Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)

Manitoba, a western prairie province and land of natural splendor, is located amidst the provinces of Ontario and Saskatchewan. As one of the strongest and diverse economies of Canada, it provides affordable living and a plethora of opportunities in terms of better job prospects, quality education and business potential.

In addition, the capital city of Manitoba, Winnipeg is a preferred choice of immigrants to Canada (after Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver) as it offers comparatively higher employment, entertainment and education options, low priced housing, and better work life balance.

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) targets skilled workers, recent graduates, businessmen and their families who intend to reside and work in Manitoba as permanent residents.

MPNP Streams

Skilled Worker Stream

This stream seeks internationally trained and experienced workers who have the required skills to fulfill the needs of Manitoba’s labor market and nominates them for permanent residency. There are two sub streams within Skilled worker stream:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba
• Skilled Workers Overseas

Skilled Workers in Manitoba

This stream is for individuals with skilled work experience and currently residing in Manitoba at the time of submitting their application.

Qualifying Employment: An applicant’s employer must

• be incorporated or registered by or under the legislature act of a province or the Canadian Parliament and function as a business that has proven production potential, plant, or business place in Manitoba.
• demonstrate to the satisfaction of the MPNP that they are an established business with an ability to offer you full-time and long-term employment in Manitoba.

An applicant

• must have long-term, full-time job by a Manitoba company, after finishing at least six months (continuous) full-time employment with that company as a temporary foreign worker or international student working graduate.
• who graduated from a post-secondary program in another Canadian must initially have at least one-year work experience with that Manitoba employer.
• candidate’s work experience is not considered in case of:
  • self-employment, unauthorized work, or employment periods where an applicant was engaged in full-time study
  • work experience gained in Manitoba as Self-employed individuals, business owners, owner-operators and people offering services as independent contractors to the business supporting their application.

Skilled workers Overseas

The MPNP for Skilled Workers Overseas seeks applicants who show an established connection to Manitoba via:

• the help of family members or friends.
• previous education or work experience in the province.
• Invitation to Apply obtained directly from the MPNP.

Manitoba Support

A Manitoba Supporter is an established resident of the province who is willing to review and endorse the applicant’s plan for settling and finding employment in their destination community. A Manitoba Supporter must be the applicant’s close relative or friend/distant relative, and must:

• provide documents confirming they live and are established in Manitoba with at least 1 year of continuous residency in the province and have been living in the province continuously for at least one year.
• be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• prove close ties to the applicant and to Manitoba.
• show any applications formerly supported by them resulted in successful, permanent economic establishment in Manitoba.
• be able to support the applicant’s Settlement Plan.
• not be currently supporting the settlement of another MPNP applicant, nominee, or person under another Canadian immigration program (in case of friends or relatives as the supporter).

In addition to the Manitoba support, an applicant should

• be employable and adaptable skilled workers with job-ready English, sufficient settlement funds and the genuine intention and ability to economically establish in Manitoba as permanent residents
• should declare Manitoba Supporters and their address as local contact for correspondence with the MPNP so that your supporter is authorized to discuss your application.

Familial relationships

A Manitoba supporter is deemed to be a close relative of the applicant (or the applicant’s spouse) if related as sister or brother, niece or nephew, aunt, or uncle, first cousin, parents, or grandparents.

Ineligibility

• Children residing in Manitoba cannot qualify as a Manitoba Supporter for their parents’ MPNP application.
• Spouse of a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident is not entitled to apply to the MPNP, however, they may apply under IRCCs Spousal Sponsorship category.
• A friend or distant relative who is a paid immigration representative.
• A Settlement Plan Part 2 signed by a Canadian elected official or their staff or anyone who is not a demonstrated relative or friend of the applicant or the applicant’s spouse is not accepted by the MPNP.

Manitoba Experience

Manitoba experience refers to the past residency in the province as a temporary foreign worker or as an international student. Candidates with previous work experience/education in Manitoba must:

• Worked full-time for at least six consecutive months for a Manitoba employer.
• Should be able to submit signed employer letter of reference on company letterhead.
• Have attended and completed an authorized education or training program at a public, or registered private vocational, post-secondary institution in Manitoba.
• Submit study permit(s), academic transcripts and the certificate, diploma or degree received for completing the program.

