What is the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)?

The Canadian province, Manitoba, offers jobs to skilled workers and young professionals in various government and government-funded institutions, hospitals and universities. Manitoba is famous for natural resources, manufacturing units and flourishing prospects in tourism sectors. The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has been designed and curated to meet demands of employers, industries and markets as well as benefit employees and human resource. Since Manitoba is known for ample natural resources, the province fulfils requirements of manpower and industries through MPNP to produce furnished goods and material that give boost to growth in economy. The Manitoba immigration program or MPNP is modelled on Express Entry system, hence it allocates Manitoba point score to applicants. Read on to know more about Manitoba PNP eligibility, MPNP requirements among other details.

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program – Immigration Pathway That Caters To All People

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) welcomes skilled workers, young entrepreneurs and foreign skilled workers to work and stay in the province as well as contribute to the provincial economy. The MPNP has one of the easiest immigration channels for applicants to follow.

Since its inception in 1998, it is estimated that nearly 1.5 lakh immigrants came to Manitoba through MPNP. The provincial authorities are committed to ease immigration laws and frame policies in a manner that can attract and retain the best talent. Manitoba PNP will surely give rise to more opportunities to Canada immigration seekers and help them to carve a rewarding career in Canada.

The MPNP witnessed some crucial changes in 2018 and 2019, including introduction of new immigration streams and pathways. For the first time a stream was introduced for Express Entry candidates willing to work and stay in Canada on permanent basis. Provision of faster pathways to nominate international students graduated from universities in Manitoba and a new stream for business immigrants were added in MPNP.

Also termed as ‘Land of 1,00,000 Lakes’, the vast economy of Manitoba offers a wide range of opportunities in various fields such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and hydroelectricity. To fulfill labor requirement in these industries and to run them efficiently, the government welcome foreign skilled workers every year through Manitoba Nominee Program.

Many industries based on agriculture thrive in Manitoba. Several other manufacturing units related to natural resources and agriculture play a vital role in strengthening Manitoba’s economy. In nutshell, Manitoba is an ideal destination for foreign skilled workers and immigrants searching for work opportunities in agriculture, mining, and hydroelectricity sectors.

Its capital city – Winnipeg – is situated in the heart of North America. Owing to its geographical location along the North-South trade corridor, Manitoba plays a key role in the continent as a transportation and trade hub. The city is well-connected to the rest of the continent through road, rail, sea, and air channels.

Foreign skilled workers and young professionals, who have relevant work experience, training, and knowledge, can apply for Manitoba Provincial Nomination Certificate under Manitoba PNP. This certificate enhances the visa and immigration process and keeps the application on fast track mode.

It is interesting to note that by gaining PNP nomination, immigration aspirants can be at advantageous position in a pool of applications under Express Entry program. It increase chances of applicants to secure Permanent Residence visa.

The MPNP allows candidates for Manitoba immigration in order to fulfil labour, economic and general needs of the province. The MPNP streams are –

• Skilled Worker Stream
• International Education Stream
• Business Investor Stream

Since MPNP caters to economy and labour market of the province, the province regularly communicates updated list of in-demand occupations to Manitoba immigration seekers.

Skilled Worker Stream
This stream relies heavily on demands of Manitoba employers. Through this stream, authorities identify experienced and trained skilled workers in various domains and industries. If candidates fulfil MPNP eligibility criteria they get nominated to secure Canada PR visa. It has two categories –

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba – This stream allows candidates to find employment in Manitoba. Applicants have to submit an Expression of Interest as a first step. Applicants having highest CRS points and a connection with Manitoba are invited to apply for MPNP. After scrutinising applications, successful candidates are directed to make a separate application to secure Canada Permanent Resident (PR).
• Skilled Workers Overseas – This stream nominates applicants having a connection with Manitoba through family or friends residing in the province, previous education or work opportunities, and through an Invitation to Apply received from provincial authorities. Applicants are allocated CRS points after submission of the Expression of Interest. The highest point gainers, who also fulfill Manitoba PNP requirements, are directed to make a separate application to secure Canada Permanent Residence (PR).

  This renewed stream gives priority to candidates having close family connections in Manitoba and spouses, who have language proficiency, relevant work experience, and training to be able to secure jobs in in-demand occupations in Manitoba.

There are two pathways in this program:

• Manitoba Work Experience Pathway – It is for applicants currently working in Manitoba with a temporary work permit. Here the Language score requirement for Regulated occupations in CLB 7, Compulsory Trades is CLB 6 and It is fairly low in case of Semi-skilled occupation only CLB 4.
• Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway – It is for applicants with hard job offers from pre-approved Manitoba employers. The applicants need to have minimum two years of experience in the past five years in a long term or full time occupation.

The above mentioned Skilled Worker Overseas Stream has two major pathways:

1. Manitoba Express Entry Pathway –

   This pathway is apt for candidates having high human capital with required knowledge, skills, work experience, and training related to Manitoba’s In-demand Occupations list as well as family members residing in Manitoba.

   It is important to note that this pathway is open to candidates, who fulfill the eligibility criteria of other Manitoba PNP streams. Such candidates must have an active Express Entry profile and should meet Express Entry requirements, including required language proficiency scores.

   Interested candidates having a minimum age of 18 years and minimum academic qualification of Class 12th must demonstrate an active Express Entry profile by providing a valid Express Entry ID and Job Seeker Validation Code to the authorities. Candidates are also supposed to provide educational credential assessment if completed in countries except for Canada and sufficient funding.

   In terms of work experience, candidates must have relevant work experience of at least six months in an occupation mentioned in the In-demand occupations list. Eligible candidates must submit a complete career plan.

2. Human Capital Pathway –

   One of the key changes under Manitoba PNP is the introduction of the Manitoba Human Capital Pathway (HCP). The pathway was supposed to be introduced in 2019 but got delayed due to COVID 19 pandemic. This pathway finally got through 2020.

   This pathway is ideal for foreign skilled workers having the required skills and training as mentioned in the In-demand Occupations list.

   Interested candidates must have full-time work experience of at least six months, must possess required Canadian Language Benchmark (IELTS), relevant academic knowledge and training, at least 18-year-old at the time of submission of visa application (no points awarded to an individual having age 45 years or above), willing to work and stay in Manitoba, sufficient funds, must have a close relative who has lived in Manitoba for one year, have an Invitation To Apply under Manitoba Nominee Program or completed education in last five years in Manitoba.

International Education Stream
This stream qualifies graduating or graduated students from universities in Manitoba to have fast processing of nomination. It has three categories –

• Career Employment Pathway
• Graduate Internship Pathway
• International Student Entrepreneur Pilot

Please note foreign students, who graduated from universities located in other Canadian provinces, do not qualify under this stream. Such candidates can apply under Skilled Worker in Manitoba stream.

Business Investor Stream
This stream welcomes nominated foreign entrepreneurs, investors and willing to operate in Manitoba and possess ability to start or takeover business entity in Manitoba within a year of arrival in Canada on temporary work permit. Please note that through this stream, MPNP do not ask applicants to deposit $100,000 to the Manitoba government. It has two categories –

• Entrepreneur Pathway for applicants seeking to start business in Manitoba
• Farm Investor Pathway for applicants intended to initiate and run farm operations in rural areas in Manitoba.

It is interesting to note that Manitoba is the largest producer of sunflower seeds and dry beans in Canada. The province has Portage la Prairie – a major potato processing centre that supplies raw and processed potato to hospitality industries. Hence, Business Investor Stream is a lucrative pathway for applicants, who fulfil eligibility criteria