Eligibility Requirements for the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)

Under the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP), candidates may qualify under one of the following categories:

• Newfoundland & Labrador Express Entry Skilled Worker
• Skilled Worker Category
• International Graduate Category

Newfoundland & Labrador Express Entry Skilled Worker

The NL Express Entry Skilled Worker category provides a path to immigration for skilled candidates with job offers whereby individuals receive NLPNP nominations, which are processed through the federal Express Entry immigration selection system.

Prospective immigrants who have been accepted into the federal Express Entry pool may be able to apply to the NL Express Entry Skilled Worker category if they have a job offer in Newfoundland and genuinely intend to reside permanently in the province. Individuals nominated by the NLPNP will receive additional points under the Comprehensive Ranking System, resulting in an Invitation to Apply for Canadian permanent residence.

The federal government has stated that it will process the majority of Express Entry applications in six months or less, making this a much faster immigration option than previously available.

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

In order to be eligible under this category, candidates must:

• Be accepted into Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Express Entry pool and have a valid Express Entry key code;
• Have a full-time job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer;
  • The job offer must not contravene existing bargaining unit agreements or interfere with a labour dispute.
• Have a valid work permit or be entitled to apply for one;
• Have a Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma, or an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an agency approved by IRCC;
  • The ECA verifies that the candidate's foreign education is equal to Canadian education standards.
• Demonstrate the genuine intention and ability to settle permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador;
• Provide satisfactory language test results from a designated testing agency;
• Score a minimum of 67 points out of 100 on the PNP point assessment grid (found below); and
• Show proof of sufficient settlement funds or financial resources to successfully establish themselves and any dependents in the province. The required amount of funds varies depending on family size according to the following table:

Number of family members	Funds required
1	$12,164
2	$15,143
3	$18,617
4	$22,603
5	$25,636
6	$28,913
7 or more	$32,191

Minimum Requirements for Employers

Additionally, employers supporting an application under the NL Express Entry Skilled Worker category must:

• Offer a job with a compensation package that meets provincial employment standards and prevailing wage rates; and
• Demonstrate that they have made a genuine and significant effort to recruit qualified Canadians or permanent residents for the position before extending the offer to the candidate.

Points Assessment Grid

Potential candidates must score at minimum 67 out of 100 points on a points assessment grid that measures five factors: education and training, skilled work experience language ability, age, and connection(s) to the province's labour market and adaptability.

Selection factor	Points
Education and training	Maximum 28 points
Skilled work experience	Maximum 20 points
Language ability	Maximum 27 points
Age	Maximum 12 points
Connection(s) to the Newfoundland and Labrador labour market and adaptability	Maximum 13 points
Total	Maximum 100 points
Pass mark:	67 Points

Factor 1: Education and Training

Candidates are required to have, at minimum, a degree, diploma, or certificate that required the completion of at least one year of full-time post-secondary study. An ECA is used to verify that the candidate's foreign degree, diploma, certificate (or other proof of credentials) is valid and equal to a completed credential in Canada and will indicate the authenticity of the foreign educational credential(s).

The applicant’s education points are calculated based on documented proof of completed post-secondary education and/or training programs from nationally or provincially recognized institutions/regulatory bodies. Therefore, applicants are required to submit copies of any pertinent diplomas, certificates or degrees for education or training along with complete transcripts.

Education	Points
Master's or Doctorate degree (PhD)	28
University Degree that required at least three years of full-time study	23
Trade certification equivalent to journeyperson status in Newfoundland and Labrador (Approval by the Department of Advanced Education and Skills is required)	23
Degree, diploma or certificate that required at least two years of full-time post-secondary study, or certificate equivalent	18
Degree, diploma or certificate that required at least one year of full-time post-secondary study, or certificate equivalent to a trade certificate	15
Less than one year of post-secondary study	Ineligible

Factor 2: Skilled Work Experience

Candidates are required to have skilled work experience in a NOC 0, A, or B occupation. The minimum requirement varies according to the candidate's field of education or training:

• At least one year of work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled profession (non-trades); OR
• At least two years of work experience in a skilled trade within the past five years; OR
• At least one year of skilled work experience in Canada in the past three years (trades and nontrades).

Points are calculated according to documented proof of skilled work experience within the 10 most recent years prior to application. Applicants are rewarded three points for each year worked in the most recent five years, and an additional point for each year from the six to 10 year period prior to applying. Documentation must include:

• A letter of reference from the supervisor or human resources officer for each work experience listed; OR
  • Letters of reference must be printed on company letterhead,
  • They must state the job title, job duties, wage, and duration of employment.
• The applicant’s official work book; OR
• Other official government documentation.

Experience in the 5 most recent years prior to application	Points
5 years	15
4 years	12
3 years	9
2 years	6
1 year	3
Experience in the 6-10 year period prior to application	Points
5 years	7
4 years	6
3 years	5
2 years	4
1 year	2

Factor 3: Language Ability

Candidates are awarded a maximum of 27 points for their language abilities in either English or French - candidates are advised to choose the language they are most comfortable with. Points are calculated based on valid language test results from a designated testing agency. The test results must match the language level the candidate declared in his or her Express Entry profile.

NLPNP-approved language tests include the following:

• English:
  • CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (General test only)
  • IELTS: International English Language Testing System (General Training test only)
• French:
  • TEF: Test d’évaluation de français

“CLB” refers to Canadian Language Benchmarks.

