Overview
The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) nominates people who are likely to settle in the province. After nomination, the candidate applies to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which makes the final decision.
In February 2025 the province replaced first-come, first-served intake with an expression of interest (EOI) model. Candidates submit a short EOI in the Immigration Accelerator Portal describing their occupation, education and intention to live in the province. The Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism (OIM) reviews EOIs against published priorities and issues invitations to apply (ITAs) in batches. An invitation can lead to a full application under the NLPNP or the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP); the AIP is a separate federal program.
Three worker categories
Express Entry Skilled Worker, Skilled Worker and International Graduate.
Two entrepreneur categories
International Entrepreneur and International Graduate Entrepreneur.
12-month EOI
EOIs expire automatically after 12 months if not selected. An expired EOI needs a new submission.
No public score
The province publishes priorities, not point values or a cut-off. Meeting a priority does not guarantee an invitation.
Categories and published requirements
| Category | Who it fits | Key published requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Express Entry Skilled Worker | Express Entry candidates with an NL job offer | Accepted into the Express Entry pool; full-time TEER 0–3 offer from an eligible NL employer, at least 30 hours a week, for at least one year with a reasonable expectation of extension, paid by salary or hourly wage (not commission) at prevailing regional rates; valid work permit (at least four months remaining if you are in Canada on a permit), or an employer Job Vacancy Assessment (JVA); age 21–59; Canadian post-secondary credential or an educational credential assessment (ECA); valid language test; at least 67 points on the NLPNP assessment grid; settlement funds; business ownership of no more than 10%. |
| Skilled Worker | Workers with an NL job offer, any TEER | Full-time offer from an eligible NL employer with the same hours, duration and wage rules; any TEER; qualifications, training or accreditation the NOC requires; language test required for TEER 4 and 5; age 21–59; in Canada, valid status with at least four months left on the permit; JVA only if the worker lacks authorization for the job; PGWP holders are not eligible (they use International Graduate); settlement funds; ownership of no more than 10%. |
| International Graduate | Recent graduates working in NL | Valid PGWP with at least four months remaining; full-time offer of at least 30 hours a week for at least one year with expected extension, in TEER 0–3 or an in-demand TEER 4 occupation; language test for TEER 4. Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic graduates: job related to field of study, with some exceptions. Graduates of recognized public institutions outside NL: job directly related to the field and at least one year of NL work before applying. |
| International Entrepreneur | Experienced owners and senior managers | Age 21–59; at least $600,000 in personal and business assets transferable to Canada; investment of at least $200,000 with at least 33.3% ownership, or $1 million in equity; two or more years of ownership and management in the past five years (25%+ ownership), or five or more years of senior management in the past ten; CLB 5 (CELPIP, IELTS or TEF); high school or equivalent with an ECA from the last five years; exploratory visit before applying if living outside NL; for a purchase, the business must have had the same owner for five years. |
| International Graduate Entrepreneur | Memorial University or College of the North Atlantic graduates running a local business | Degree or diploma of at least two years, full-time and in person, completed in the past two years; valid PGWP; age 21+; at least 33.3% ownership and active management for one full year; at least one full-time, year-round job created for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is not a family member; CLB 7 in all four skills. |
The three worker categories exclude people with a criminal record, unresolved custody or child-support disputes, misrepresentation, or an in-Canada refugee claim. The two entrepreneur categories exclude people living illegally in their country of residence, people under a removal order or banned from entering Canada, passive investors, and certain business types (for example remote businesses, property rental or investment, real estate and insurance brokerages unless shown to benefit the province, regulated professional services, payday lending and money exchange, pawn shops, taxi companies, non-profits and commission-only jobs). Entrepreneur applicants pay for the verification of their financial documents and business plan. The official category pages do not list a provincial application fee or deposit; confirm with the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism before relying on that.
Documents, dependents and duties
- Documents (worker categories): police certificates from every place you lived for more than six months since age 18, or for the last 10 years, whichever is shorter; translations of documents not in English or French; proof of valid status if you are in Canada; the employer's JVA where one applies; and proof of all declared work experience.
- Dependents: a spouse or common-law partner, dependent children, a spouse's dependent child and a dependent child of a dependent child can be included.
- Your duties: tell the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism about changes (marital status, address, employment) before, during and after nomination, and confirm that any paid representative is registered and authorized to act for you.
- Contact: immigration@gov.nl.ca or (709) 729-6607.
