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.

The Government of Manitoba unveiled its restructured Provincial Nominee Program on November 15, 2017.

With an economy based largely on natural resources and agriculture, the province of Manitoba is a major driver of Canada’s wealth. Manitoba’s population of approximately 1.2 million is located largely in and around the capital city of Winnipeg. Manitobans benefit from tight-knit communities, a stable labor market, and sweeping natural wilderness.

The MPNP is Manitoba’s Provincial Nominee Program. Through this program, prospective immigrants with skills and experience targeted by the province may receive a Manitoba Provincial Nomination Certificate.

 The following are streams that are currently active and/or ones that are being restructured as part of the MPNP renewal process:

• Skilled Worker Immigration Stream – including those in Manitoba and Overseas
  • The Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream will consist of two pathways:
    • Manitoba Work Experience Pathway
    • Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway
  • The Skilled Worker Overseas Stream will consist of two pathways:
    • Manitoba Express Entry Pathway
    • Human Capital Pathway
• Manitoba Business Investor Stream
  • Manitoba Farm Investor Pathway
  • Manitoba Entrepreneur Pathway
• Morden Community Driven Immigration Initiative – through the MPNP
• International Education Stream 

Skilled Worker

The Skilled Worker categories operate through an ‘Expression of Interest system, whereby eligible candidates complete a series of questions online and are not required to upload supporting documentation before submitting their profile into the EOI pool. Profiles will be placed in the pool with other eligible candidates and you will receive a score based on the answers you provide. The MPNP will then rank you using several factors and if you are among the highest-scoring candidates, you may be invited to apply to the MPNP. There are no limits on the number of candidates who can submit an Expression of Interest and no deadline.

There are currently two streams to Manitoba as a skilled worker, both of which operate under the MPNP Expression of Interest System. As part of the MPNP renewal, the Skilled Worker Immigration Streams will consist of four pathways as explained below.

Skilled Worker in Manitoba

Applications are accepted from qualified temporary foreign workers and international student graduates who are currently working in Manitoba and have been offered a permanent, full-time job with their Manitoba employer. Unlike the other connections to Manitoba in the MPNP, Skilled Workers in Manitoba are not subject to a points-based assessment. As part of the MPNP renewal, the Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream will consist of two pathways: Manitoba Work Experience and Employer Direct Recruitment.

Manitoba Work Experience Pathway

This pathway will be open to applicants currently working in Manitoba with temporary work permits, including temporary workers and international graduates of Canadian post-secondary institutions.

Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway

This pathway will be open to applicants interviewed by Manitoba employers outside of Canada by the MPNP and an eligible employer and received an Invitation to Apply for a provincial nomination from the MPNP.

Skilled Worker Overseas

The Manitoba Skilled Worker Overseas Stream uses a points-based system to assess candidates, who may be outside of Canada. Applications are accepted from qualified skilled workers who can demonstrate a strong connection to the province through family or friends (Manitoba Support), past education or employment (Manitoba Experience), or by invitation of the MPNP (Manitoba Invitation), and who score a minimum of 60 points according to five eligibility factors: age, language proficiency, work experience, education and adaptability.

Manitoba Express Entry Pathway (currently operating as the Skilled Worker Overseas – Express Entry Sub-Stream)

This pathway is open to Express Entry candidates who are also eligible under another MPNP stream and who meet  Express Entry requirements and have an active Express Entry profile. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate experience in an occupation listed in Manitoba’s In-demand Occupations list and have a strong family connection to Manitoba. 

Human Capital Pathway

This pathway will be open to foreign skilled workers with experience in Manitoba’s In-demand Occupations, and who demonstrate the ability to potentially establish themselves by building strong labour market connections to those occupations.

Learn about the eligibility requirements of the Human Capital Pathway.

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program Renewal schedule 

Business Investor Stream (formerly MPNP-B)

Individuals who wish to do business in Manitoba can do so through this stream. This process operates on an ‘Expression of Interest system, whereby prospective applicants submit their intention to apply to the program, and the most qualified are invited to apply for immigration.

Farm Investor Pathway (formerly Farm Strategic Recruitment Initiative)

The Farm Investor Pathway is part of Manitoba’s Business Investor Stream and it allows individuals with farm business experience and sufficient capital to immigrate to establish and operate a farm in the province.

Entrepreneur Pathway

The Entrepreneur Pathway replaces the previous MPNP-B stream. It allows the province to recruit and nominate eligible foreign business owners who have the intent and ability to move to Manitoba to establish, purchase a business or co-own an existing business in the first two years of arriving in Manitoba on a temporary work permit.

Morden Community Driven Immigration Initiative

One particular initiative for immigration to Manitoba is the Morden Community Driven Immigration Initiative. This rural town, situated 112 km southwest of Winnipeg, is actively looking for new immigrants in certain occupations. Immigration to Morden is conducted through the MPNP.

International Education Stream

The new 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.