Newfoundland And Labrador Provincial Nominee Program

The Newfoundland and Labrador Express Entry Skilled Worker stream is for individuals who have a valid Express Entry profile and a job offer from an employer in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Applicant criteria:

• you have a valid profile in the Express Entry System, and you indicated, when creating your profile, that you are interested in living in Newfoundland
• Post-Graduate Work Permit holders may be eligible to apply if you are accepted into Express Entry pool
• you have a valid Work Permit with at least 4 months remaining at time of application, or be entitled to apply for one
• you have a job or job offer for a NOC 0, A or B position from a NL employer for at least 2 years duration (no LMIA required)
• you scored a min of 67 points on the PNP assessment grid, based on education, work experience, language ability, age and connections to Newfoundland & Labrador
• you have a min 1 year post-secondary educational credential
• you have sufficient funds to establish in Newfoundland

Application fee: CAD $250

The Newfoundland and Labrador Skilled Worker stream is for individuals who have a job offer from an employer in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Applicant criteria:

• you are 21 to 59 years old
• you have a job or job offer from an eligible employer in Newfoundland and Labrador (no LMIA required) for at least 2 years
• you have a valid work permit with at least 4 months validity remaining, post grad work permit holders cannot apply
• you have the skills, education and any accreditation necessary for the job
• you have sufficient financial resources to successfully establish in Newfoundland and Labrador
• you have language skills sufficient for the position offered; NOC C or D positions require a min CLB 4 on a valid language test
• you cannot apply if you have a Post-Graduate Work Permit, you must apply under the International Graduate category

Application fee: CAD $250

The Newfoundland and Labrador International Graduate stream is for foreign students who have completed post-secondary studies in Canada and who have a job offer from an employer in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Applicant criteria:

• you are between 21 and 29 years old
• you have completed at least half of your post-secondary studies in Canada
• you graduated from an eligible Canadian college or university
• you completed a min of a 2 year diploma or degree; or a one year post graduate program which required a previous degree or diploma
• have a post-graduate work permit valid for at least 4 months
• you have a job or job offer from an employer in Newfoundland and Labrador (no LMIA required); see notes below
• if you graduated from a Canadian school outside of Newfoundland and Labrador, then your job offer must be related to your field of study
• you have the skills and education necessary to carry out the job
• you have sufficient financial resources to successfully establish in Newfoundland and Labrador
• you have language skills sufficient for the position offered; NOC C or D positions require a min CLB 4 on a valid language test
• you have the intention and ability to reside in Newfoundland

Note: Additional requirements depending on place of study:

International students who graduated in Newfoundland

• you graduated from Memorial University or the College of the North Atlantic
• either your job offer is NOC O, A or B, or is a NOC C occupation on the in-demand list:
• your job offer is for at least one year with a reasonable expectation of extension
• your job offer does not need to be related to your field of study if it is:
  • NOC 0, A or B
  • commensurate with your skills, education or training in the past 5 years per the NOC
  • requires a post-secondary degree or diploma
  • can be reasonably expected to lead to career advancement
  • meets a perceived labour market need

International students who graduated in other parts of Canada

• your job offer must be related to your field of study and in NOC 0, A or B
• You must work for a minimum of one year in Newfoundland and Labrador prior to submission of an NLPNP application

This category is for experienced business owners or senior managers who wish to start or purchase a business in Newfoundland and operate it while living there.  Entrepreneurs are permitted to have multiple partners on the application, who may also seek PR. 

Applicant criteria:

• you are between 21 years and 59 of age
• you have a verified net worth of $600,000 CAD 
• you will invest at least $200,000 CAD to establish the business
• you will actively participate in the day-to-day management and direction of the business from the place of business in NL  
• you have a min of Canadian high school diploma or equivalent (ECA required) 
• you have 2 years experience in actively managing and owning a business (25% minimum ownership) in the last 5 years OR 5 years experience in a senior management role in the last 10 years
• you scored a min CLB 5 on a language test
• you will own a min 1/3 equity of the business, or invest at least CAD 1 million
• you receive an invitation to apply based on your Expression of Interest

Business criteria:

• must not be on the list of ineligible businesses (e.g. home-based businesses, pawn shops, etc.)  
• must be a for-profit entity with primary purpose of earning profits through the sale of goods or services
• must provide a viable business plan with independently verified financial documentation 
• must have the potential to create significant economic benefit for NL

After operating the business on a work permit for at least one continuous year, the international entrepreneur can be nominated for PR.