Prioritization criteria (updated March 23, 2026)
Health
Health and health-related occupations remain an ongoing priority.
Rural and regional
Jobs outside major urban centres, including sales and service roles where rural employers have persistent recruitment problems.
Underrepresented occupations
Business and finance, science and research, and trades and transport, where provincial program use is lower.
Employer track record
Employers with program compliance, good retention and clear operational need.
Retention
Candidates with community ties, prior NL residence, family connections or durable job prospects; graduates of NL institutions in priority sectors.
Francophone and settlement
EOIs that support Francophone communities, and employers or communities showing strong settlement support, including help with spousal employment.
Sales and service EOIs tied to the St. John's metro area may receive lower priority where program use is already high. The province may redirect applicants or employers to a better-fitting pathway.
2026 invitation rounds
| Date | Total ITAs | NLPNP | AIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 6 | 445 | 362 | 83 |
| March 30 | 245 | 209 | 36 |
| April 13 | 210 | 177 | 33 |
| May 1 | 190 | 157 | 33 |
| May 11 | 186 | 168 | 18 |
| May 28 | 103 | 84 | 19 |
| June 10 | 108 | 89 | 19 |
| July 10 | 57 | 17 | 40 |
| July 28 | 445 | 400 | 45 |
| August 10 | 208 | 186 | 22 |
| August 18 | 122 | 122 | – |
| August 26 | 140 | 94 | 46 |
| September 4 | 97 | 97 | – |
| September 10 | 36 | 36 | – |
| September 18 | 62 | 61 | 1 |
| September 25 | 41 | 41 | – |
| October 9 | 131 | 130 | 1 |
| Total | 2,826 | 2,430 | 396 |
The province does not publish criteria or scores for individual rounds; it applies the prioritization criteria above.
NOC and TEER
Select the five-digit NOC code from the duties, then check the TEER level, wage, licensing and whether the category accepts that TEER.
Which TEER fits which category
Express Entry Skilled Worker: TEER 0–3. Skilled Worker: any TEER. International Graduate: TEER 0–3, or TEER 4 only if the occupation is in demand.
Job offer quality
The offer must be full-time (30+ hours), last at least a year with expected extension, and pay a salary or hourly wage at prevailing regional rates.
Study relationship
For International Graduate, the NOC is used to test whether the job relates to the completed program.
EOI consistency
The occupation, employer, community and history in the EOI must match the invited application.
Find your NOC code and TEER category
Why there is no NLPNP calculator
The EOI ranking uses published priorities without numerical weights or an invitation threshold. The Express Entry Skilled Worker category has a 67-point assessment grid at the application stage, but the grid is not what decides EOI selection. A calculator would invent a ranking the province has not disclosed.
From EOI to permanent residence
- Choose NLPNP or AIPConfirm the worker, graduate, entrepreneur or AIP route before entering the portal.
- Validate the job and NOCCheck duties, TEER, wage, licensing, employer eligibility, offer duration and, where needed, the employer's JVA.
- Submit an accurate EOIDescribe occupation, location, employer, ties to the province and settlement plans truthfully. The EOI is valid for 12 months.
- Wait for an invitationInvitations are issued in batches based on priorities and capacity.
- Apply within 30 daysSubmit the complete application and prove every EOI claim.
- Continue to IRCCAfter nomination, apply through Express Entry or the non-Express Entry route, and keep legal status throughout.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply directly without an EOI?
No. Economic NLPNP and AIP candidates enter through the EOI and may apply only after an invitation.
I have a PGWP. Which category do I use?
International Graduate. PGWP holders are not eligible for the Skilled Worker category.
Does a job in St. John's lower my chances?
Only for sales and service roles: the province says those EOIs linked to the St. John's metro area may receive lower priority where program use is already high.
Official sources
- Government of NL: Provincial Nominee Program overview
- Government of NL: Expression of interest model overview
- Government of NL: EOI prioritization criteria
- Government of NL: Invitations to apply updates
- Government of NL: Express Entry Skilled Worker
- Government of NL: Skilled Worker
- Government of NL: International Graduate
- Government of NL: International Entrepreneur eligibility
- Government of NL: International Graduate Entrepreneur eligibility
- IRCC: Fee list
This page is general information about Canadian immigration law and policy as of the date above. It is not legal advice for your situation. Programs, forms and fees change often; check the official sources before you apply.