Manitoba Express Entry Pathway

About the program

The Manitoba Express Entry Pathway is one of several immigration streams of the Skilled Workers Overseas Category contained within the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) operated by the province of Manitoba. The Skilled Workers Overseas Stream targets foreign nationals with active Express Entry profiles who have the skills and foreign work experience required to contribute to Manitoba’s labor force.

It became the first-ever MPNP category dedicated to attracting candidates from the federal Express Entry pool. Under Canada’s economic immigration policy, provinces may use a portion of their total PNP allocation to nominate Express Entry candidates for immigration to Canada. 

Express Entry candidates who receive a provincial nomination through an Express Entry-aligned stream, also known as an ‘enhanced’ nomination, are awarded 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, which leaves them well-positioned to receive an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in a subsequent Express Entry Draw.

This pathway is open to candidates who meet the eligibility criteria and have experience in a Manitoba In-demand Occupation. This stream may also be open to candidates who are eligible under another MPNP stream.

Requirements

1. Express Entry

Demonstrate acceptance into the Express Entry pool by providing a valid Express Entry ID and Job Seeker Validation Code.

2. Work Experience

Minimum of six months of work experience in an occupation on the In-Demand Occupations list (see below).

3. Language ability

The minimum official language proficiency depends on your assessed occupation skill level:

• Minimum CLB 7 for NOC 0 or A
• Minimum CLB 6 for NOC B

5. Education

Completed one post-secondary program of at least one year (Canadian equivalent). If the position requires licensure or certification, you must apply to the regulatory body to have your qualifications and skills assessed and/or pass an examination.

6. Age

18 or older

7. Adaptability

• Demonstrate the ability and intent to become economically established and reside in Manitoba; and
• Have the confirmed support of a close friend or relative who has resided in Manitoba for at least one year; or
• Hold a valid Invitation to Apply issued by the MPNP.

8. Settlement funds

Demonstrate liquid funds equivalent to the amounts required under the FSWC.

Process

Step 1: Enter the federal Express Entry pool

Since first being launched in 2015, Canada’s Express Entry system has become the main source of economic immigrants to the country. In order to enter the pool, however, potential applicants must be eligible under one of the federal economic programs:

Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC): For workers evaluated under a unique FSWC points system. Eligible individuals must obtain at least 67 points out of 100.Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC): For tradespersons with relevant experience.Canadian Experience Class (CEC): For individuals with ongoing or recent work experience in Canada.

Eligible candidates are assigned a CRS score out of 1,200 and ranked among each other. Candidates can increase their score, and thereby their rank, through various means — including by being nominated by a province.

Step 2: Be eligible under the MPNP

The Manitoba Express Entry pathway is a sub-stream of the MPNP Skilled Worker Overseas stream. As such, candidates must be eligible as an overseas skilled worker, which means satisfying another set of eligibility criteria.

Once eligibility has been assessed according to the table above, individuals must score at least 60 points (out of 100) to be considered eligible. The Manitoba Skilled Worker Overseas points grid assesses candidates across five factors: language ability, age, work experience, education, and adaptability.

Step 3: Enter Manitoba’s EOI pool for skilled workers

Individuals who satisfy the Manitoba Express Entry pathway criteria above and have accrued at least 60 points across the five factors may create a profile in Manitoba’s Expression of Interest (EOI) system for skilled workers. At this stage, you become a candidate and are assigned a points total out of 1,000. Points are awarded across six factors: language ability, age, work experience, education, adaptability, and risk assessment.

MPNP In-Demand Occupations

Candidates must have at least six months of recent experience in an occupation on Manitoba’s In-demand Occupations list.

1 – Business, finance, and administration occupations

2 – Natural and applied sciences and related occupations

3 – Health occupations

4 – Occupations in social science, education, government service, and religion

5 – Occupations in art, culture, recreation, and sport

6 – Sales and service occupations

7 – Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

8 – Occupations unique to primary industry

9 – Occupations unique to processing, manufacturing, and utilities

Step 4: Receive an invitation from the MPNP and apply for nomination

Manitoba immigration authorities invite the highest-ranked candidates to apply for a provincial nomination in periodic draws from the EOI pool. Invited candidates may apply for an ‘enhanced’ provincial nomination under the MPNP. Enhanced nominations are aligned with the federal Express Entry system. As such, successful applicants receive 600 additional CRS points and an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

Step 5: Apply for Canadian permanent residence

Invited Express Entry candidates have 60 days to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. Once the application has been submitted, IRCC aims to complete the process within six months.

• To learn more about the Manitoba Expression of Interest submission process, visit this page. 
• Submit your Expression of Interest herehttps://web22.gov.mb.ca/sso/Account/LogOn.

Processing time

The Canadian Express Entry program is the fastest way to obtain permanent residency in Canada once you have been nominated by the Manitoba Nominee Program 2018. The stated goal of Express Entry is to process applications within six months. Usually, the ideal course of action for potential immigrants is to apply to the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, and then use the nomination to obtain an Invitation to Apply or ITA through the Express Entry system.