If you want to become a permanent resident of Prince Edward Island, one way is to be nominated to the federal government through the PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Individuals are nominated based on their intent to live and work in PEI and their economic ability to settle in the province. Priority is currently given to qualified entrepreneurs and individuals working in areas with identified skill shortages in the PEI labour market.
Immigrate to PEI as a Worker
If you are interested in Prince Edward Island (PEI) Provincial immigration programs, the program selector will indicate what programs the candidates may be eligible for.
The candidates can apply for a Nomination for Permanent Residency through the Critical Worker stream of the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) if they currently work full-time in PEI.
This stream is employer-driven, allowing Island employers to fill intermediate-skilled positions they cannot fill through the local job market.
To be eligible for the Critical Worker stream, the candidates must:
- Have a full-time job offer from a PEI employer in an intermediate skilled position, as TEER category 4 or 5(link is external);
- Have work experience of a minimum of six months full-time for the PEI employer;
- Have a valid work permit in Canada;
- Have a minimum education of secondary school diploma;
- Be between the ages of 18 and 59;
- Have at least two years of full-time work experience or relevant education in the past five years.
- A language test score within the past two years with a minimum score of CLB/NCLC 4;
- Show sufficient financial resources to pay all immigration costs for the candidates and their family to be able to settle in PEI and
- have a genuine intention to settle in PEI.
Application process
Candidates must first read the Workforce Application Guide if they meet the eligibility criteria. Then, they or their representative must create a profile in the Prince Edward Island Expression of Interest system.
After they create a profile, the profile will remain active for six months.
If the candidates are invited to apply, they will receive an email notification that will include their file number and instructions for submission of their file. After they are invited to apply, they must complete the application forms, and their employer must also complete the employer forms.
Intermediate Experience Stream
This stream can be used to recruit talent outside of Canada if the Prince Edward Island Employer obtains permission from the Immigration Office and then makes a job offer.
If the candidates got approved, then a Work Permit Support Letter would be provided for the applicant to seek a Work Permit.
To be eligible for the PEI Intermediate Experience Stream, the candidates must:
- have a full-time, non-seasonal job offer from a PEI employer in an intermediate-skilled position, as TEER category 4;
- have at least six months full‐time Canadian work experience that was gained while on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) based work permit, and be relevant to the current position the individual is offered in PEI;
- have completed a secondary school diploma;
- be between the ages of 18 and 59;
- have legal status in the country of residence;
- have at least two years of full‐time work experience or relevant education in the past five years;
- have a valid language test result with a minimum CLB/NCLC 4 score. Language tests;
- Show sufficient financial resources to pay all immigration costs for the candidates and their families to be able to settle in PEI and
- have a genuine intention to settle in PEI.
Application process
Candidates must first read the Workforce Application Guide if they meet the eligibility criteria. Then, they or their representative must create a profile in the Prince Edward Island Expression of Interest system. After they create a profile, the profile will remain active for six months.
If the candidates are invited to apply, they will receive an email notification that will include their file number and instructions for submission of their file. After they are invited to apply, they must complete the application forms, and their employer must also complete the employer forms.
International Graduates
This stream is for candidates who graduated from a publicly-funded PEI post-secondary institution.
The International Graduate stream is employer-driven, allowing the province’s employers to fill positions they cannot fill through the local job market.
To be eligible for this stream, the candidates must:
- Have a post-secondary degree from a publicly-funded Prince Edward Island institution;
- Have a full-time job offer from a PEI employer;
- Have a valid post-graduate work permit in Canada;
- Be able to attend an interview with staff from the Office, if required;
- If in a highly skilled occupation defined as TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3, possess sufficient English and/or French language ability to perform the job by providing a completed PEIW-02: Workforce Job Offer Form;
- Have a valid language test result with a minimum CLB/NCLC 4 score. Language tests if the position is in an intermediate-skilled defined as TEER category 4 or 5, to ;
- Be between the ages of 18 and 59;
- Show sufficient financial resources to pay all immigration costs for the candidates and their families to be able to settle in PEI and
- Have a genuine intention to settle in PEI.
Application process
Candidates must first read the Workforce Application Guide if they meet the eligibility criteria. Then, they or their representative must create a profile in the Prince Edward Island Expression of Interest system. After they create a profile, the profile will remain active for six months.
If the candidates are invited to apply, they will receive an email notification that will include their file number and instructions for submission of their file. After they are invited to apply, they must complete the application forms, and their employer must also complete the employer forms.
Occupations in Demand
In Prince Edward Island, the In-Demand Occupations stream can recruit talent outside of Canada if the employer obtains authorization from the Immigration Service before making a job offer.
Once approval is received, the applicant will receive a work permit support letter to obtain a work permit.
To be eligible for this stream, the candidates must:
- Have a full-time job offer from a PEI employer in one of the following NOCs:
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- NOC 33102 (Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates);
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- NOC 73300 (Transport truck drivers);
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- NOC 75110 (Construction trades helpers and labourers);
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- NOC 65310 (Light duty cleaners);
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- NOC 95109 (Other labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities);
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- NOC 75101 (Material handlers);
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- NOC 94140 (Process control and machine operators food and beverage processing); or
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- NOC 94141 (Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers),
- Have worked at least one year full-time directly related to the job offered by a PEI employer,
- Be 18 to 59 years old,
- have completed at least a secondary school diploma,
- Have a valid language test result with a minimum CLB/NCLC 4 score.
