On September 4 2026 Newfoundland and Labrador issued 97 invitations to apply for provincial nomination under its Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP). The invitations move candidates one step closer to Canadian permanent residence as provincial nominees.
September 4 2026 draw
- 97 invitations issued, all under the NLPNP stream.
- No invitations were extended to Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) candidates – the second time this has occurred since the province adopted an Expression of Interest (EOI) model in February 2025.
- This was the province’s 13th selection round of 2026.
Comparison with earlier 2026 draws
| Date of draw | Total invitations | NLPNP | AIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 6 | 645 | 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 | – |
Since the start of the program, Newfoundland and Labrador has issued a total of 2,556 invitations across both its provincial streams: 2,162 to NLPNP candidates and 394 to AIP candidates.
Path to permanent residence through the NLPNP
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) via the province’s Immigration Accelerator Portal, providing details on education, work experience, language ability, and settlement plans.
- Job offer requirement – all worker streams require a valid job offer.
- Selection criteria – the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism (OIM) may prioritize candidates based on:
- Employment in healthcare
- Employment outside major urban centres
- French‑language ability
- Graduation from a Newfoundland and Labrador post‑secondary institution
- Other factors listed on the OIM’s official prioritization page.
- Invitation and application – candidates drawn from the pool have 60 days to submit a complete application for provincial nomination.
- Nomination and federal PR – successful applicants receive a provincial nomination certificate and can then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. Approval results in a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR).
Processing times (as of September 4 2026)
- Base PNP – approximately 13 months
- Enhanced PNP – approximately 7 months
EOIs remain valid for 12 months; if no invitation is received before expiry, a new profile must be submitted.
Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
Since June 9 2026, many provincial nominees who apply for permanent residence from within Canada can obtain a Bridging Open Work Permit before receiving an Acknowledgement of Receipt. The BOWP allows them to maintain legal status while awaiting a decision on their PR application.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
