The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) offers three streams for immigrating to the province of Manitoba and becoming a permanent resident of Canada.
Skilled Worker
The Skilled Worker Stream is locally driven and based on the needs of Manitoba employers.
Inviting candidates to settle, work, and obtain permanent residence in Manitoba, the province selects internationally educated and experienced workers with the skills needed in the local labor market.
There are two pathways: Skilled Worker in Manitoba (SWM) and Skilled Worker Overseas (SWO).
Skilled Worker in Manitoba
To be eligible to apply to the Skilled Worker in Manitoba (SWM) pathway, the candidates must demonstrate ongoing Manitoba employment as they establish a connection to Manitoba.
Ongoing Manitoba employment means that the candidates possess a valid work permit and have been working at a Manitoba company for at least 6 months as a temporary foreign worker or international student working graduate who gets offered a full-time, long-term job from the company they have been working.
Let’s say the candidate gets a temporary work permit from IRCC. In this case, they can apply to MPNP as a temporary foreign worker.
The employer must be incorporated or registered by or under an act of a provincial legislature or the Parliament of Canada and operate as a business with a manufacturing capacity, facility, or place of business located in Manitoba.
The employer must demonstrate that the business is established and can offer the candidate full-time, long-term employment in Manitoba to the satisfaction of the MPNP.
Periods of self-employment, unauthorized work, or a period of full-time study will not be included in the calculation of qualifying work experience in Manitoba.
After the candidate provides a work permit support letter, if there is a real employee-employer relationship, then MPNP will be issued.
Requirements for international students from other provinces are for people who have graduated from a post-secondary program in another Canadian province and want to apply for the Skilled Worker program in Manitoba because they have been offered a job in Manitoba. To be eligible, the candidate must first employ an employer in Manitoba and have been working for at least one year.
Temporary foreign workers
The offer of long-term employment must come from the employer with whom the candidate has worked full-time for the required period.
The candidate must have all qualifications for the position, including education/training and required licensing or certification.
The Candidates must demonstrate their English proficiency in English or French.
The connection between the candidate and Manitoba through employment must be stronger.
International student working graduates
This stream only considers the graduates of Manitoba post-secondary educational institutions. The Manitoba graduates are eligible if they have a valid post-graduation work permit, and the Manitoba employer offers them a long-term job following at least six months of continuous full-time employment.
The candidates must attend an authorized education or training program at a public or registered private vocational post-secondary institution which are not language programs in Manitoba.
The academic/vocational program must be full-time and at least one academic year in duration.
The candidate must complete the program, be awarded a diploma, degree or certificate, and get a valid post-graduation work permit issued by IRCC.
The candidate must have worked at least six months for the same employer who offered you a permanent (long-term) full-time job.
The connection between the candidate and Manitoba through employment must be stronger than ties the candidate may have to another Canadian province.
The candidate must demonstrate in a Settlement Plan the intention and plan to live, work and establish their work and family life in Manitoba as a permanent resident.
You have all the qualifications and the English or French language proficiency to fulfill your job duties.
Skilled Worker Overseas
To apply to the Skilled Worker Overseas (SWO) pathway, you must demonstrate an established connection to Manitoba through one of these categories below:
- Manitoba Support: the support of family members or friends,
- Manitoba Experience: previous education or work experience in the province
- Manitoba Invitation: An Invitation to Apply was received directly from the MPNP as part of a Strategic Recruitment Initiative.
In addition to one of these connections, the candidate must score at least 60 points based on five factors: language proficiency, age, work experience, education, and adaptability.
Manitoba Support
A Manitoba Supporter is defined as a resident of the province who is a friend or relative of the applicant and willing and able to review and approve the applicant’s plan for settlement and employment in the destination area.
A Manitoba Supporter must be the applicant’s close relative or friend/distant relative and must be able to provide documents proving they reside and are established in Manitoba and have been living in the province continuously for at least one year, give documents on if they are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, able to demonstrate sufficiently close ties to the applicant and Manitoba, able to demonstrate that if there is any other applications they previously supported resulted in successful, permanent economic establishment in Manitoba, and able to support the applicant’s Settlement Plan.
To be considered a close relative, a Manitoba Supporter must be related to the applicant or the applicant’s spouse. In this definition of kinship relationship, a sister or brother is your niece or nephew (i.e. your sister’s or brother’s child), aunt or uncle (i.e. your mother’s or father’s brother or sister), first cousin (i.e. your aunt’s or uncle’s child), mother or father or grandparent.
The Manitoba Supporter cannot be, and the MPNP will not accept, a Settlement Plan Part 2 signed by a paid immigration representative, anyone who is not a demonstrated relative or friend of the applicant or the applicant’s spouse, or a Canadian elected official or their staff.
Applicants who are a Manitoba Supporter must declare that person and current contact information in correspondence with MPNP for the Supporter to be authorized to discuss their application. If MPNP cannot contact the Supporter using the information on file, the application may be rejected.
