Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)

Located between the provinces of Ontario and Saskatchewan, the province of Manitoba is in many ways the gateway to western Canada.

Manitoba was first province to launch a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) in 1998. As a small province with few newcomers, it needed the PNP to promote itself as a destination of choice to skilled immigrants. Since then, Manitoba has been a tremendous immigration success story. Thanks to the Manitoba PNP, immigration has played a major role in Manitoba's population, labour force, and economic growth.

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Table of Contents

Overview of the Manitoba PNP

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) was Canada’s first PNP. It became a permanent immigration program in 1998.

The program launched to help grow the province’s economy through immigration, based on their economic and labour market needs.

In its first year, the MPNP welcomed 418 new immigrants. Today, the province nominates more than 4,000 new immigrants through the program per year.

Manitoba has been very successful with the MPNP. In fact, without it, Manitoba’s GDP would be up to 30 per cent lower.

Manitoba is also popular among newcomers. Having a friend or relative in Manitoba helps you to immigrate through the MPNP. In addition, over 90 per cent of provincial nominees get a job in their first year. The province’s retention rate is high with almost 90 per cent choose to stay in the province.

Some of the province’s immigration streams are base streams and others are enhanced streams.

Enhanced means that the stream is aligned with the Express Entry system. This is the system that the federal government uses to manage permanent residence applications through the country’s three main economic class immigration programs.

The Express Entry system gives a candidate a point score based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranking candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence.

If you get a nomination from a provincial program that is enhanced, you get an extra 600 CRS points, practically guaranteeing getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. They also get their nomination through their Express Entry profile.

Base streams are streams that are not aligned with the Express Entry systems. Candidates who get a provincial nomination are required to apply directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Manitoba Immigration Streams:

If you wish to immigrate to Manitoba, then you have five options to choose from:

  • Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream;
  • Skilled Worker Overseas Stream;
  • Manitoba Business Investor Stream;
  • International Education Stream;
  • Morden Community Driven Initiative.

The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream is for qualified temporary foreign workers and international student graduates who are currently employed in Manitoba and have been offered a permanent, full-time job with a Manitoba employer.

The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream is for qualified skilled workers who may be outside of Canada but who can demonstrate a strong connection to the province. A skilled worker who is already in Canada may also be eligible for this category.

The Manitoba Business Investor Stream is for applicants who are seeking to establish a business in Manitoba.

The International Education Stream is for international graduates who graduated from a Manitoba post-secondary institution who wish to stay in Manitoba permanently.

The Morden Community Driven Initiative is for welders, carpenters, cooks, plumbers and pipefitters who wish to establish themselves in the rural town of Morden.

Manitoba Business Investor Stream

If you wish to immigrate to Manitoba and do business there, there are two pathways:

Farm Investor Pathway

This pathway is for people with farm business experience who wish to immigrate to Manitoba so that they can establish and operate a farm there.

Learn more about the Manitoba Farm Investor Pathway

Entrepreneur Pathway

The Entrepreneur Pathway allows the province to recruit and nominate eligible foreign business owners to move to Manitoba. They must have the intent and ability to establish or purchase a new business, or co-own an existing business. They must do so in the first two years after arriving in Manitoba on a temporary work permit.

Learn more about the Entrepreneur Pathway

Application Fee: CAD $2,500

Processing Time: 6 months

How the Farm Investor Pathway works:

Farm Investor Pathway candidates must conduct a Farm Research Visit in Manitoba no more than one year before beginning the process.

The next step is to complete the Interest Guidelines (self-assessment of their situation) and the Farm Business Concept forms, and then submit them. You must also submit the Code of Conduct for Immigration Representatives if you need one.

If you receive an LAA, you can submit an application for the Farm Investor Pathway. You may be invited to an interview with an MPNP representative.

If approved, you will receive a Deposit Agreement (contract) which you must sign and send a deposit of CAD $75,000. Once you receive your nomination, you can apply directly to the Canadian federal government for permanent residence.

    How the Entrepreneur Pathway works:

    First, determine whether or not you are eligible.

    You should then research the business concept, explore Manitoba, and prepare the Business Concept Form.

    The next step is to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) as well as your Business Concept Form, your Self-Assessment Form and a Code of Conduct for Immigration Representatives (if needed).

    If you meet the minimum criteria and your Business Concept is approved, you will receive an official Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA).

    You must then submit a complete application to the MPNP. You may be invited for an in-person interview.

    If your application is successful, you will be asked to sign a Business Performance Agreement (BPA). This is a contractual agreement between you and the MPNP.

    After that, you must come to Manitoba, operate your business and provide regular updates on the business’s performance.

