The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has made the province extremely popular amongst immigrants, coupled with the fact that that the well-connected sea, air, road, and rail transit roads of the province make it geographically lucrative for skilled professionals, investors, and business owners.
About Manitoba Province
Manitoba, situated in the heart of the continent, is a thriving and bustling hub of trade, commerce, and entertainment. The province and its capital Winnipeg are immensely popular amongst immigrants and those who desire to acquire coveted Canadian citizenship.
Dubbed as the land of the 100,000 lakes, Manitoba is breathtakingly beautiful and it is an amazingly diverse economy. Aside from its tight-knitted agricultural community, Manitoba offers a stable labor market in manufacturing, mining, hydroelectricity, and other thriving industry sectors.
Manitoba PNP Eligibility
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) ranks amongst the most popular Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) operated across Canada. Under the MPNP, Manitoba welcomes newcomers and immigrants to acquire the sought-after permanent resident status across its picturesque expanse and a stable job market.
The Manitoba immigration nominee program is divided into various pathways, with the Skilled Workers Overseas and Skilled Workers in Manitoba as major categories. The revamped Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) comes with four major pathways, discussed below.
The Manitoba PNP eligibility criterion varies for each stream and pathway, and we will explore it in detail below.
Skilled Workers Overseas Stream
The Manitoba immigration processes encourage candidates to apply under the Skilled Workers Overseas Stream, but there are newly erected pathways under this stream and others.
Express Entry Pathway
The Manitoba Express Entry Pathway allows applicants to win a nomination for permanent residence. Applicants nominated under the Manitoba immigration nominee program score 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, which increases their odds for winning an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and enjoy a fast-track process to citizenship.
Manitoba Express Entry eligibility
- The candidate must gain acceptance into the Express Entry System.
- The candidate must obtain an educational credential assessment for degrees obtained overseas.
- The application must include details of the application submitted to the IRCC.
- At least six months of work in a job listed on the In-demand Occupations list.
- Address the minimum language requirements by the candidate’s NOC level.
- The licensure, certification, and education required for their chosen position.
- Minimum age 18 years old.
- The candidate must have the required settlement funds for six months.
- The intention to stay in Manitoba and the support of a family member or relative living in Manitoba for at least a year.
- An Invitation to Apply by the Manitoba PNP.
Human Capital Pathway
Securing a nomination in the Manitoba immigrant nominee program under the Manitoba Human Capital Pathway (HCP) is another lucrative option. However, it has gotten delayed given the uncertainty triggered by the 2020 pandemic.
Skilled Workers in Manitoba Stream
The Skilled Workers in Manitoba Stream is a viable option for aspiring applicants, but there are some new pathways that are just as lucrative.
Manitoba Work Experience Pathway
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has given birth to the Manitoba Work Experience Pathway to fulfill the province’s objective of acquiring temporary skilled workers and graduates who desire to permanently settle down in Manitoba.
Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway
This employer direct program targets applicants and skilled professionals who are required by the province or employers for their skills and expertise.
Career Employment Pathway
The Career Employment Pathway allows aspiring Manitoba immigrants to seek out a fast-track route to permanent residence and employment.
Career Employment Pathway eligibility
- The candidate must complete one year’s education at a post-secondary institute.
- The candidate must have a minimum language score of 7 in the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB).
- An in-demand job offers from a verified employer in Manitoba with a contract of at least one year.
- Currently employed in Manitoba.
- The candidate must have sufficient funds that complement the Low Income Cut Off requirements or full-time employment in Manitoba.
- Applied to the MPNP while residing in Manitoba and have met all the Manitoba PNP requirements.
- Intend to stay in Manitoba after the nomination and have to submit a Career Employment Plan to map out their future goals.
International Education Stream
The International Education Stream offers a fast-track process for Manitoba immigration for international students graduating in the province.
Graduate Internship Pathway
This Manitoba immigrant nominee program is designed for international graduates from a Master’s or Doctoral academic program, who can pursue an internship or contribute to an industry sector with their expertise and innovation.
Business / Investor Stream
The Business Investor Stream of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has been refurbished and revamped with separate pathways for entrepreneurs and farming investors.
Entrepreneur Pathway
The Manitoba immigration nominee program under the entrepreneur pathway is designed for investors or business owners who seek to acquire or start a business in the province. Applicants selected under this program will be given a temporary work permit and will be required to sign a business performance agreement to acquire an existing business or start a new enterprise.