First official language	Points
CLB level 8 or higher	27
CLB level 7	23
CLB level 6	21
CLB level 5	19

Factor 4: Age

Candidates are awarded points based on their age on the date of application to the NLPNP.

Age	Points
Younger than 18 years	0
18-21 years	8
22-33 years	12
34-45	10
46-50	8
Older than 50 years	0

Factor 5: Connection to Labour Market and Adaptability 

Applicants are awarded points based on documented proof of their strong connection to Newfoundland and their genuine intention and ability to settle and economically establish in the province. If candidates will be accompanied by a spouse or common-law partner, he or she can earn points under this factor as well. However, candidates cannot claim points for a spouse who is a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident.

Adaptability	Points
Close relative in Newfoundland and Labrador The applicant or accompanying spouse has a close relative that is a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident residing in Newfoundland and Labrador – includes: parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, cousin and step-family members or in-laws of the same relationships.	7
Previous work experience in Newfoundland and Labrador (principal applicant only) The applicant worked in Newfoundland and Labrador for at least twelve months in the past five years on a valid work permit.	3
Previous student experience in Newfoundland and Labrador (principal applicant only) The applicant studied at a recognized Newfoundland and Labrador educational institution for at least one full-time academic year on a valid study permit.	3

When Not to Apply

Candidates are not considered to be eligible under the NL Express Entry Skilled Worker category if they:

• Have not been accepted into the Express Entry pool;
• Did not score at least 67 out of 100 points on the Point Assessment Grid;
• Are refugee claimants in Canada or failed refugee claimants;
• Fail to submit documentation as requested by PNP staff;
• (Or any dependent family member over the age of 18, whether or not they are accompanying them) have a criminal record;
• Have unresolved custody or child support disputes. These issues must be resolved prior to starting the immigration application process; or
• Have intentionally misrepresented information in the application.

 

Skilled Worker Category

Through this category, workers can be nominated if they have specialized skills that have an impact on the operations of an employer in the province.

Minimum Requirements

Applicants may be eligible if they meet the following requirements:

• Have a full-time job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer, or a job/job offer with a salary and benefits package that meets provincial employment standards and that does not contravene any existing bargaining unit agreements or employment disputes;
• Have a valid work permit or be eligible to apply for one;
• Have the experience needed to perform the job, including accreditation if needed;
• Demonstrate the intention and ability to settle in the province;
• Demonstrate sufficient funds to settle in the province;
• Provide proof of English or French proficiency. English language proficiency must be verified by one of the following:
  • An Affidavit of English Language Ability from the Newfoundland and Labrador employer who has offered the worker a job, or
  • Education and/or training documents, or
  • Workers in NOC level C and D occupations must meet minimum language requirements; and
• Employers must be able to demonstrate a need for the applicant's particular skill set

When Not To Apply

Candidates should not apply if they:

• Are a failed refugee claimant or a refugee claimant living in Newfoundland and Labrador;
• Do not have a full‐time job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer;
• (Or any dependent family member over the age of 18, whether or not they are accompanying them) have a criminal record;
• Have unresolved custody, marriage or child support disputes. These issues must be resolved before starting the immigration process; or
• Have intentionally misrepresented themselves in the application.

 

International Graduate Category

This category targets international students who have graduated from a recognized post-secondary educational institution in Canada, and have a job or job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer. Applicants must apply to this category while they still have at least six months' validity on their Post-Graduation Work Permit.

Minimum Requirements

In order to be eligible under this category, applicants must:

• Have completed at least half of their studies in Canada, and graduated from an eligible publicly funded Canadian college or university;
• Have completed at least a two-year diploma or degree program, while studying on a full-time basis. One-year post-graduate degree programs and certificate programs are also eligible if they required a previous degree or diploma (regardless of whether or not the previous degree or diploma was attained in Canada);
• Have a full-time job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer in their field of study or a related field of study;
• Hold a post-graduate work permit;
• Have the necessary qualifications, training, skills, and accreditation to perform the intended job in Canada;
• Demonstrate the intention and ability to settle in the province;
• Demonstrate sufficient funds to settle in the province;
• Provide proof of English or French proficiency. English language proficiency must be verified by one of the following:
  • An Affidavit of English Language Ability from the Newfoundland and Labrador employer who has offered the worker a job, or
  • Education and/or training documents, or
  • Workers in NOC level C and D occupations must meet minimum language requirements; and
• If you completed your studies at a recognized post-secondary institute outside of Newfoundland and Labrador, you may be required to work in a job that is in your field of study for a minimum of one year prior to submission of your PNP application.

When Not To Apply

The following individuals are not eligible for this category:

• Students who have not yet completed their studies;
• Failed refugee claimants or refugee claimants living in Newfoundland and Labrador;
• Students who have studied in Canada under sponsorship from an agency or government that expects the individual to return to his/her country of origin once he/she has graduated;
• Parents, spouses, common‐law, or conjugal partners of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. These individuals are encouraged to apply under the federal Family Class which exists for this purpose.
• Individuals who have a serious medical condition, or who have a dependent family member who has a serious medical condition, whether or not the family member is accompanying the individual;
• Individuals who have a criminal record, or who have a dependent family member who has a criminal record, whether or not the family member is accompanying the individual;
• Individuals who have unresolved custody, marriage or child support disputes. These issues must be resolved before starting the immigration process; or
• Individuals who have intentionally misrepresented themselves in the application.