PEI holds largest PNP draw ever

Prince Edward Island has released details of two Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws in August. One of them was the biggest draw the program has ever seen.

After issuing just eight invitations to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates on August 11, the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) distributed 305 invitations to candidates in all streams on August 20.

Of the 305 invitations issued, 28 went to Business Impact candidates. The remaining 277 invitations went to Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates, though the PEI PNP does not provide a breakdown of how many invitations were issued in each of these categories.

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The PEI PNP specified that the people who were invited in August had stated that they are currently living and working in the province. Candidates were invited if they had filed Expression of Interest (EOI) profiles before June 2020.

PEI Express Entry Category

The PEI PNP’s Express Entry Category is aligned with the Canadian government’s Express Entry system.

Express Entry manages the applications for three economic-class immigration categories: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class.

Eligible candidates are given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for their age, work experience, education, and language proficiency in English and French.

Express Entry candidates who receive a provincial nomination are given an additional 600 points toward their CRS score, and are effectively guaranteed an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in a subsequent Express Entry draw.

In order to be considered for a provincial nomination from PEI, Express Entry candidates need to create an EOI profile with the PEI PNP.

EOI profiles are given points based on the province’s unique points grid. The highest-scoring candidates are then invited to apply through monthly draws.

The PEI PNP did not provide a breakdown of how many Express Entry and Labour Impact candidates were invited, nor the minimum EOI score required for each category.

Labour Impact Category

The Labour Impact Category is for foreign nationals who have a valid job offer in PEI, and have support from their employer. It is divided into three streams: Skilled Worker, Critical Worker, and International Graduate.

Candidates in this category must also submit an EOI profile in order to be considered for a provincial nomination through the Labour Impact Category.

Business Impact Category

The 28 candidates who were invited through the Business Impact Category on August 20 needed a minimum EOI score of 112. These invitations were issued under the Work Permit Stream, which is for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to own and operate a business in PEI.

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