Manitoba has closed the Career Employment Pathway of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program’s International Education Stream, effective immediately. Former Career Employment Pathway candidates who want permanent residence through Manitoba will need to pursue another pathway, most notably Skilled Worker in Manitoba if they meet the criteria.
Career Employment Pathway closed
The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program announced the closure on June 11, 2026.
The change affects international graduates who had been relying on the Career Employment Pathway, or CEP, as a student-to-permanent-residence route.
Going forward, candidates with at least six months of in-province work experience may be considered under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway, if eligible.
Manitoba says the change is intended to create “clear, consistent criteria for all Manitoba graduates” and better align education, work experience, and labour market needs.
What affected candidates should do
Manitoba graduates with an active Expression of Interest under the closed CEP should review the eligibility criteria for the Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway.
If they meet the criteria, they should update their EOI profile.
Candidates should ensure that their profile includes all Manitoba connections, including completion of post-secondary education in the province.
Skilled Worker in Manitoba draws will continue regularly. So far in 2026, Manitoba has held 11 draws targeting candidates through its Skilled Worker Stream.
Graduate Internship Pathway remains open
The Graduate Internship Pathway remains available for eligible master’s and doctoral graduates who complete a Mitacs internship.
This means the closure applies to the Career Employment Pathway, not the entire International Education Stream.
CEP compared with Skilled Worker in Manitoba
| Requirement | Career Employment Pathway | Skilled Worker in Manitoba |
|---|---|---|
| Job offer | Full-time, one-year contract in an occupation on the In-Demand Occupations List; must be consistent with program of study | Full-time, long-term offer after at least six months of continuous full-time employment with the same employer before the job offer |
| Education | Completion of a full-time Manitoba study program of at least one year or two semesters within the past three years | Not applicable |
| Language | CLB/NCLC 7 or higher | Sufficient language ability to perform the job and economically establish in Manitoba |
| Settlement funds | Liquid funds equal to low-income cut-off requirements for six months, or full-time long-term employment in Manitoba | Not applicable |
| Settlement plan | Not required | Required |
| Career Employment Plan | Required; must show opportunities for a successful career track in Manitoba | Not required |
| Work experience caveat | Not applicable | Self-employment and work experience gained during full-time study do not count |
Under the former CEP rules, graduates with a bachelor’s degree or higher could qualify with a TEER 0–3 job offer, even if the job was not related to their studies. For short-term study programs, the job offer had to be consistent with the applicant’s studies.
Practical effect of the change
The closure shifts Manitoba’s student-to-permanent-residence route away from a pathway based mainly on recent Manitoba education and a qualifying job offer, and toward a work-experience-based model.
For former CEP candidates, the key issue is whether they can meet Skilled Worker in Manitoba criteria, especially the requirement for at least six months of continuous full-time work with the same Manitoba employer before receiving a full-time, long-term job offer.
Candidates with active EOIs should update their profiles only if they meet the new pathway requirements.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