    Once you meet the terms and conditions of the BPA, you will obtain a provincial nomination for permanent residence.

    You can then use this nomination to make another application directly to the Canadian federal government for permanent residency visas for you and your family.

    Category Minimum Requirements

    Farm Investor Pathway
    • Must have at least three years of farm business management or farm ownership and operation experience;
    • Must be proficient in English or French;
    • Must invest at least CAD $300,000;
    • Must intend to establish the farming business in rural Manitoba
    • Must submit a farm business plan;
    • Must conduct a Farm Business Research Visit;
    • Must intend to live on the farm and participate in the management of the farm business;
    • Must have a net worth of at least CAD $500,000.
    Entrepreneur Pathway
    • Must have three years of experience as an active business owner, or senior management in a successful business in the past five years;
    • Must meet the minimum language requirement of CLB 5;
    • Must have a minimum of a Canadian high school certificate equivalent;
    • Must make a minimum investment of CAD $250,000 if the business is in the Manitoba Capital Region (Winnipeg area), or a minimum investment of CAD $150,000 if the business is outside the Manitoba Capital Region;
    • The business must create at least one job for a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident in Manitoba;
    • Must submit a business plan;
    • Must conduct a Business Research Visit no more than one year before submitting an EOI;
    • Must sign a Business Performance Agreement after the application is approved;
    • Must have a net worth of at least CAD $500,000.

    Learn more about the Manitoba Business InvestorStreams

    International Education Stream

    The International Education Stream (IES) is designed to provide Manitoba graduates who meet the needs of industry with faster pathways to permanent residence. The stream has three pathways: Career Employment Pathway, Graduate Internship Pathway, and the Student Entrepreneur Pathway.

    The International Education Stream (IES) is for international graduates of Manitoba educational institutions who meet the needs of the labour market. The IES provides graduates with faster pathways to permanent residence. You have three options to choose from:

    Career Employment Pathway

    The Career Employment Pathway is for post-secondary graduates who have long-term employment in Manitoba in an in-demand occupation.

    Learn more about the Career Employment Pathway

    Graduate Internship Pathway

    The Graduate Internship Pathway is for international master and doctoral graduates who complete an Accelerate or Elevate internship with Mitacs, an organization that partners with the Manitoba government to help provide internships to international graduates.

    Learn more about the Graduate Internship Pathway

    International Student Entrepreneur Pathway

    The International Student Entrepreneur Pathway provides up to 20 international graduates of a Manitoba learning institution the opportunity to become entrepreneurs in Manitoba. They must meet the conditions of a Business Performance Agreement before being nominated for permanent residence.

    Learn more about the Student Entrepreneur Pathway

    Application Fee: 

    Career Employment Pathway: CAD $500

    Graduate Internship Pathway: CAD $500

    International Student Entrepreneur Pathway: CAD $2,500

    Processing Time: 6 months

    How it works:

    You must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). This means you have to complete a series of questions online. Based on the answers you give; you’ll receive a score.

    The highest scoring candidates may then be invited to submit an MPNP application.

    If successful, you will receive a provincial nomination from Manitoba. You can then use this nomination to make another application directly to the Canadian federal government for permanent residency visas for you and your family.

    Category Is a job offer required? Minimum Requirements

    Career Employment Pathway

    		 Yes
    • Must have graduated (min 1 year/2 semesters) from a Manitoba post-secondary institution in the past three years
    • Must meet the minimum language requirement of CLB 7;
    • Must have a full-time job offer that is at least 1-year long from an eligible current employer in an In-Demand Occupation.
    • Must have enough money for a six-month period or be employed in a full-time long-term position in Manitoba;
    • Must be living in Manitoba at the time of application.

    Graduate Internship Pathway

    		 No
    • Must have a master’s or doctoral degree from Manitoba in the last three years;
    • Must meet the minimum language requirement of CLB 7;
    • Must have completed a Mitacs Elevate or Accelerate (including Accelerate Entrepreneur) internship within an eligible industry and research enterprise in ManitobaMust have enough money for a six-month period or be employed in a full-time long-term position in Manitoba;
    • Must be living in Manitoba at the time of application.
    International Student Entrepreneur Pathway No
    • Must submit a business plan;
    • Must operate the business on a daily basis in Manitoba for at least 6 months before being nominated;
    • Must own at least 51% of the business;
    • Must meet the language requirement of CLB 7;
    • Must complete a full-time post-secondary education program in Manitoba that is at least 2 years long;
    • Must be between 21 and 35 years old;
    • Must have enough money for a six-month period;
    • Must have a valid open work permit of Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP);
    • Must have lived in Manitoba since graduation;
    • Must intend to continue to live in Manitoba;
    • Must sign a Business Performance Agreement once application is approved.

