Manitoba Skilled Worker Stream – Manitoba PNP (Detailed Guide)

Manitoba Skilled Worker Stream operates in response to the specific requirements of Manitoba employers. This stream’s focus is on identifying and choosing internationally trained and experienced workers possessing the skills that align with the demands of the local labor market.

Selected individuals are nominated to receive an additional 600 points in their express entry profile and ultimately Canadian permanent resident, enabling them to establish residence and work in Manitoba.

There are mainly two streams in Manitoba’s Skilled Worker:

• Skilled Worker in Manitoba (SWM)
• Skilled Worker Overseas (SWO)

Eligibility

Check Your Eligibility to Apply for the Skilled Worker Manitoba Pathway which is one of the sub-parts of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP).

1. Employer Eligibility Criteria

• Your employer must be incorporated or registered by or under an act of the legislature of a province or the Parliament of Canada.
• The business should operate with an established production capability, plant, or place of business in Manitoba.

2. Business Viability Requirement

• Your employer needs to prove to the satisfaction of the MPNP that they are an established business capable of offering full-time and
• long-term employment in Manitoba.

3. Exclusions in Qualifying Work Experience

• Any periods of self-employment will not be considered in calculating qualifying work experience.
• Unauthorized work and periods of employment during full-time study (e.g., work experience gained on a co-op permit) are excluded.

4. Ineligibility for Certain Roles

• Individuals in roles such as self-employed, business owners, owner-operators, and independent contractors providing services to the business supporting their application are not eligible.
• Work experience gained in these capacities will not be considered when calculating the qualifying period of work in Manitoba.

Eligibility Criteria for International Students from Other Provinces:

If you completed a post-secondary program in a different Canadian province and wish to apply for the Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway due to a job offer in Manitoba, you must meet the following requirement: You need to have worked for the Manitoba employer for a minimum of one year to be eligible.

Note: MPNP will issue a work permit support letter only when there is evidence of a clear and established employee-employer relationship.

Temporary foreign workers

The term “Temporary Foreign Worker” in the context of the Skilled Worker in Manitoba (SWM) pathway refers to individuals who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents but have been authorized to work in Canada temporarily. These individuals typically hold a temporary work permit granted by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Eligibility Conditions

For the Skilled Worker in Manitoba (SWM) pathway:

1. Long-term job offers must be from your current full-time employer.
2. Possess all necessary qualifications, training, and required licenses.
3. Job-ready English or French proficiency is essential.
4. Your Manitoba employment ties should surpass those in other provinces.
5. In your Settlement Plan, show intent to live, work, and establish family life in Manitoba as a permanent resident.

Note: Individuals exempt from needing a work permit for employment in Manitoba, such as Ministers of Religion, are not eligible to apply to the MPNP under this category.

Employment that is part of a work-study program is ineligible.

International student working graduates

Candidates from Manitoba post-secondary educational institutions are exclusively taken into consideration. You qualify if your Manitoba-based employer extends a long-term job offer after a minimum of six months of uninterrupted full-time employment with a valid post-graduation work permit.

Note: Please be aware that certain international graduates may be entitled to an extension of their post-graduation work permit (PGWP) for a maximum of 18 months. For further details, refer to the IRCC news release.

Eligibility Conditions

For eligibility under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) based on education:

1. Completed an authorized full-time program at a Manitoba institution.
2. The program lasted at least one academic year, leading to a diploma, degree, or certificate.
3. Secured a permanent full-time job with the same employer for at least six months.
4. Hold a valid post-graduation work permit from IRCC.
5. Stronger ties to Manitoba employment than other provinces.
6. The intention to settle in Manitoba was demonstrated in a Settlement Plan.
7. Possess all job qualifications and required English or French proficiency.

Note: If you are an international student graduate and do not qualify for the International Student Working Graduate category, you may still be eligible to submit an application to the MPNP through either the Skilled Worker Overseas pathway or a pathway under the Business Investor Stream.

