Prince Edward Island PNP invites international graduates in surprise draw

This week, Prince Edward Island held an unplanned draw, breaking with its established draw scheduled to issue invitations to candidates under the Labour and Express Entry stream of the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP).

Invitations were extended to international graduates from the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), Holland College, and Collège de l'Île who are currently living and working in Prince Edward Island.

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PEI PNP draw results

On October 27, 2025, Prince Edward Island held a draw under the Labour and Express Entry streams, issuing 159 invitations to eligible candidates.

This draw targeted international graduates with active employment in the province for their strong ties to Prince Edward Island’s labour market, demonstrated through local study and work experience.

To date, 1,240 invitations have been issued through the PEI PNP in 2025.

Processing through the PEI PNP

In accordance with other Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), eligible candidates through the PEI PNP first submit candidate profiles through the province’s Expression of Interest (EOI) pool.

If a candidate profile is chosen, they are invited to apply (in the above process) for provincial nomination from the province. If the applicant is successful, they receive a provincial nomination from PEI. After receiving a provincial nomination, the applicant will apply to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence (PR).

This entire process can take more than a year, depending on both the province and IRCC’s processing times. Some PNP streams (like PEI's Express Entry stream) Labour and are Express Entry-aligned (or enhanced), allowing nominees to benefit from faster processing times for their PR applications.

PEI’s ITA schedule

Prince Edward Island stands out among Canadian provinces for maintaining a publicly announced Invitation to Apply (ITA) schedule for its PNP draws.

While subject to change based on the province’s needs, the PEI PNP’s ITA schedule provides a measure of transparency for candidates in the EOI pool. The province uses this managed approach to ensure consistent processing times and to align draw frequency with provincial labour market priorities.

The October 27, 2025 draw marks a departure from the announced schedule, and the second PEI PNP draw in a single month—the first such occurrence this year.

While the PEI Office of Immigration notes that its anticipated ITA schedule is provided for informational purposes only and does not guarantee selection or timing, today’s draw suggests that the province is looking to accelerate its intake of new permanent residents relative to its previously announced schedule.

For more information on the PEI PNP’s ITA schedule, visit our dedicated article on the topic.

How the PEI Expression of Interest (EOI) system works

The PEI PNP newly uses an EOI system to identify and rank candidates most likely to contribute to the province’s economy and labour market. The system assesses profiles based on a range of selection factors, including the following.

• Language: proficiency in English or French.
• Education: level, field, and place of education.
• Skill and work experience: relevance to in-demand sectors.
• Strategic priorities: alignment with PEI’s immediate labour market needs.
• Employment prospects: factors such as a valid job offer in PEI and/or previous Canadian work experience.

Candidates who score highly in the EOI system and demonstrate strong settlement potential are more likely to be invited to apply for nomination.

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