    Learn more about the Manitoba International Education Stream

    Morden Community-Driven Immigration Initiative

    Morden, Manitoba is a town 112 km southwest of Winnipeg. This town is actively looking for new immigrants in certain occupations that meet the town’s labour market needs. Those who are successful under this initiative will become permanent residents of Canada.

    In order to be eligible, you must meet age, education, language and work experience requirements, and you must not have a connection to any other part of Canada. In addition, you must intend to live in Morden, have enough money to settle.

    Learn more about the Morden Community-Driven Immigration Initiative

    Frequently Asked Questions

    1. How does Manitoba PNP work?

    To immigrate to Canada through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), you must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). This means you have to complete a series of questions online. Based on the answers you give; you’ll receive a score.

    The highest scoring candidates may then be invited to submit an MPNP application.

    If successful, you will receive a provincial nomination from Manitoba. You can then use this nomination to make another application directly to the Canadian federal government for permanent residency visas for you and your family. If you are an Express Entry candidate, you can do this through the Express Entry system.

    If you are looking to immigrate to Manitoba through a Business Investor stream, there may be additional steps to follow.

    For the Manitoba Skilled Worker Overseas Stream and the Manitoba Business Investor Stream, a job offer is not required.

    For the International Education Stream, a job offer is not required if you are immigrating through the Student Entrepreneur Pathway or the Career Employment Pathway. However, a job offer is required for the Graduate Internship Pathway.

    It depends on your situation. To immigrate to Manitoba, you must meet one of the following conditions:

    • You can demonstrate a connection to the province;
    • You’ve graduated from a Manitoba learning institution,
    • You intend to establish or purchase a business in Manitoba, including a farm business, OR
    • You’re eligible to immigrate to the Morden community.

    You can demonstrate a connection to Manitoba through the support of friends or family living in the province, previous work experience or education in the province, or be invited to apply by the MPNP. For the Skilled Worker in Manitoba stream, your connection should be through employment.

    If you meet any of these conditions, then you may have a chance in immigrating to Manitoba, provided you meet specific requirements.

    You can apply for the Manitoba PNP if you are

    • A skilled worker abroad,
    • A skilled worker in Manitoba,
    • An farmer or entrepreneur looking to establish their business in Canada
    • An international graduate.

    You must meet additional criteria to be able to immigrate to Manitoba. In addition, Having a friend or relative in Manitoba helps you to immigrate through the Manitoba PNP.

    The processing time for the Manitoba PNP is usually around 6 months.

    Yes. You are able to apply for the Manitoba PNP without Express Entry for all streams, except for the Manitoba Express Entry Pathway under the Skilled Worker Overseas Stream.

    Here are some of the more popular universities and colleges in Manitoba.

    Universities:

    • University of Manitoba;
    • University of Winnipeg;
    • Booth University;
    • Brandon University;
    • University College of the North;
    • Canadian Mennonite University;
    • Université de Saint-Boniface;
    Colleges:
    • Providence University College;
    • CDI College Winnipeg;
    • Assiniboine Community College;
    • École Technique et Professionnelle;
    • International College of Manitoba;
    • Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology.

    Yes. You can immigrate to Manitoba through the Manitoba PNP through the following streams:

    • Manitoba Business Investor Stream;
    • Morden Community Driven Immigration Initiative.

    You can demonstrate your connection to Manitoba through:

    • the support of friends or family living in Manitoba;
    • previous work experience in Manitoba;
    • a job offer in Manitoba;
    • previous education in Manitoba;
    • an invitation to apply by the Manitoba PNP.

    The minimum number of points required to immigrate to Manitoba can be different for each draw.

    To have a look at the most recent draws, have a look at this list of all recent PNP draws, or the OSI PNP Finder.

    There is no minimum point requirement for the International Education Stream.

    Contact us for Assistance

    Cohen Immigration Law is a leading Canadian immigration law firm with over 45 years of experience.Cohen Immigration Law features over 60 immigration lawyers, paralegals, and professionals who are dedicated to helping you immigrate to Canada.

    OSI was founded as the online presence of Cohen Immigration Law. Since its launch in 1994, OSI has grown into one of the globe's most trusted resources on Canadian immigration. If you want to immigrate to Canada through the PNP or another skilled worker pathway, the first step is to complete a free OSI assessment form. If you are eligible for Canadian immigration, a member of the Cohen Immigration Law team will reach out to provide you with as much assistance as possible.

    Complete our FREE assessment to find out if you are eligible for Canadian immigration!