Newfoundland and Labrador issued 122 invitations to apply for provincial nomination on August 18, 2026. This was the province’s first draw conducted exclusively through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) after the province switched to an Expression of Interest (EOI) model in February 2025.
Recent draw activity
| Date (2026) | Invitations issued | Program breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| March 6 | 445 | NLPNP 362 · AIP 83 |
| March 30 | 245 | NLPNP 209 · AIP 36 |
| April 13 | 210 | NLPNP 177 · AIP 33 |
| May 1 | 190 | NLPNP 157 · AIP 33 |
| May 11 | 186 | NLPNP 168 · AIP 18 |
| May 28 | 103 | NLPNP 84 · AIP 19 |
| June 10 | 108 | NLPNP 89 · AIP 19 |
| July 10 | 57 | NLPNP 17 · AIP 40 |
| July 28 | 445 | NLPNP 400 · AIP 45 |
| August 10 | 208 | NLPNP 186 · AIP 22 |
| August 18 | 122 | NLPNP 122 (no AIP invitations) |
From January 1 to August 18, 2026 the province has issued 1,849 NLPNP invitations and 348 Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) invitations, a total of 2,197. 85 % of those invitations were for NLPNP candidates, and the August 18 draw was the first in 2026 to exclude AIP candidates entirely.
How the NLPNP works
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Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
- Done through the Immigration Accelerator Portal.
- Applicants provide education, employment history, language proficiency, and settlement plans.
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Job‑offer requirement
- All streams except the entrepreneur categories require a valid job offer from an employer located in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Prioritization criteria (as listed on the province’s official webpage) may include:
- Employment in the health‑care sector or in regions outside the major urban centres.
- French‑language proficiency.
- Graduation from a post‑secondary institution in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Invitation to Apply (ITA)
- The Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism (OIM) reviews EOIs and periodically issues ITAs.
- Candidates have 60 days to submit a complete nomination application after receiving an ITA.
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Provincial nomination and federal permanent residence
- Successful applicants receive a provincial nomination, which they use to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
- IRCC processing times (as of August 10, 2026):
- Base PNP: 13 months
- Enhanced PNP: 7 months
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EOI validity
- An EOI remains active for 12 months. If no ITA is received within that period, the candidate must submit a new EOI to stay in the pool.
Practical considerations
- Job‑offer sourcing: Candidates should secure a qualified offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer before submitting an EOI, unless they are applying through an entrepreneur stream.
- Sector focus: Applicants with experience in health‑care, willing to work in rural communities, or possessing French language skills may have a higher chance of selection.
- Timing: Because EOIs expire after a year and invitations are issued irregularly, maintaining an up‑to‑date profile and monitoring OIM announcements is essential.
- Processing timeline: Even after receiving a provincial nomination, the federal stage can add 7–13 months before permanent residence is granted, so applicants should plan for this lead time.
The August 18 draw demonstrates Newfoundland and Labrador’s shift toward relying solely on the NLPNP for provincial nominations, emphasizing the importance of meeting the program’s specific criteria and timelines.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