MPNP is not a sponsorship program; it is an economic migration program. Therefore, all applicants must be employable and adaptable skilled workers with job-ready English, sufficient settlement funds, and the genuine intent and ability to become permanent residents in Manitoba.
Manitoba Experience
Manitoba Experience means that the candidate previously lived in the province as a temporary foreign worker or international student.
If the candidates were temporary foreign workers, they must have worked full-time for a Manitoba employer for at least six consecutive months. The candidates will be asked to submit a signed letter of reference on company letterhead and a copy of their Manitoba work permit.
As international students, the candidates must prove they attended and completed an authorized education program at a public or registered private vocational post-secondary institution in Manitoba. The language studies are not authorized for this category. The candidates will be asked to submit their study permit(s), academic transcripts, certificates, diplomas, or degrees for completing the program.
Manitoba Invitation
The MPNP regularly issues Invitations to Apply to qualified candidates who are identified through one of the Strategic Recruitment Initiatives in Manitoba and overseas. Issuing an Invitation to Apply is at the sole discretion of the MPNP.
In the MPNP Online application, the candidates must upload the Letter of Invitation they received directly from the MPNP after being interviewed by a program officer during a recruitment mission or exploratory visit.
An exploratory visit is a pre-arranged trip for potential MPNP applicants. This Potential applicant may make it to the province of Manitoba to research communities and employment opportunities to help them decide whether they intend and can find employment and settle with their family in Manitoba as permanent residents.
The Province may invite the candidate to submit an MPNP Online application after the MPNP interview has been included in a pre-approved exploratory visit.
Exploratory visits must be approved by the MPNP by invitation upon acceptance of the request and then arranged.
Although eligibility criteria for participating in visits and missions vary, general candidates must:
- Be between the ages of 21 and 45 and can satisfy the MPNP that they do not have a stronger connection to another province;
- Demonstrate the employability and adaptability required of all MPNP applicants;
- Have completed at least a one-year post-secondary education/ training program and received a diploma, degree or certificate;
- Have at least two years of full-time work experience in the past five years and can demonstrate their ability to find a job in Manitoba in that occupation;
- Have the genuine intention and economic ability to settle in the Canadian Province of Manitoba as a permanent resident.
- Provide to the MPNP the official results of an approved language test taken within the past two years (at least CLB 5)
During an exploratory visit, activities include:
- Meeting with prospective employers.
- Consulting with occupational regulatory bodies.
- Explore housing, school, and lifestyle opportunities in your chosen Manitoba community.
International Education Stream
This stream provides a faster pathway to the nomination of international students graduating from Manitoba post-secondary institutions.
There are three pathways:
- the Career Employment Pathway,
- the Graduate Internship Pathway,
- the International Student Entrepreneur Pilot (ISEP).
Career Employment Pathway
There are minimum criteria for this pathway:
- Education: The candidate must have graduated in the past 3 years from a full-time program (at least one year/two semesters in length) from a designated post-secondary institution in Manitoba.
- Official Languages Proficiency: the candidates must have a minimum CLB/NCLC 7 level.
- Current Employment in Manitoba: The candidates must have a job offer from an eligible Manitoba employer with a minimum 1-year full-time job contract in an occupation on Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations List that is consistent with the completed program of studies in Manitoba.
- Settlement Funds: The candidate must demonstrate liquid funds equivalent to low-income cut-off (LICO) requirements for independent financial resources for six months, or the candidate must be employed in a full-time, long-term position in Manitoba.
- Adaptability: The candidate must reside in Manitoba at the time of application. They also must show the intent to continue to live in Manitoba after nomination.
Graduate Internship Pathway
There are minimum criteria for this pathway:
- Education: The candidates must have graduated in the past 3 years from a master’s or doctoral degree program in Manitoba.
- Official Languages Proficiency: The candidate must have a Minimum CLB/NCLC 7 (or equivalent)
- Internship in Manitoba: They must have completed a Mitacs Elevateor Accelerate (including Accelerate Entrepreneur) internship with an eligible industry and research enterprise in Manitoba.
- Employment in Manitoba: They must have a job offer at the time of application.
- Settlement Funds: The candidate must demonstrate liquid funds equivalent to low-income cut-off (LICO) requirements for independent financial resources for six months, or the candidate must be employed in a full-time, long-term position in Manitoba.
- Adaptability: You must be residing in Manitoba at the time of application. They must also intend to continue living in Manitoba after nomination.
International Student Entrepreneur Pilot
Business Experience: A business plan is required as part of your application. The candidates must operate the business as a senior manager daily from the place of business in Manitoba for at least six months before nomination, consistent with your Business Performance Agreement (BPA) requirements. The candidate must have at least 51% ownership of the business equity.
Official Languages Proficiency: The candidate must have a Minimum CLB/NCLC 7 (or equivalent).
Education: The candidate must have completed a full-time post-secondary program in Manitoba for at least two years. Studies and/or work/business experience outside Canada will be considered beneficial but optional.
Age: The candidates must be between 21 to 35 years of age.
