Like most other Canadian provinces and territories, Manitoba provides opportunities for skilled workers and entrepreneurs to relocate to the province, whether to Winnipeg or one of its smaller towns or rural communities.
Potential immigrants to Manitoba may be able to get permanent residence in Canada through the province’s own stream of the Provincial Nominee Program.
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
Manitoba’s Provincial Nominee Program is split into three themed streams, each containing their own distinct pathways:
MPNP Skilled Worker Stream
This stream is intended to help employers in Manitoba fill specific gaps in the local labour market. There are two separate pathways: one for skilled workers already in Manitoba, and one for those who are outside Canada.
In order to be eligible to apply for the for Skilled Workers in Manitoba pathway, you will need to be prepared to show that:
- you already have a valid work permit
- you have a full-time job offer in Manitoba for whom you have already worked for at least six months
- you have any necessary qualifications, training or credentials for the job you have been offered
- you have sufficient English or French language ability for the job you have been offered
- you intend to live and work in Manitoba as a permanent resident
To apply for the Skilled Workers Overseas pathway, you will have to demonstrate that you have an ‘established connection’ to Manitoba, such as:
- support from family or friends in Manitoba
- previous work or study experience in Manitoba
- having received a direct invitation from Manitoba authorities to apply for the MPNP
If you can satisfy this requirement, your application will be given a points score depending on your:
- English and/or French language proficiency
- age
- work experience
- education
- extent of connection to Manitoba and where in the province you intend to settle
You must score at least 60 points in order to be eligible to apply for the Skilled Workers Overseas pathway.
SKILLED WORKER OVERSEAS PATHWAY – POINTS TABLE |
|||
| FACTOR | NUMBER OF POINTS AWARDED | MAXIMUM POINTS | |
| Language proficiency (English and/or French) | First language | 25 | |
| CLB/NCLC 8 or higher | 20 | ||
| CLB/NCLC 7 | 18 | ||
| CLB/NCLC 6 | 16 | ||
| CLB/NCLC 5 | 14 | ||
| CLB/NCLC 4 | 12 | ||
| CLB/NCLC 3 or lower | 0 | ||
| Second language | |||
| CLB/NCLC 5 or higher | 5 | ||
| Age | 18 years | 4 | 10 |
| 19 years | 6 | ||
| 20 years | 8 | ||
| 21 to 45 years | 10 | ||
| 46 years | 8 | ||
| 47 years | 6 | ||
| 48 years | 4 | ||
| 49 years | 2 | ||
| 50 years or older | 0 | ||
| Work Experience
(within the last five years) |
< 1 year | 0 | 15 |
| One year | 8 | ||
| Two years | 10 | ||
| Three years | 12 | ||
| Four or more years | 15 | ||
| Education | Master’s or doctoral degree | 25 | 25 |
| 2 x post-secondary programs (2+ years) | 23 | ||
| 1 x post-secondary program (2+ years) | 20 | ||
| 1 x 1-year post-secondary program | 14 | ||
| Trade certificate | 14 | ||
| No formal post-secondary education | 0 | ||
| Connection to Manitoba | Close relative in Manitoba | 20 | 25 |
| Invited to apply | 20 | ||
| Manitoba work experience of at least 6 months | 12 | ||
| 2 or more years’ post-secondary education in Manitoba | 12 | ||
| 1 years’ post-secondary education in Manitoba | 10 | ||
| Friend or distant relative in Manitoba | 10 | ||
| Planning to settle outside Winnipeg | 5 | ||
| Maximum points available | 100 | ||
MPNP International Education Stream
The International Education Stream (IES) of Manitoba’s Provincial Nominee Program is designed to allow international students who have graduated from post-secondary educational institutions in Manitoba to get permanent residence in the province more easily.
This stream is not open to graduates of institutions outside of Manitoba.
In order to be eligible for the Career Employment pathway, you will need to be prepared to show that you have:
- a full-time job offer
- the job offer must be in a skilled and in-demand role relevant to your qualification
- the job offer must be for at least one year
- graduated from at least a one-year program in Manitoba within the past three years
- at least CLB/NCLC Level 7 proficiency in either English or French
- either:
- enough personal financial resources to last six months; or
- that you already hold a full-time, long-term job in Manitoba
- a current address within the province of Manitoba
NB: If you currently hold a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), you may be eligible to extend this by up to 18 months.
To apply for the Graduate Internship pathway, you will need to be ready to demonstrate that you have:
- graduated from a master’s or doctoral program in Manitoba within the past three years
- finished a Mitacs Elevate or Accelerate internship in Manitoba with an eligible research and industry enterprise
- at least CLB/NCLC Level 7 proficiency in English or French
- either:
- enough personal financial resources to last six months; or
- that you already hold a full-time, long-term job in Manitoba
- a current address within the province of Manitoba
The third MPNP International Education Stream pathway is the International Student Entrepreneur Pilot. This stream has a hard cap of 20 students per year and is focused on postgraduate entrepreneurs rather than employees.
To apply for the pilot, you should be prepared to show that:
- you have a viable business plan for a majority-owned enterprise in Manitoba, which you intend to operate on a daily basis for at least six months before you will receive any PNP nomination
- you have graduated from at least a two-year program in Manitoba
- you are aged between 21 and 35
- you have at least CLB/NCLC Level 7 proficiency in English or French
- you have a valid open work permit when you apply
- you have lived in Manitoba continuously since you graduated and intend to continue living within the province
- you have enough personal financial resources to support yourself for at least one year
MPNP Business Investor Stream
The Business Investor Stream (BIS) is targeted at qualified investors and entrepreneurs who are looking to start or purchase a business in Manitoba.
In order to apply for the Entrepreneur Pathway, you should be prepared to show that:
- you have spent at least three of the past five years as an active business owner (minimum 1/3 ownership) or senior manager of a successful business
- you have at least CLB/NCLC Level 5 proficiency in English or French
- you have at least the equivalent of a Canadian high school education
- you have a personal net worth of at least CAD $500,000
- you intend to invest at least:
- CAD $250,000 if your business is in the Winnipeg Metropolitan area
- CAD $150,000 if your business is outside the Winnipeg Metropolitan area
The Farm Investor Pathway is specifically designed for entrepreneurs who intend to set up and run a farm in a rural area of Manitoba. In order to apply for the Farm Investor Pathway, you should be prepared to demonstrate that:
- you have a minimum of three years’ experience owning and operating a farm
- you speak sufficient English or French to conduct a formal interview in your chosen language
- you have a personal net worth of at least CAD $500,000
- you intend to invest at least CAD $300,000
- you have a business plan for a working farm which will produce primary products consistent with the agri-food industry in Manitoba
- you have undertaken at least one research visit to Manitoba to support your proposal