Entrepreneur Pathway eligibility
- A minimum of three years of experience in actively managing or running a business.
- Education equivalent to a Canadian high school diploma.
- No age limits but applicants between 25 and 48 are assigned ranking points.
- A minimum score of 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB). (Academic language tests are accepted in IELTS and TEF).
- A minimum investment of $250,000 in a business located in the Manitoba Capital Region, and $150,000 in a business located outside this region.
- Investing in a business that qualifies for the Manitoba immigration eligibility criterion.
- The proposed business must generate full-time employment for at least one Canadian citizen of Manitoba’s permanent resident. (Family members excluded).
- Submit a business proposal after an exploratory visit to the province.
- A minimum net worth of $500,000 and fulfilling the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) requirements.
- Signing the Meet the Business Performance Agreement before MPNP approval for the business plan.
Farm Investor Pathway
The Farmer Investor Pathway offers a fast-track pathway to permanent Canadian residence for entrepreneurs and investors who seek to acquire or initiate a farming business in the province.
Farm Investor Pathway eligibility
- A minimum of three years of experience in managing or owning a farm. (With verifiable proof)
- Living on a farm with continual business activities in the province.
- No age limit but ranking points are given to applicants between 25 and 49 years of age.
- Sitting for an interview in either English or French.
- A minimum investment of $300,000 on a rural farm in Manitoba.
- The investment must be made on a farm that addressed the Manitoba immigration eligibility requirements adequately. Applicants cannot invest in a farm for speculative objectives or to generate a passive income stream.
- The farm must be located in an active and major agricultural industry.
- The applicant will be required to undertake a farm research visit in Manitoba and put forward a business proposal based on this research.
- The candidate must have a minimum net worth of $500,000.
- The candidate must address all the requirements of the MPNP.
Student Entrepreneur Pathway
This pathway is designed for international students who graduated in the province and intend to pursue entrepreneurial activities in Manitoba.
Student Entrepreneur Pathway eligibility
- Submit the MPNP application with a well-defined business plan.
- Candidate must have operated a business as a senior manager for a minimum of six months while fulfilling the eligibility criterion of the Business Performance Agreement (BPA) before receiving a nomination.
- Must be a 51% owner of the business
- Must have a minimum score of 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB). (Applicants can utilize academic language test options in TEF and IELTS).
- Must have completed a two-year post-secondary program in Manitoba.
- Applied between the ages of 21 and 35.
- A valid work permit or post-graduation work permit (PGWP) with the application.
- Residing in the province after graduating from university.
- Intend to live in Manitoba after receiving a PN and ability to meet Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) criteria for 12 months.
- Third-party verifications of personal net worth with an MPNP approval.
- A verification report alongside application under the MPNP within 120 days of receiving a Letter of Advice to Apply.
- Addressed the Business Performance Agreement before the MPNP and approval of the business plan.
Why Consider the MPNP?
There are numerous reasons to consider the Manitoba Provincial Nomination Program (MPNP). Perhaps, you are attracted by the life quality offered by the province, or you wish to pursue higher education at one of the many prestigious universities and institutions in Manitoba. The province is also home to numerous Fortune 500 companies that offer lucrative employment and career advancement opportunities.
To make sure you prepared all documents accordingly we recommend consulting a professional – an RCIC. With consultants, chances for successful job hunting are definitely higher!
MPNP Application: Frequently Asked Questions
To apply for the Manitoba PNP, you have to follow the process below:
- Submit your Expression of Interest (EOI).
- A Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA) will be issued for your case.
- Submit your MPNP application.
- Once the procedure is conducted, you will be issued a nomination or your case will be declined.
- Then, you can submit your permanent resident application.
There are various routes to apply to the MPNP and each one carries its own eligibility criterion. It is instrumental to study the criterion, and work on building a solid application.
The immigration process is not easy, we strongly recommend you consult with an authorized immigration consultant that can guide you through the process STEP BY STEP.
The general processing time for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program for most cases is around 4 months, however, one average, the processing time for an application can take up to 12 to 15 months.
The MPNP skilled worker application fee is nonrefundable, and each applicant has to pay $500 when they are invited to submit a complete application. Submitting an Expression of Interest to the MPNP does not come with any charges or costs.