Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)


The MPNP accepts applications from skilled workers who possess: education and training, work experience, enough English or French to start a job soon after arrival, a connection to Manitoba

There are several streams, each with different criteria, which are detailed below. In summary, the MPNP accepts applications from skilled workers who possess: education and training, work experience, enough English or French to start a job soon after arrival, a connection to Manitoba (e.g. friends, family or current employment), enough money to maintain the applicant and their family (while the applicant becomes established), and the intention to settle permanently in Manitoba.

General Stream

This stream is for skilled workers who meet these requirements:

  • have a close relative in Manitoba (apply here if the applicant does not meet the eligibility criteria for the Family Support priority assessment stream)

  • provide two affidavits of support, each completed by a close friend or distant relative in Manitoba

  • have previously worked full-time in Manitoba for at least six months

  • have completed an educational program in Manitoba of at least one academic year (excluding language-training programs)

  • posses the training, work experience and language ability necessary for long-term employment in Manitoba (including any licence or certification required in the applicant’s country of residence)

  • intend to establish permanently and successfully in Manitoba

The applicant’s application will be assessed points according to age, education, work experience, language ability and adaptability. The applicant must score at least 55 points.

Family Support

The applicant is eligible if they:

  • have a close relative who is an established resident of Manitoba and can support the applicant’s settlement in the province.

  • meet minimum requirements for age, education, work experience and language ability

  • are between the ages of 21 and 49

  • have completed post-secondary education of at least one academic year and received a diploma or certificate

  • have at least two years of full-time work experience within the past five

  • have enough English or French to get a job in Manitoba in the applicant’s intended occupation soon after the applicant arrive; for an objective assessment of the applicant’s English skills, take an IELTS test (International English Language Testing System) and submit the applicant’s score with the applicant’s application

  • demonstrate the applicant’s intention and ability to establish successfully in Manitoba based on the applicant’s connection to Manitoba (including settlement supports from family); employability (based on the applicant’s training and work experience related to the applicant’s intended occupation, including any licence or certification required in the applicant’s country of residence)

  • settlement funds of at least C$10,000 plus C$2,000 for each accompanying dependant

A “close relative” is a mother/father, son/daughter, sister/brother, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, grandparent or first cousin. The applicant must show how the applicant is related. The applicant’s close relative must supply documents showing that he/she is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and has lived in Manitoba for at least one year; and complete a Manitoba Affidavit of Support (MAS) form. If the applicant cannot demonstrate that the applicant have sufficient settlement funds (explained in the application kit) the applicant’s close relative must complete the Declaration of Financial Support By Close Relative section of the Manitoba Affidavit of Support (MAS) form.

Employer Direct

This is priority assessment stream that helps foreign workers, who have been working in Manitoba for at least six (6) months, to reside permanently within the province. The applicant can apply on the strength of a long-term, full-time job offer from a Manitoba employer. Once the employer provides the applicant with the job offer, the applicant can include it with the applicant’s MPNP application.

To be eligible the applicant must have:

  • a formal offer of long-term, full-time job with a Manitoba employer

  • the training, work experience and language ability required for the job the applicant have been offered (including any licence or certification required in the applicant’s country of residence)

  • the intention and the ability to settle permanently in Manitoba

Strategic Initiatives

The applicant is eligible to apply to this stream if he/she has:

  • received a letter of invitation to apply as part of an MPNP targeted promotional initiative, OR

  • the support of an ethnocultural community organization or regional economic development organization in Manitoba that will help the applicant arrange an exploratory visit that has been pre-approved by the MPNP

Basic criteria:

  • minimum education/training as specified under the terms of a specific initiative, including the completion of high school

  • demonstrated employability in Manitoba or as specified under the terms of a specific initiative

  • sufficient instruction and/or demonstrated ability in English and/or French to be employable in Manitoba

  • intention and ability to establish successfully in Manitoba based on the applicant’s employability (training and work experience related to the applicant’s intended occupation including any licence or certification required in the applicant’s country of residence)

  • settlement funds in the applicant’s name and other supports available in Manitoba

Business

The applicant’s investment should be at least C$150,000 in tangible assets (i.e. land, buildings, motor vehicles, furniture). If the applicant is investing in an existing business, the applicant must control at least 33.3% of the equity, or invest a minimum C$1 million of equity. A redemption option should not be included in terms of investment.