Adaptability: The candidate must have a valid open work permit at the time of application, have continuously resided in Manitoba since graduation, and show the intent to continue to live in Manitoba after nomination.
Net Worth/Settlement Funds: There is no need for a deposit. The minimum net worth is not an eligibility criterion; however, net worth/source of funds will be considered to evaluate the potential for the candidates to execute their business plan successfully.
For twelve months, you must demonstrate liquid funds equivalent to low-income cut-off (LICO) requirements for independent financial resources.
A third-party supplier approved by the MPNP will verify the candidate’s net worth. A verification report and the application must be submitted to the MPNP within 120 days of receiving your LAA.
Business Performance Agreement: After an application is approved, a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) must be signed before the MPNP issues you an approval-in-principle letter to implement your business plan.
- Federal Immigration Programs
Several other options are available for skilled workers interested in moving to Manitoba through economic immigration programs offered by the federal government.
In addition, there is an option for non-economic immigrants to qualify under the Federal Family Class.
Business Investor Stream (BIS) allows qualified business investors from around the world who have the intent and ability to start or buy a business in Manitoba to recruit and nominate entrepreneurs.
There are two pathways:
- the Entrepreneur Pathway (EP) (open a business in Manitoba)
- the Farm Investor Pathway (FIP) (establish and operate a farm operation in rural Manitoba)
Entrepreneur Pathway (EP)
Business Experience: The candidates must have a worked minimum of 3 years full-time in the past 5 years either as an active business owner or working as a senior management role of in a business. Business owners (must have at least 33 1/3% ownership) are given higher points in comparison to senior managers.
Language Proficiency: The candidates must have a minimum level of CLB/NCLC 5.
Education: The candidates must have a minimum education level of Canadian high school equivalency.
Net Worth: The candidates must have a minimum net worth of CAD 500,000 and a third-party supplier approved by the MPNP will verify the personal net worth. A verification report and within 120 days after receiving LAA the application must be submitted to the MPNP.
Business Investment: CAD 250,000 is the minimum investment for businesses located in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region, and CAD 150,000 is the minimum investment if a business is located outside of the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region. The details of Business Investment must be presented in a business plan, which is an integral part of the application.
Business Research Visit: You are recommended to conduct an in-person exploratory visit to Manitoba.
A business research visit allows the applicant to research their future business investment or proposal extensively. The business research visit must be conducted up to one year before submitting the EOI.
You can attend information sessions for the Business Investor Stream (BIS) while conducting your business research visit in Manitoba. These information sessions will provide details about the BIS and information about doing business in Manitoba.
Age: No minimum or maximum age; however, ranking points are allocated to candidates between 25 and 49.
Adaptability: Points will be allocated to the candidates if:
- Their spouse has CLB/NCLC 5 or higher;
- They or their spouse have CLB/NCLC 5 or higher in the second official language;
- They or their spouse or common-law partner have a close relative who is residing for more than one year in Manitoba;
- Their child is enrolled in an accredited Manitoba educational institution on a full-time basis and is actively pursuing academic, professional or vocational training for at least six months before the date of submission of EOI and/or
- They or their accompanying spouse or common-law partner have completed a program of full-time study for at least one year at a post-secondary institution in Manitoba.
- They or their accompanying spouse or common-law partner must have done this training after they turned 17 years old and with a valid study permit or
They and their accompanying spouse or common-law partner have completed at least six months of continuous full-time employment in Manitoba, which must be provided with a letter of reference from the employer.
Farm Investor Pathway
Farm Business Experience: The candidate must have at least three years of farm ownership and operation experience supported by verifiable documents.
Official Languages Proficiency: The Farm Investor Pathway (FIP) also emphasizes language skills, a crucial adaptability skill that will accelerate the candidate’s ability to establish economically in rural Manitoba. Therefore, when the candidates are invited to participate in the FIP interview, they must be able to interview in French or English.
Farm Business Investment: The candidates expected to establish a farming business in rural Manitoba must invest a minimum of CAD 300,000. Farm business investments are expected to be made in eligible tangible assets defined by the MPNP. A farm business plan is an integral part of the application. Investments in a farm business operated to generate passive investment income or for speculative purposes are not eligible for this stream.
Farm Business Research Visit: The candidate must conduct a research visit to Manitoba.
Farm Business Activities: A farm business entity should have ongoing and recurring business activities in rural Manitoba. The candidates are required to live on the farm and actively participate in managing the farm business daily. Purely speculative activities or the use of third-party farm managers are not eligible under the MPNP. The farm business must be in active primary agriculture production, which is economically viable.
Economic Establishment Adaptability: The candidates must demonstrate adaptability, specifically in practical farming skills, technical knowledge, and experience in technologically based farming practices that will transfer directly to Manitoba’s current primary farm production industry.
Net Worth: The candidates must have a minimum net worth of CAD 500,000. Verification of the net worth and financial information may be requested by MPNP from a designated third-party service provider.
If requested, the verification report and the application must be submitted to the MPNP within 120 days of receiving the Invitation to Apply.
