Immigration to Newfoundland and Labrador

The province of Newfoundland and Labrador wishes to attract highly educated and skilled newcomers to settle in the province. On November 18, the provincial government of Newfoundland and Labrador announced a new immigration pathway aimed at keeping newcomers already in the province. This new immigration pathway, titled Newfoundland and Labrador’s Priority Specializations in the province’s Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP), focuses on highly skilled and educated applicants with work experience in specialized industries such as the technology sector. This program is expected to start working on January 2, 2021.

This migration route appears to have been set up to address Newfoundland and Labrador’s labor shortages in certain high-growth sectors. Provincial officials stated in a press conference that this new route is in response to the growing demand of employers for skilled and experienced workforce.

Who is eligible for the priority specialization track?

Graduates of Memorial University with a master’s or doctoral degree within the last three years in fields related to information and communication technology, ocean technology, health care, agriculture, and aquaculture are eligible for this track. In addition, people active in professional jobs with work experience in the following highly specialized and demanding jobs can also enter this path:

Software developer

Medical Engineering

UI/UX developer

electrical engineer

AI developer

mechanical engineer

Python developer

Network developer

Infrastructure engineer

Security specialist

Cloud computing specialist

Bioinformatics specialist

Computer network support

Also, applicants are expected to prove their English language proficiency by passing one of the following language tests and obtaining a Canadian Language Index equivalent score of at least 5.

IELTS test

Selpip test

Other migration routes to Newfoundland and Labrador

NLPNP is divided into five groups: Express Entry Specialist Workforce Group, Specialist Workforce Group, International Graduate Group, International Entrepreneurship Group and International Graduate Entrepreneurship Group. The Express Entry Skilled Workforce Group allows the province to recruit skilled workers through Canada’s federal Express Entry system. Selected people must have a job offer in this province.

The purpose of the specialized workforce group is people who have received a job offer from an employer in this province. This group also includes people who are currently working in this province with a valid work visa.

The International Graduate Group is for new graduates who have post-graduation work visas. They must have a job or a job offer in this province. The International Entrepreneurship Group is for people who want to live in the province and start or buy a business in Newfoundland and Labrador. Applicants must have established their business in this province for one year prior to the application.

International graduate entrepreneurship group provides a path for permanent residence of international graduates who wish to start or manage a business in this province. In addition to these five groups, people who wish to settle in Newfoundland and Labrador also have the option of applying through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot. Applicants must also have a job offer in this province in order to have the necessary conditions.

In the case of Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada with two separate parts: Labrador is connected to the rest of Canada and Newfoundland is an island. This province has a growing economy thanks to the prosperity of its resources and energy. The important industries of this province include financial services, healthcare, mining, fishing, production and manufacture of petroleum products.

A large part of the population of this province lives in the capital of the province, Saint John, which is one of the oldest cities in North America with a rich history. This city has an attractive architecture with buildings that look very different from other Canadian cities.