Additional Criteria When Starting a New Business 

• create a minimum of one full-time job equivalent for a resident of NL, who is not a relative  
• meet the prevailing wage levels
• make an exploratory visit to the province before submitting your business plan

Additional Criteria When Purchasing an Existing Business 

• business in continuous operation for last 5 years, by same owner
• evidence of fair market value for purchase 
• exploratory visit to meet the current owner
• business in active operation and not in receivership
• comparable employment is offered to existing staff, maintaining existing wages and employment terms. 

Associated Partners 

This category allows up to 10 partners to be associated with one application, who can be Canadians or foreign nationals.  Associated partners who are foreign nationals may seek permanent residency through the same business.  If so, they must meet the same criteria (investment, ownership, daily management) as the principal applicant and submit the same documentation. 

Application fee:  

There is no provincial application fee for the International Graduate Entrepreneur category. However, you are responsible for any and all costs associated with travel to Newfoundland and Labrador for the exploratory visit and in-person interview. In addition, you (and associated partners, if applicable) must pay all required Government of Canada immigration fees when you submit your application to IRCC for the work permit as well as for permanent residence.

This category is for recent graduates of Memorial University (MU) or the College of the North Atlantic (CNA) who wish to settle in the province while owning and operating a viable business.  

Applicant criteria:

• you are at least 21 years of age 
• you scored a min CLB 7 on a language test 
• you graduated from MU or CNA with a degree or diploma after at least 2 years of full-time in-person study, within 2 years of submitting the EOI
• you have a valid post-graduate work permit
• you have started or purchased a local business, as a career objective 
• you have actively owned and managed the profitable business for at least one continuous year, with an owner’s salary at least equal to LICO
• you own a min 1/3 equity in the business    
• you submit a business continuity plan with sufficient financial documentation       
• you are able to create at least one full-time equivalent job for the local population
• you receive an invitation to apply based on your Expression of Interest

Business criteria:

• must not be on the list of ineligible businesses (e.g. home-based businesses, pawn shops, etc.) 
• must be a for-profit entity with primary purpose of earning profits through the sale of goods or services
• must have the potential to create significant economic benefit for NL

Additional Criteria When Starting a New Business 

• must create a minimum of one full-time job equivalent for a resident of NL, who is not a relative  
• must meet the prevailing wage levels
• must make an exploratory visit to NL before submitting your business plan

Additional Criteria When Purchasing an Existing Business 

• business has been in continuous operation for last 5 years, by same owner
• you have evidence of fair market value for purchase 
• you will make an exploratory visit to meet the current owner
• the business is in active operation and not in receivership
• comparable employment is offered to existing staff, maintaining existing wages and employment terms

Associated Partners 

This category allows up to 3 partners to be associated with one application, who can be Canadians or foreign nationals.  Foreign nationals who are associated partners may seek permanent residency through the same business.  If so, they must meet the same criteria (investment, ownership, daily management) as the principal applicant and submit the same documentation. 

Application fee:

There is no provincial application fee for the International Graduate Entrepreneur category. However, you are responsible for any and all costs associated with travel to Newfoundland and Labrador for the exploratory visit and in-person interview. In addition, you (and associated partners, if applicable) must pay all required Government of Canada immigration fees when you submit your application to IRCC for the work permit as well as for permanent residence.

The Priority Skills NL category is intended for individuals with a high level of education and language ability who meet skill shortages in several occupations in demand. Applicants already working in NL, as well as those wishing to move to NL, are eligible. No LMIA, job offer or labour market testing process is required as in the other categories, but you must receive an invitation to apply.

Applicant criteria:

• you are either an in-demand Academic or an in-demand Worker as defined below
• you score at least 60 points on a questionnaire regarding language, education, work experience and family in NL
• you have CLB 5 on a valid language test within the past year
• you are at least 21 years of age

In-demand Academic candidates:

• you have completed a PhD or Masters degree from Memorial University within the past 3 years in one of these specialities: Technology, Health Care, Aquaculture or Agriculture

In-demand Worker candidates:

• you have worked in a specialized, highly skilled occupation on the in-demand list for at least one year in the past 10 years