Prince Edward Island kicked off its October immigration selections with a surprise draw on Oct. 7, followed by another round on Oct. 16, inviting a total of 254 candidates to apply for provincial nomination.
Both selection rounds targeted workers in occupations and priority sectors considered economically significant to PEI, with graduates of select post-secondary institutions in the province receiving priority consideration.
Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation
Invited candidates have up to 30 days to apply for provincial nomination and, if nominated, can then apply to the federal government for permanent residence (PR).
In-Canada nominees who’ve submitted a PR application may also qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).
Draw details
For both draws, the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) sent out invitations through two immigration pathways: *Labour Impact (base) and PEI Express Entry (enhanced):
| Draw date | Invitations issued | Stream(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 16 | 164 | - Labour Impact (base) - PEI Express Entry (enhanced) |
| Oct. 7 | 90 |
Priority consideration was given to students who graduated from the following three post-secondary institutions within the province:
- University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI);
- Holland College; and
- Collège de l’Île.
Prince Edward Island does not disclose how invitations are distributed across immigration streams or which occupations invited candidates hold.
The province’s Expression of Interest Draws web page does, however, list healthcare, trades, manufacturing, and “other key industries facing labour shortages” among its priorities for skilled worker selection.
With these latest selections, the PEI PNP has now held 11 provincial immigration draws in 2026, issuing a total of 1,483 invitations to apply.
*Three streams fall under the Labour Impact Category: Skilled Worker, Critical Worker, and International Graduate.
Labour Impact candidates who secure provincial nomination and proceed with a PR application may be able to apply for a BOWP months sooner.
The candidates may benefit from a temporary measure in effect since June 9, 2026, which exempts eligible in-Canada base PNP applicants from the requirement to have received an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) before applying for a BOWP.
Remaining PEI PNP selection rounds
PEI plans to hold two more selection rounds in 2026, on Nov.19 and Dec. 17, according to the draw schedule it published earlier this year, although the schedule remains subject to change.
October marked a notable departure from the province’s invitation schedule, as PEI conducted two selection rounds despite having only one planned—an unscheduled draw on Oct. 7 and another on Oct. 16, one day after the published date.
Prince Edward Island has largely followed its published invitation schedule, with eight of its 11 draws in 2026 having taken place on their originally scheduled dates.
Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation