2025 application intake, proceeding with a random selection of applications for processing and providing details on its quota allocation.
04/02/2025
Major Adjustments to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP): Several Streams Closed, Overseas Recruitment Focuses on Three Key Industries
The province of Saskatchewan in Canada has implemented major reforms to its Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), effective March 27, 2025. The adjustments include reopening the acceptance of Job Approval Forms (JAFs) for employers, but with the recruitment of overseas skilled workers now restricted to three key areas: healthcare, agriculture, and technical trades. Simultaneously, the province has closed the immigration streams for entrepreneurs and farm owners/operators, tightened the eligibility requirements for certain open work permit holders and international students, and set annual nomination quota limits for the accommodation and food services, retail, and truck transportation sectors.
04/02/2025
Yukon Adjusts Nomination System: A New Expression of Interest Application System Boosts Upgraded Immigration Selection
Canada's Yukon Territory has announced a significant overhaul of its Yukon Nominee Program (YNP), transitioning to a new Expression of Interest (EOI) pool-based system effective March 31, 2025, replacing the previous direct application model. This change aims to manage a substantially reduced federal nomination allocation and better target candidates aligning with the territory's priorities. Under the new system, employers must first submit an EOI and receive an invitation before applying for nomination for a foreign worker. Yukon has also outlined priority candidate groups for 2025 and launched a temporary measure offering work permit support to certain foreign nationals already in the territory.
03/31/2025
Several Top Canadian Universities Enter Global Top 100 in Subject Rankings; Key Study Permit Application Process Explained
The international higher education research institution Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) recently released the 15th edition of its World University Rankings by Subject. The report indicates that several Canadian universities are ranked among the global top 100 in multiple subject areas, reaffirming the outstanding strength of Canadian higher education. Notably, the University of Toronto, University of British Columbia (UBC), and McGill University are among the top performers across several broad subject categories. For international students intending to pursue further studies in Canada, understanding the areas of strength at these leading institutions, as well as the latest study permit application process, is essential.
03/31/2025
Major Adjustment to Canada's Express Entry: Extra CRS Points for LMIA Officially Cancelled
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officially implemented the latest Ministerial Instructions on March 25, 2025, eliminating the additional 50 to 200 CRS points previously awarded to Express Entry candidates for valid arranged employment. This measure aims to curb illegal activities such as purchasing Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs), enhance the integrity of the immigration system, and is explicitly stated as a temporary measure.
03/26/2025
Canadian Federal Government Significantly Increases Quota for Parents and Grandparents Program
The Canadian federal government recently announced a significant increase in the processing cap for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) for 2025, raising it to 25,000 applications. This decision reverses the tightening policy announced earlier this year and signifies a new opportunity for sponsors who submitted an interest form in 2020 but have not yet received an invitation to apply. The move aims to better address the family reunification needs of Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
03/26/2025
Canada Immigration Update: British Columbia and Prince Edward Island Issue Provincial Nomination Invitations, Focusing on Entrepreneurs and Key Industry Talents
Last week, British Columbia (BC) and Prince Edward Island (PEI) issued immigration invitations through their respective Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). BC's target is foreign entrepreneurs who have established new businesses or purchased existing businesses in the province, while PEI focuses on talents in key industries and occupations in high demand within the province.
03/25/2025
Canada Study Permit Policy Adjustment: College Bachelor's Degree Graduates No Longer Subject to Major Restrictions, Offering a Boost to Post-Graduation Work Permit Applications
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) recently announced a relaxation of the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) application requirements for College Bachelor's Degree graduates, removing the previous restrictions on fields of study. While this policy is positive news for some international students, new language requirements remain in place, and not all graduates will meet the eligibility criteria.
03/25/2025
IRCC Continues Momentum: Express Entry French Category Draw Invites 7,500, CRS Hits Recent Low
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has once again conducted a targeted draw through the Express Entry system, this time focusing on candidates with strong French language proficiency. A total of 7,500 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued, with the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score set at 379—the lowest in nearly a month. This article provides a detailed breakdown of the draw results, a review of Express Entry draws in 2025 to date, and an analysis of current immigration policy trends.
03/24/2025
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