- Show sufficient financial resources to pay all immigration costs for the candidates and their families to be able to settle in PEI and
- Have a genuine intention to settle in PEI.
Application process
Candidates must first read the Workforce Application Guide if they meet the eligibility criteria. Then, they or their representative must create a profile in the Prince Edward Island Expression of Interest system. After they create a profile, the profile will remain active for six months.
If the candidates are invited to apply, they will receive an email notification that will include their file number and instructions for submission of their file. After they are invited to apply, they must complete the application forms, and their employer must also complete the employer forms.
Skilled Workers in PEI
Candidates can apply for a Nomination for Permanent Residency through the Skilled Worker Stream of the PEI PNP if an employer in the province currently employs the candidates. This Stream is employer-driven, allowing the province employers to fill high-skilled positions they cannot fill through the local job market.
To be eligible for this Stream, the candidates must:
- Have a full-time, non-seasonal (permanent or minimum of two years) job offer from a PEI employer in a highly skilled occupation defined as TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3(link is external);
- Have worked at least two years full‐time in the past five years;
- Have a valid work permit to work in Canada;
- Have legal status in the country of residence;
- Have at least a post‐secondary degree (minimum two-year program);
- Be between the ages of 18 and 59;
- Have sufficient English and/or French language ability to perform the job offered. The language ability can be verified with a language test with a minimum score of CLB/NCLC 4 within the past two years or PEIW-02: Workforce Job Offer Form indicating the employer is comfortable with the employee’s English and/or French proficiency to perform tasks associated with the position offered.
- Show sufficient financial resources to pay all immigration costs for the candidates and their families to be able to settle in PEI and
- Have a genuine intention to settle in PEI.
Application process
Candidates must first read the Workforce Application Guide if they meet the eligibility criteria. Then, they or their representative must create a profile in the Prince Edward Island Expression of Interest system. After they create a profile, the profile will remain active for six months.
If the candidates are invited to apply, they will receive an email notification that will include their file number and instructions for submission of their file. After they are invited to apply, they must complete the application forms, and their employer must also complete the employer forms.
Skilled Workers Outside Canada
The province’s Skilled Worker Stream can recruit talent outside Canada if the employer obtains permission from the Immigration Service before making a job offer. Once approval is received, the applicant will receive a work permit support letter to obtain a work permit.
To be eligible for this Stream, the candidates must:
- Have a full-time permanent (or minimum of two years) job offer in a high skilled occupation defined as TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3 from a PEI employer,
- have worked at least two years full‐time in the past five years;
- Have legal status in the country of residence;
- have completed a post‐secondary degree
- Be between the ages of 18 and 59;
- Have sufficient English and/or French ability to perform the job offered. The language ability can be verified with a language test with a minimum score of CLB/NCLC 4 within the past two years or PEIW-02: Workforce Job Offer Form indicating the employer is comfortable with the employee’s English and/or French proficiency to perform tasks associated with the position offered.
- Show sufficient financial resources to pay all immigration costs for the candidates and their families to be able to settle in PEI and
- Have a genuine intention to settle in PEI.
Application process
Candidates must first read the Workforce Application Guide if they meet the eligibility criteria. Then, they or their representative must create a profile in the Prince Edward Island Expression of Interest system. After they create a profile, the profile will remain active for six months.
If the candidates are invited to apply, they will receive an email notification that will include their file number and instructions for submission of their file. After they are invited to apply, they must complete the application forms, and their employer must also complete the employer forms.
Immigrate to PEI as an Entrepreneur
When the candidates want to invest in and run a business and are interested in immigrating to Prince Edward Island, they may be eligible for a nomination for permanent residency through the Work Permit Stream.
This stream suits business owners or foreign nationals with extensive management experience who want to establish a business and obtain permanent residence in PEI.
To be eligible for the Work Permit stream, the candidates must:
- Have a minimum net worth of $600,000, which has been accumulated through legal and legitimate sources in the candidate’s own right;
- Have a minimum secondary school degree or equivalent;
- Be within 21-59 years;
- Have transferable management skills and past employment or business ownership experience;
- Have a valid language test result with a minimum CLB/NCLC 4 score.
- Have a genuine intention to settle in the province while providing day-to-day active and ongoing management of your PEI-based company.
- Attend an interview with the Office of Immigration.
- Meet the Performance Agreement terms and conditions.
Application process
Candidates must first read the Business Application Guide if they meet the eligibility criteria. Then, they or their representative must create a profile in the Prince Edward Island Expression of Interest system. After they create a profile, the profile will remain active for six months.
If the candidates are invited to apply, they will receive an email notification that will include their file number and instructions for submission of their file. After they are invited to apply, they must complete the application forms, and their employer must also complete the employer forms.
- Buy or sell a PEI Business:
There is an online platform on the PEI official website to connect people who want to buy or sell a PEI business.
If candidates want to post their business for sale, they must create a profile and submit a completed registration/business listing form.
