The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) issued 226 new invitations to apply for a nomination for Canadian permanent residence in a draw held March 26.

The MPNP is part of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program and allows Manitoba to nominate a set number of economic immigration candidates each year through a variety of streams designed to address specific labour market needs in the province.

The global health crisis has inevitably changed the international mobility and immigration landscape with the gradual closure of borders and sudden economic downturn. However, the federal government announced last week that foreigners who have already made a commitment to work, study or settle in Canada will be exempt from travel bans. These exemptions came into effect on March 26.

This positive development in Canadian immigration is complemented by the fact that many provinces continue to process immigration applications and hold regular draws even though special immigration measures are in place.

The March 26 MPNP draw invited 226 candidates from the MPNP’s Skilled Workers in Manitoba,  International Education and Skilled Workers Overseas streams.

Those invitations broke down as follows:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba: 168
• International Education Stream: 20
• Skilled Workers Overseas: 38

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

To be considered for a nomination for Canadian permanent residence from the MPNP, immigration candidates must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and provide the required information on their education, work experience, skills in English or French and connections to Manitoba, among other details.

Eligible profiles are issued a score and entered into the relevant stream’s pool of candidates, and those with the highest scores are issued a Letter of Advice to Apply for a provincial nomination through regular draws.

Of the 226 Letters of Advice to Apply issued in this draw, 29 went to Express Entry candidates. Candidates with a provincial nomination will receive an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points and are effectively guaranteed an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence in a subsequent federal Express Entry draw.

The lowest score drawn in the March 26 draw was 496 for Skilled Workers in Manitoba and 714 for Skilled Workers Overseas candidates.

The Skilled Workers in Manitoba Stream is open to eligible temporary foreign workers and international student graduates who are currently working in Manitoba and have been offered a permanent job with their Manitoba employer.

The March 26 invitations bring the total issued by the MPNP through these streams so far this year to 1,523.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs

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