Newfoundland and Labrador invites 122 foreign nationals to apply for provincial nomination
Newfoundland and Labrador issued 122 invitations to apply for provincial nomination in a draw held on August 18.
This marked the first draw since the province adopted an Expression of Interest (EOI) model in February 2025 in which invitations were issued exclusively through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP).
Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams
Prior to this selection round, the province had consistently issued invitations through both its provincial immigration programs: the NLPNP and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).
Here’s how Newfoundland and Labrador’s 11th draw of the year compares to previous 2026 rounds:
| Date of draw | Invitations issued | Invitations issued by program |
|---|---|---|
| March 6, 2026 | 445 | NLPNP – 362
AIP – 83 |
| March 30, 2026 | 245 | NLPNP – 209
AIP – 36 |
| April 13, 2026 | 210 | NLPNP – 177
AIP – 33 |
| May 1, 2026 | 190 | NLPNP – 157
AIP – 33 |
| May 11, 2026 | 186 | NLPNP – 168
AIP – 18 |
| May 28, 2026 | 103 | NLPNP – 84
AIP – 19 |
| June 10, 2026 | 108 | NLPNP – 89
AIP – 19 |
| July 10, 2026 | 57 | NLPNP – 17
AIP – 40 |
| July 28, 2026 | 445 | NLPNP – 400
AIP – 45 |
| August 10, 2026 | 208 | NLPNP – 186
AIP – 22 |
| August 18, 2026 | 122 | NLPNP – 122 |
Newfoundland and Labrador’s Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism (OIM) does not publish which specific NLPNP streams candidates are invited under, or which sectors they work in.
To date in 2026, the province has issued 1,849 invitations through its NLPNP, and 348 through its AIP.
Of the total 2,197 invitations issued between January 1–August 18, 2026, 85% went to NLPNP candidates.
This is the province’s first draw of 2026 to exclude AIP candidates entirely, breaking from a pattern in which the program had consistently, if modestly, featured in every round.
CIC News reached out to Newfoundland and Labrador regarding the narrowed selection criteria used in its latest draw but did not receive a comment prior to the time of publication.
Foreign nationals seeking to immigrate to Newfoundland and Labrador through the NLPNP must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the Immigration Accelerator Portal.
In the EOI, foreign nationals provide details about their education, employment, language proficiency, and plans to establish themselves in the province.
With the exception of the NLPNP’s entrepreneur streams, candidates need a valid job offer from an in-province employer to be considered for selection.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s OIM reviews EOI submissions and periodically invites candidates to apply for provincial nomination, based on evolving priorities.
The OIM notes that it may prioritize candidates based on factors such as employment in healthcare or outside major urban centres, French-language proficiency, and graduation from a post-secondary institution in Newfoundland and Labrador.
A full breakdown of the province’s EOI prioritization criteria is available on the OIM’s official webpage.
Those who receive an invitation have a 60-day deadline to submit a complete nomination application to the province.
Successful applicants receive a provincial nomination, after which they can apply to the federal government for permanent residence (PR).
The federal government will process the PR application and issue a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) to approved applicants.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the latest PR processing times are as follows:
| Application type | Processing time (as of August 10) |
|---|---|
| Base PNP | 13 months |
| Enhanced PNP | 7 months |
EOIs remain valid for 12 months, after which they expire. If a candidate does not receive an invitation to apply for provincial nomination during that time, they must submit a new profile to remain under consideration.
