By Loretta Pickett, Newfound Immigration Solutions
Every year thousands of people become permanent residents of Canada. Last year, 286,475 new permanent residents made Canada home. Newfoundland and Labrador welcomed 1,170 of those individuals to our province.
Why is immigration so important to Newfoundland and Labrador?
Demographics in Newfoundland and Labrador are creating significant challenges. Our province has Canada’s most rapidly aging population and the country’s lowest birth rate. In the first quarter of 2018, Canada’s population growth rate was 0.3 percent. The population grew in every province and territory in the first quarter, with the exception of Newfoundland and Labrador. In the first quarter of 2018, Newfoundland and Labrador experienced a 0.3 percent decrease in its population.
On March 24, 2017, the province launched The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador, a five-year action plan to support increased immigration to the province. This plan outlines the actions to be taken to attract and retain immigrants with the skills needed to build and contribute to the province’s economy.
Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program
The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) is important in helping the province meet its immigration target. The NLPNP can provide a great pathway to Canada for those that meet the program criteria. It allows Newfoundland and Labrador to nominate applicants who qualify under provincially established criteria for permanent resident status.
The NLPNP offers the following immigration categories: Skilled Worker, Express Entry Skilled Worker, International Graduate, International Graduate Entrepreneur, and International Entrepreneur.
Skilled Worker: The NLPNP Skilled Worker category was created for skilled workers who intend to live and work in the province permanently. These workers must have a full-time permanent job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer. Individuals must have the qualifications, skills, and training required for the position. They must demonstrate sufficient English or French language capability to perform their job and also show their means and ability to settle permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Express Entry Skilled Worker: Express Entry is an online immigration application system that allows an individual to submit a profile and be considered as a skilled immigrant. Candidates with the highest rankings are invited to apply for permanent residency. Prospective immigrants applying to the NLPNP who have been accepted into the federal Express Entry pool may be eligible for nomination if they have a job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer and genuinely intend to reside permanently in the province. Individuals nominated by the NLPNP will receive additional points, increasing their ranking and chance of obtaining permanent residence. The federal government attempts to process the majority of Express Entry applications in six months or less, making this a much faster immigration option.
International Graduate: The NLPNP International Graduate Category is for those international students who have graduated from a recognized post-secondary educational institution in Canada. Students must have completed a minimum of a two-year diploma or degree program; they must hold a Post- Graduation Work Permit and have a full-time job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer. The individual must intend to settle permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador.
International Graduate Entrepreneur: This is a new immigration category unveiled by the province on July 30, 2018. The International Graduate Entrepreneur Category is open to graduates of Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic who have a Post-Graduation Work Permit and wish to create or co-own and manage a business in Newfoundland and Labrador. The first step for anyone interested is to submit an Expression of Interest to Newfoundland and Labrador’s Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism.
International Entrepreneur: International Entrepreneur is also a new immigration category unveiled on July 30, 2018. The International Entrepreneur Category is open to foreign nationals who would like to settle in Newfoundland and Labrador in order to create, join, or take over a business and manage it on a daily basis. Certain financial and business management requirements must be met. Those interested must submit an EOI to the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism.
Please contact Newfound Immigration Solutions at info@newfoundimmigration.ca to discuss further the eligibility requirements of the NLPNP.
Loretta Pickett,
Loretta Pickett is a regulated Canadian immigration consultant and the creator of Newfound Immigration Solutions (NIS). NIS specializes in finding immigration solutions for individuals and businesses. We focus on helping individuals and families find their pathway to Canada. We also help employers bring much-needed skilled and specialized human resources to the country. Immigration processes can be complex and are ever changing. NIS provides reliable immigration guidance. We offer a wide range of immigration services in temporary residence, permanent residence, and citizenship.