Newfoundland and Labrador’s second May draw sees over 180 candidates invited
On May 11, Newfoundland and Labrador held its fifth provincial immigration draw of the year—and the second this month, thus far.
A total of 186 candidates were sent an invitation to apply (ITA), through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).
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Of the total invitations issued, a vast majority (90.3%) went to candidates through the NLPNP, a common theme seen across its 2026 draws.
| Program | Invitations issued |
|---|---|
| NLPNP | 168 |
| AIP | 18 |
The province does not publish which streams of the NLPNP candidates were invited under, or which specific sectors were targeted—but its EOI prioritization criteria state that health and health-related occupations continue to receive strong priority due to ongoing workforce shortages.
The latest draw reflects the lowest invitation count issued by the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism this year. It also aligns with a broader trend of declining invitation volumes in every draw throughout the year.
For reference, here are the previous four draws held by the province this year:
| Date of draw | Invitations issued | Invitations issued by program |
|---|---|---|
| May 1, 2026 | 190 | NLPNP: 157 AIP: 33 |
| April 13, 2026 | 210 | NLPNP: 177 AIP: 33 |
| March 30, 2026 | 245 | NLPNP: 209 AIP: 36 |
| March 6, 2026 | 445 | NLPNP: 362 AIP: 83 |
As of its latest draw, Newfoundland and Labrador has extended a total of 1,276 invitations to provincial immigration candidates through the NLPNP and AIP.
The province has prioritized NLPNP candidates in its 2026 selection rounds, with approximately 84.1% of invitations extended through this permanent residence pathway.
When compared to 2025 draws held between January 1 and May 11 (two total, resulting in 584 invitations through both programs), the province has already issued 692 more invitations this year during the same period.
Newfoundland and Labrador also began issuing invitations earlier in the year, with its first 2026 draw significantly larger than its opening round in 2025 (445 invitations issued on March 6, 2026, compared with 256 on April 3, 2025).
How to immigrate through Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial programs
To be considered under the NLPNP or AIP, you must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the province.
Before you can do so, you must have a valid job offer issued by an in-province employer—this is the case for both programs (except in the case of the NLPNP’s entrepreneur-focused streams).
In the EOI, you are expected to provide information on your occupation, educational background, language abilities, and intention to settle in the province.
The OIM assesses all EOIs and invites the most competitive candidates to apply—for provincial nomination in the case of the NLPNP, and for the AIP: endorsement.
Once a candidate has been issued an invitation, an application must be submitted within 60 days. For the AIP, the employer submits the application; for the NLPNP, it is the candidate’s responsibility.
An EOI remains active in the candidate pool for 12 months, after which it expires. Candidates will need to submit a new EOI after expiry if they wish to remain under consideration.
The OIM has noted that it may prioritize a variety of factors when selecting candidates, including (but not limited to) health-related occupations, individuals working outside major urban centres, high likelihood of long-term settlement, and graduate ties to the province.
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