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Manitoba PNP

Updated: December 22nd, 2020


Manitoba and its capital city Winnipeg are perfectly situated in the heart of North America. Manitoba plays a big role in the continent as a transportation and trade hub, thanks to its location along the continent’s North-South trade corridor. The city has rail, road, sea, and air connections to the rest of the continent and the outside world.

Also called the "Land of 100,000 Lakes," Manitoba has a diversified economy led by manufacturing, agriculture, hydroelectricity, and mining. The majority of foreign nationals immigrate here through the Manitoba Provincial Nomination Program (Manitoba PNP).

Since the economy of Manitoba is largely dependent on natural resources, agriculture is the province’s main economic driver. Manitoba attracts many immigrants who benefit from the tight-knit farming communities, stable labour market, and picturesque landscape.   

Through the Manitoba PNP, immigrants, who possess the skills and experience identified by the province, can receive a Manitoba Provincial Nomination Certificate. Holding such a certificate speeds up the immigration process greatly.    

Quick Facts About Manitoba

  • Winnipeg is the capital city
  • The province is culturally diverse with over 100 spoken languages
  • Green, renewable and sustainable; nearly 98% of Manitoba’s power is hydro-electric 

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program

IMG Manitoba legislative building | Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program

The Three Basic Steps of Immigrating to Manitoba Through the MPNP

Step 1 – Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). Candidates are required to create an online profile and answer a number of questions. They are then assigned a score based on their answers and placed in the Manitoba EOI pool with other eligible candidates.
Step 2 – As in the Express Entry program, the candidates will be ranked and the highest-ranking candidates with skills and experience that meet Manitoba's labour requirements will be invited to submit a Manitoba PNP application through a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA). Upon receiving an LAA, candidates have only 60 days to submit a complete and accurate application to Manitoba.
Step 3 – Provincial government assesses and then nominates successful candidates.

There are four streams currently operating under the MPNP that you can apply for permanent residency through: 


Manitoba PNP Categories
International Education Stream
Business Investor Stream
Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream
Skilled Worker Overseas Stream

International Education Stream

International student graduate holding diploma | Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program

This stream targets international students who have graduated from tertiary institutions in Manitoba to provide faster nomination options for those seeking long-term employment in an in-demand occupation. Under this stream are three pathways, the Career Employment Pathway, Graduate Internship Pathway, and Student Entrepreneur Pathway

Under the Career Employment Pathway, international students can be nominated by the province if they have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the province and are seeking long term employment in an in-demand occupation. You can apply to the MPNP after graduation if you have a valid job offer from a Manitoban employer.

Please note that if you studied in another province or territory in Canada as an international student or do not have an in-demand occupation, you may still be eligible to apply under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream

Requirements for the Career Employment Pathway:

Completed a course of at least one year’s duration at a post-secondary institution;
Have a minimum language score of 7 in the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens (NCLC);
Have a job offer from a valid Manitoban employer for a contract that lasts for a minimum of one year and matches an in-demand job;
Are currently employed in the province;
Have sufficient funds that match the Low Income Cut Off requirements for a six months period or are employed in a full-time position in the province;
Have applied to the program while living in the province;
Have the intention to stay in the province after nomination and provide a Career Employment Plan to show your future career path in the province; and
Have met all of the requirements for the MPNP

If you have completed a bridging course and have passed the initial certification for the course by a regulatory body, you do not need a job offer from a Manitoban employer.

If you are a Doctoral or Master's graduate, then you could apply under the Graduate Internship Pathway. This pathway is designed for faster provincial nomination processing those who can bring innovation to Manitoba’s markets.  

If you graduated under the Accelerate or Elevate internship with Mitacs, you can automatically apply to the MPNP after your graduation, even if you do not have a job offer.

For additional information about the program, you must book an information session with the Manitoban government. This information session must be booked before you submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the MPNP.