  • Investment into personal items such as the principal residence and motor vehicles for personal use will not count.

  • Investments into a business operated primarily for the purposes of deriving passive investment income will not count.

Business Activities

  • A business entity should have ongoing and recurring business activities in Manitoba.

  • The applicant is required to actively participate in the management of the business on an ongoing basis within Manitoba.

  • The business must be legal and viable in Manitoba’s economic environment, and the applicant should have the necessary resources and skills to operate it.

  • The applicant must conduct value-added business activities in Manitoba. Purely speculative activities do not qualify.

Farming

To qualify for the Provincial Nominee Program for Young Farmers (PNP-YF) the applicant must:

  • have a minimum personal net worth of C$150,000 (after relocating to Manitoba)

  • make a minimum equity investment of C$150,000 in Manitoba

  • be under 40-years-old

  • have at least three (3) years of farm ownership or management experience

  • the applicant (and/or spouse) have marketable skills to supplement farm income

  • have visited Manitoba for at least seven (7) days to investigate farming opportunities and check out Manitoba’s quality of life before applying

  • reside in Manitoba with the applicant’s dependent family members

  • demonstrate that the applicant’s combined farm income and off-farm supplementary income will total a family after-tax income of more than C$35,000 per year

If the applicant’s PNP application is approved, he/she will need to deposit C$75,000 to the Government of Manitoba, guaranteeing that the applicant will live in Manitoba and start or purchase a farm in Manitoba within two years of obtaining his/her permanent resident visa and landing in Manitoba. The deposit will be refunded without interest When the farm investment described in the applicant’s application is made, the applicant’s farm is operating and the applicant is living in Manitoba.

Eligible Farm Business Investments

  • The applicant’s investment from the applicant’s personal assets should be at least C$150,000 in tangible assets (i.e. farm buildings, office equipment).

  • If the applicant is investing in an existing farm, the applicant must control at least 33.33% of the equity, or make a minimum C$1 million equity investment in the farm business. A redemption option should not be included in terms of investment.

  • Investment into personal items (i.e principal residence away from the farm, motor vehicles for personal use) will not count.

  • Investments into a farm business operated primarily for the purposes of deriving passive investment income will not count.

Business Activities

  • The applicant’s farm business should be ongoing with the applicant actively managing it.

  • The applicant’s farm must be legal and viable in Manitoba’s economic environment, and the applicant should have necessary resources and skills to operate it.

  • The Program requires the applicant to conduct value-added farm business activities in Manitoba. This means that purely speculative activities do not qualify.

Students

This stream targets international graduates who have established strong ties to Manitoba and intend to live, work and establish their careers here.

To be eligible the applicant must have:

  • graduated from a post-secondary educational program of at least one academic year at a Manitoba institution

  • obtained a post-graduation open Work Permit from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)

  • received from a Manitoba employer a formal offer of a full-time, long-term job related to the applicant’s field of studies, and:

  • are working for that Manitoba employer for at least six months.

How to apply for a post-grad Work Permit The applicant must apply to CIC for the applicant’s Work Permit within 90 days of completing his/her educational degree or program requirements.

Grads from other provinces are welcome If the applicant completed a post-secondary educational program in another province of Canada the applicant could still qualify for the MPNP under the Employer Direct stream.

To be considered, grads from other Canadian provinces or territories must:

  • be working and have been with the same Manitoba employer for at least six months on a post-graduate open Work Permit

  • demonstrate strong ties to Manitoba (such as friends or family)

A note about Dependents Manitoba values the contribution that families can make to the province. Such eligible family members are called “accompanying dependents.” They include:

  • the applicant’s spouse (legal marriage or common-law partnership of at least one year)

  • children under the age 18 of whom the applicant has legal custody

  • adult children who are: less than 22 and not married or in common-law relationship; over 22 years and not financially independent due to a physical or mental condition; or over 22 and actively pursuing academic, professional or vocational training full-time

The applicant must be able to show enough settlement supports for all family members.

The applicant and the applicant’s spouse: the person who meets the eligibility criteria for a specific stream and is the most qualified should be the principal applicant. The other spouse can be included as an accompanying dependent.