This procedure applies to the Skilled Worker Stream and the International Education Stream, with the exception of the International Student Entrepreneur Pilot. The Business Investor Stream pathways follow a distinct process and do not use the MPNP Online portal.

• The Manitoba Skilled Workers Stream uses an Expression of Interest (EOI) system.
• Candidates meeting minimum requirements register online and get scored using the MPNP Ranking System.
• Top candidates receive a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA) in MPNP Draws.
• Once receiving an LAA, candidates have 60 days to submit a complete application online.
• If approved, they get a provincial nomination for permanent residence from Manitoba.
• Provincial nominees have six months to submit a paper-based application by mail, typically processed within 18 months.

MPNP Ranking System

Overview of Factors

Skilled Worker Overseas

To apply to the Skilled Worker Overseas (SWO) pathway, you must demonstrate an established connection to Manitoba through either

• you need a connection to Manitoba through family or friends (Manitoba Support),
• previous education/work experience in the province (Manitoba Experience), or
• Invitation to Apply from MPNP (Manitoba Invitation).

You must score at least 60 points based on language, age, work experience, education, and adaptability. Without a Manitoba connection, you’re ineligible for SWO, regardless of your points.

Connection to Manitoba

To qualify as a close relative, a Manitoba Supporter must be related to the applicant (or the applicant’s spouse) as their:

• Sister or brother,
• Niece or nephew (i.e., child of their sister or brother),
• Aunt or uncle (i.e., sibling of their mother or father),
• First cousin (i.e., child of their aunt or uncle),
• Mother or father, or
• Grandmother or grandfather.

For friends and relatives living at a distance, their household mustn’t be presently assisting in the settlement of another applicant under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), a provincial nominee, or an individual participating in another Canadian immigration program.

It is important to note that a Manitoba Supporter cannot be, and the MPNP will not accept a Settlement Plan Part 2 signed by:

• A paid immigration representative,
• Individuals without a proven relationship or friendship with the applicant or their spouse.
• A Canadian elected official or their staff.

Note: The MPNP does not operate as a sponsorship program. As an economic immigration initiative, all applicants are required to be employable and adaptable skilled workers possessing job-ready English proficiency, adequate settlement funds, and a sincere intention and capability to establish themselves economically in Manitoba as permanent residents.

Manitoba Experience

• Manitoba Experience is living in the province as a temporary foreign worker or international student. Temporary foreign workers need at least six consecutive months of full-time work for a Manitoba employer.
• Provide a signed reference letter on company letterhead and a copy of the Manitoba work permit. International students must complete an authorized education program at a Manitoba public or registered private vocational institution.
• Language studies are not considered. Submit study permit(s), academic transcripts, and the certificate, diploma, or degree received for program completion.

Manitoba Invitation

• MPNP issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) through Strategic Recruitment Initiatives. Eligible candidates are chosen by MPNP, and applicants can’t self-select for eligibility.
• To apply under the Manitoba Invitation connection, upload the Letter of Invitation in your MPNP Online application. The invitation is usually given after an interview with a program officer during a recruitment mission or exploratory visit.

Points assessment

In order to qualify as eligible, you must score at least 60 points based on five factors: language proficiency, age, work experience, education, and adaptability.

1. Language proficiency

2. Age

3. Work Experience

4. Education

5. Adaptability

How to Apply – Skilled Worker Overseas

This procedure applies to the Skilled Worker Stream and the International Education Stream, excluding the International Student Entrepreneur Pilot. The Business Investor Stream pathways follow a distinct, separate process that does not involve the use of the MPNP Online portal.

1. Establish an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile.
2. Upon receiving a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA), submit a comprehensive application to the MPNP.
3. MPNP officers thoroughly assess the applications.
4. Successful candidates receive nominations from the MPNP.
5. Within 180 days from the nomination date, submit a separate application to the Government of Canada for permanent residence for both yourself and your family.