Manitoba recently introduced the International Education Stream (IES) for international graduates who are graduating in Manitoba. The aim is to provide international students with the opportunity to remain in the province and become permanent residents.

This is done through three fast pathways that leads to nomination:

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

Let’s take a look at how these three pathways accommodate international students who are graduating in Manitoba.

1. Career Employment Pathway

This program offers students who’ll be employed long-term in Manitoba, the opportunity to be nominated faster for in-demand occupations. This nomination will align with the training they received within their specific fields.

If you’re a student who will be graduating in Manitoba, you have to:

• Be a student graduating in Manitoba or a graduate in Manitoba;
• have a job offer in an in-demand occupation and
• make sure that it’s a long term job offer in Manitoba

If you tick all the above boxes, you should be able to qualify for the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) to obtain a job offer.

Below we’ve provided an extensive overview of the requirements:

So, you’re not an international student who graduated in a different Canadian province and you’re not working in an in-demand occupation? No problem. You can apply under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream.

2. Graduate Internship Pathway

This pathway is faster for students doing their masters and doctorate during their internship training. Candidates under this program would have to:

1. do their masters and doctorate in Manitoba;
2. add value to Manitoba’s innovation and economy and
3. complete internships at two well-renowned organizations in Manitoba:
4. Acceleration – an organization offering paid internships to students who can contribute with their expertise.
5. Elevate – offers internships or fellowships for up to two years which will include a research management training program and a postdoctoral fellowship.

Thereafter, graduates who completed their training under the above mentioned organizations won’t necessarily need a job offer and can apply to MPNP regardless.

Below is an extensive overview of the requirements:

3. International Student Entrepreneur Pilot

For skilled workers in Manitoba, you can apply for immigration through MPNP in three simple steps:

1. Step 1: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
2. This is a letter that states your interest in working for a certain company and it should have your latest resume as well.
3. Step 2: Applicants who score the highest will get an invitation to submit an MPNP application.
4. Step 3: The application will be assessed and MPNP will then select successful candidates to apply for a permanent residence visa. Note that this application will be separate from the MPNP application.

Manitoba and its capital city Winnipeg are perfectly situated in the heart of North America. Manitoba plays a big role in the continent as a transportation and trade hub, thanks to its location along the continent’s North-South trade corridor. The city has rail, road, sea, and air connections to the rest of the continent and the outside world.

Also called the “Land of 100,000 Lakes,” Manitoba has a diversified economy led by manufacturing, agriculture, hydroelectricity, and mining. The majority of foreign nationals immigrate here through the Manitoba Provincial Nomination Program (Manitoba PNP, or MPNP).

Since the economy of Manitoba is largely dependent on natural resources, agriculture is the province’s main economic driver. Manitoba attracts many immigrants who benefit from the tight-knit farming communities, stable labour market, and picturesque landscape.

Through the Manitoba PNP, immigrants, who possess the skills and experience identified by the province, can receive a Manitoba Provincial Nomination Certificate. Holding such a certificate speeds up the immigration process greatly.

Quick Facts About Manitoba

• Winnipeg is the capital city
• The province is culturally diverse with over 100 spoken languages
• Green, renewable and sustainable; nearly 98% of Manitoba’s power is hydro-electric

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)

There are four streams currently operating under the MPNP that you can apply for permanent residency through:

International Education Stream

This stream targets international students who have graduated from tertiary institutions in Manitoba to provide faster nomination options for those seeking long-term employment in an in-demand occupation. Under this stream are three pathways, the Career Employment Pathway, Graduate Internship Pathway, and Student Entrepreneur Pathway.

Under the Career Employment Pathway, international students can be nominated by the province if they have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the province and are seeking long term employment in an in-demand occupation. You can apply to the MPNP after graduation if you have a valid job offer from a Manitoban employer.

Please note that if you studied in another province or territory in Canada as an international student or do not have an in-demand occupation, you may still be eligible to apply under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream.