Manitoba Invitation

To eligible to apply to the MPNP with the connection of Manitoba Invitation, individual must upload the Letter of Invitation obtained directly from the MPNP after being interviewed by a program officer during a recruitment mission or exploratory visit. Eligibility requirements to take part in visits and missions generally include that a candidate:

• is between the age of 21 to 45.
• can convince the MPNP with no stronger ties to another province.
• can prove the employability and adaptability mandatory of all MPNP applicants.
• completed at least a one-year, post-secondary education, or training program for which a diploma, degree or certificate is awarded.
• worked at least two years full-time in the past five years and can prove capability to search for a job in Manitoba in that occupation (inclusive of plans to attain licence/certification in case of regulated occupations).
• shows intent and ability to economically establish and reside in Manitoba as a permanent resident demonstrated, in part, with a Settlement Plan.
• provides to the MPNP, formal results of an approved language test (appeared for within the past two years) with scores equivalent to at least CLB 5 in each test category and overall.

Points Assessment

Besides strong ties to Manitoba, every candidate must score at least 60 points, to be considered under the Skilled Worker Overseas stream, based on following factors:

Factor 1: Language Proficiency

Factor 2: Age

Factor 3: Work Experience

Work experience points are calculated based on proof of full-time employment in the past five years. Only continuous full-time jobs of six months or longer are considered.

Factor 4: Education

Factor 5: Adaptability

International Education Stream

The new International Education Stream (IES) is for international students who recently graduated from a post-secondary institute in Manitoba. An international student graduated in another Canadian province will not qualify under this stream, however, may be eligible under the renewed Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream. There are three pathways to apply under this stream:

• Career Employment Pathway
• Graduate Internship Pathway
• International Student Entrepreneur Pilot

Career Employment Pathway

The Career Employment Pathway seeks recently graduated foreign nationals from Manitoba’s post-secondary educational institution and working an in-demand occupation. An international student who graduated in another province of Canada and/or are not working in an in-demand occupation may be eligible to apply under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream.

Graduate Internship Pathway

The Graduate Internship Pathway targets international graduates with a master’s or PhD completed in Manitoba within last 3 years. Graduates who complete an Accelerate or Elevate internship with Mitacs in Manitoba can apply to the MPNP immediately after graduation, whether or not they have a job offer.

International Student Entrepreneur Pilot

This stream accepts applications from foreign nationals recently graduated from Manitoba’s post-secondary institution and have at least 6 months experience owning and supervising business in Manitoba. It provides up to 20 (per calendar year) international students the opportunity to pursue entrepreneurship rather than employment. The applicants are nominated for permanent residency once they meet the conditions of the Business Performance Agreement.

• Interested candidates should email [email protected] to register for an information session which is mandatory to be attended before submitting any forms to the MPNP
• An international student who graduated in another province of Canada, may be eligible to apply under the Business Investor Stream Entrepreneur Pathway.

Business Investor Stream

Business Investor Stream targets qualified business investors and entrepreneurs from around the world who have the intent and ability to start or purchase businesses in Manitoba. There are two pathways:

• Entrepreneur Pathway
• Farm Investor Pathway

Applicants are needed to submit a complete verification of net worth and source of funds report issued by one of Manitoba’s designated third-party verifiers with their completed application forms and documents.

The Entrepreneur Pathway

The Entrepreneur Pathway seeks applicants from around the world who have the intention and ability to relocate to Manitoba and start a business or become partners in an existing business within the first 24 months of entrance in Canada on a temporary work permit.

Farm Investor Pathway (FIP)

This stream for individuals who intend to establish and operate a farm operation in rural Manitoba. The applicants must possess farm business experience and sufficient available capital to invest. Successful applicants of the FIP are anticipated to establish a farm business in rural Manitoba producing primary products that is consistent with the province’s current farm industry. Agri-business operations not producing primary products may qualify under the Entrepreneur Pathway.