Requirements for the Graduate Internship Pathway:

Have completed a Masters or Doctoral program in Manitoba that lasted at least three years;
Have scored at least a 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens (NCLC);
Have completed an internship under either Mitacs Elevate or Accelerate in an eligible industry;
Have sufficient funds to meet the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) for a six month period or have a current job in Manitoba in your current field of study in a permanent position;
Have applied for the pathway while living in the province;
Have the intention to live in the province after receiving a nomination and supply a Career Employment Plan to show your plans for future employment in the province; and
Have met all of the requirements for the MPNP

The Student Entrepreneur Pathway is one of the smallest pathway options under the International Education Stream. It invites 20 international students who have graduated from Manitoba institutions and are interested in starting and owning their own businesses in the province. 

All applicants must meet the requirements listed under the Business Performance Agreement before they can be nominated for permanent residence in the province.

Before you apply through the MPNP, you must book an information session with Manitoba Immigration. 

If you graduated from an educational institution in Canada outside of Manitoba, you may still be able to apply through the Business Investor Pathway.

Requirements for the Student Entrepreneur Pathway:

Have a business plan to submit with your MPNP application;
Have operated your business as a senior manager for at least six months while meeting all the requirements of the Business Performance Agreement (BPA) before being nominated by the province;
Have ownership of at least 51% of the business;
Have scored at least a 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens (NCLC). Please note that the Academic language test options are accepted for IELTS and TEF;
Have completed a post-secondary program in the province that lasted at least two years;
Have applied while you are between the ages of 21 and 35;
Have a valid work permit or post-graduation work permit (PGWP) when you apply;
Have plans to live in the province after receiving a Provincial Nomination;
Have lived in the province since graduating from university;
Have demonstrated that you meet the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) requirements for independent financial resources for a period of twelve months;
Have verified your personal net worth through a third party supplier with the approval of the MPNP;
Have submitted a verification report with your application through the MPNP within 120 days of getting your Letter of Advice to Apply;
Have met the Business Performance Agreement signed before your MPNP that has approved your Approval in Principle Letter for your business plan; and
Have met all of the requirements of the MPNP 

Business Investor Stream

business people working on laptop | Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program

Manitoba is empowered to nominate and recruit qualified entrepreneurs and business investors according to this stream. These are persons who have both the ability and the intent to purchase or start a business in the province. 

There are two pathways for the Business Investor stream:

  • Entrepreneur Pathway (for applicants who want to start, purchase a business or want to become partners in an existing business); and
  • Farm Investor Pathway (for applicants who want to start and manage a farm in rural Manitoba)

Entrepreneur Pathway

Requirements for the Entrepreneur Pathway:

At least three years of experience in the past five years of actively managing or owning a business;
The equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma;
There is no age limit, however ranking point are assigned to applicants between 25 and 49 years old;
Have scored at least a 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de Compétence Linguistique Canadiens (NCLC). Please note that the Academic language test options are accepted for IELTS and TEF;
Invest a minimum of $250,000 if the business is located within the Manitoba Capital Region or $150,000 if it is located outside of the Manitoba Capital Region;
The investment must be made in a business that qualifies as eligible under the MPNP;
The business must create a full-time position for at least one Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Manitoba (excluding close family members);
Conduct an exploratory visit of Manitoba and submit a business proposal based on your findings;
You must have a minimum net worth of $500,000;
Meet the Business Performance Agreement signed before your MPNP that has approved your Approval in Principle Letter for your business plan; and
Meet all of the requirements of the MPNP 

Farm Investor Pathway

Requirements for the Farm Investor Pathway:

At least three years of experience in farm ownership and management supported by verifiable documents;
You will be required to live on the farm and it must have ongoing and recurring business activities in Manitoba;
There is no age limit, however ranking point are assigned to applicants between 25 and 49 years old;
You will need to conduct your interview for the Farm Investment Pathway in either English or French;
Invest a minimum of $300,000 in a farm in rural Manitoba;
The investment must be made in a farm that qualifies as eligible under the MPNP. You cannot invest in a farm for passive income or speculative purposes;
The farm must be in an active primary agriculture industry;
Conduct a farm business research visit to Manitoba and submit a business proposal based on your findings;
You must have a minimum net worth of $500,000;
Meet all of the requirements of the MPNP 

Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream 

young skilled worker working in office on computer | Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program

This immigration stream targets individuals who are connected to Manitoba through the educational background, work experience, training, employment, skills, and language proficiency needed to contribute to the province’s economic and community growth.  