If you have completed a bridging course and have passed the initial certification for the course by a regulatory body, you do not need a job offer from a Manitoban employer.

If you are a Doctoral or Master’s graduate, then you could apply under the Graduate Internship Pathway. This pathway is designed for faster provincial nomination processing those who can bring innovation to Manitoba’s markets.

If you graduated under the Accelerate or Elevate internship with Mitacs, you can automatically apply to the Manitoba PNP after your graduation, even if you do not have a job offer.

For additional information about the program, you must book an information session with the Manitoban government. This information session must be booked before you submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the MPNP.

The Student Entrepreneur Pathway is one of the smallest pathway options under the International Education Stream. It invites 20 international students who have graduated from Manitoba institutions and are interested in starting and owning their own businesses in the province.

All applicants must meet the requirements listed under the Business Performance Agreement before they can be nominated for permanent residence in the province.

Before you apply through the MPNP, you must book an information session with Manitoba Immigration.

If you graduated from an educational institution in Canada outside of Manitoba, you may still be able to apply through the Business Investor Pathway.

Business Investor Stream

Manitoba is empowered to nominate and recruit qualified entrepreneurs and business investors according to this stream. These are persons who have both the ability and the intent to purchase or start a business in the province.

There are two pathways for the Business Investor stream:

• Entrepreneur Pathway (for applicants who want to start, purchase a business or want to become partners in an existing business); and
• Farm Investor Pathway (for applicants who want to start and manage a farm in rural Manitoba)

Entrepreneur Pathway

Farm Investor Pathway

Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream

This immigration stream targets individuals who are connected to Manitoba through the educational background, work experience, training, employment, skills, and language proficiency needed to contribute to the province’s economic and community growth.

In order to qualify for this stream, you must meet all the minimum requirements.

There are two pathways for the Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream.

Manitoba Work Experience Pathway

Temporary foreign workers, out-of-province international student graduates, and Manitoba graduates, with jobs that are not included in the province’s In-demand Occupations list, can follow this pathway.

Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway

If you received an Invitation to Apply from the MPNP, after being interviewed outside of Canada by an employer and an officer of the MPNP, you can use this pathway.

Skilled Worker Overseas Stream

Locally driven and based on the needs of Manitoban employers. Applicants who have a connection to Manitoba through family members or friends, work experience or an Invitation to Apply issued by the MPNP can apply for this stream.

You will also need to satisfy the minimum entry requirements, including a score of at least 60 points, in order to be considered for a nomination.

Manitoba Express Entry Pathway

In order to qualify for this program, you must also be eligible under another MPNP stream while meeting the general Express Entry criteria with an active Express Entry profile.

Human Capital Pathway

If you are a skilled worker who has the skills and training needed in Manitoba, as published in the In-demand Occupations list, you can apply to this pathway.

So, what now?

If you like what you have read about the incredible province and the Manitoba PNP and want to start your application for a MW Agents? sign up right here and we will call you about the application process. Get great Canadian immigration advice from our professionals.

FAQs

What is the cut off score for Manitoba PNP?

Applicants applying under the Manitoba PNP must have some kind of tie with Manitoba and must score at least 60 points in order to qualify as a successful candidate. Candidates who do not have a connection to Manitoba will not be eligible to apply regardless of the amount of points they score. See what Manitoba classifies as a connection to Manitoba under Factor 5.

Can I leave Manitoba after PR?

Candidates who are permanent and wish to move out of Manitoba after permanent residence are free to do so. But candidates who applied for permanent residency under the Provincial Nominee Program may have to check with the province that nominated them based on the skills they offer within that province.

How long does it take to process MPNP?

The process can take around 12 to 15 months depending on the applicant’s eligibility and how long the provincial office of Manitoba takes to process applications. Usually, the processing time is around four months which is separate from the overall processing time of 12 to 15 months.