In order to qualify for this stream, you must meet all the minimum requirements.

There are two pathways for the Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream.

Manitoba Work Experience Pathway

Temporary foreign workers, out-of-province international student graduates, and Manitoba graduates, with jobs that are not included in the province’s In-demand Occupations list, can follow this pathway. 

To be Eligible For This Pathway, You Must:

Be a temporary foreign worker or international student, who graduated from a Manitoban institution, in an occupation included in the In-demand Occupations list, where you have worked for a minimum of six months; or
Be an international student, who graduated from a tertiary institution outside of Manitoba, in an occupation included in the province’s In-demand Occupations list, where you have worked for a minimum of 12 months; or
Be a temporary foreign worker in an occupation that is not included in the province’s In-demand Occupations list, where you have worked for at least 12 months with an LMIA-supported or LMIA exempt work permit; or
Be an international student, who graduated from a Manitoban institution, in an occupation that is not included on the province’s In-demand Occupations list, where you have worked for at least 12 months;
Be living or working in Manitoba when you apply;
Have a full-time, long-term job offer from the same company you have been working for that meets the province’s wage and employment standards for the occupation;
Have work conditions that are the same as those for Canadian citizens and permanent residents;
Be offered a job that is not based at home;
Possess the minimum language requirements determined by the type of employment; and
Have the intention and ability to stay in Manitoba, demonstrated in a Settlement Plan. 

Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway

If you received an Invitation to Apply from the MPNP, after being interviewed outside of Canada by an employer and an officer of the MPNP, you can use this pathway.

To be Eligible For This Pathway, You Must:

Have at least three years of relevant work experience within the last five years of employment;
Have a long-term, full-time job offer that is in line with the wage and employment standards for the particular job, as set by the province;
Have working conditions that are consistent with those of Canadian citizens and permanent residents;
Be offered a job that is not based at home;
Have a job offer from an employer whose business has been in operation in Manitoba for a minimum of three years before you applied;
Possess the minimum language requirements determined by the type of employment;
Have the intention and ability to stay in Manitoba;
Be between 21 and 45 years old;
Have the necessary qualifications and educational background needed to do the job; and
Be offered a job from an employer who meets the specific employer eligibility criteria

Skilled Worker Overseas Stream

International student graduate holding diploma | Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program

Locally driven and based on the needs of Manitoban employers. Applicants who have a connection to Manitoba through family members or friends, work experience or an Invitation to Apply issued by the MPNP can apply for this stream.

You will also need to satisfy the minimum entry requirements, including a score of at least 60 points, in order to be considered for a nomination.

Manitoba Express Entry Pathway

In order to qualify for this program, you must also be eligible under another MPNP stream while meeting the general Express Entry criteria with an active Express Entry profile. 

To be Eligible For This Pathway, You Must:

Be accepted into the Express Entry pool;
Have an educational credential assessment for your education obtained outside of Canada;
A copy of your application details from the IRCC;
Have at least six months of work experience in a job on the In-demand Occupations list;
Meet the minimum language requirements determined by your NOC level;
Have the required licensure, certification, and qualifications needed for the position;
Be at least 18 years old when you submit your application;
Have the required settlement funds, as determined by Manitoba, for a six-month period;
Have the intention and ability to stay in Manitoba; and
Have the support of a relative or close friend who has lived in Manitoba for a minimum of one year; or
Hold an Invitation to Apply from the Manitoba PNP

Human Capital Pathway

If you are a skilled worker who has the skills and training needed in Manitoba, as published in the In-demand Occupations list, you can apply to this pathway. 

To be Eligible For This Pathway, You Must:

Have full-time work experience for a minimum of six months;
Meet the minimum language requirements;
Have the required licensure, certification, and qualifications needed for the position;
Be at least 18 years old at the time of submission. There is no maximum age; however, no points are awarded if you are over 45 years old;
Have the required settlement funds, as determined by Manitoba, for a six-month period;
Have the intention and ability to stay in Manitoba; and
Have the support of a close relative that has lived in the province for a minimum of one year; or
Have previously completed some form of tertiary education within the past five years in Manitoba; or
Have an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the Manitoba PNP

So, what now?

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