Prince Edward Island PNP Draw: 136 Invitations Issued

In the latest draw held on January 18, Prince Edward Island (PEI) welcomed 136 skilled worker and entrepreneur candidates through its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The invitations were distributed across the Labour Impact, Express Entry, and Business Impact streams of the PEI PNP.

The draw specifically targeted skilled workers and entrepreneurs, with 134 invitations extended to Labour Impact and Express Entry candidates who were already employed by a PEI-based employer, meeting a minimum score of 65. Additionally, 2 invitations were issued to Business Impact candidates, requiring a minimum score of 80 points.

The PEI PNP, which initiated its Expression of Interest system in 2018, has consistently conducted monthly draws, albeit with some interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, the province issued a total of 2,423 invitations in 2023, marking an increase from 1,853 invitations in the preceding year (2022). The majority of the invitations in 2023—2,359 to be precise—were allocated to Labour Impact and Express Entry candidates, while the remaining 64 invitations were directed towards Business Impact candidates.

Express Entry candidates under the PEI PNP receive a significant advantage, as a provincial nomination adds 600 points to their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, virtually guaranteeing them an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian immigration.

PEI’s Express Entry category offers two pathways to Canadian permanent residence: one for candidates with a job offer and another for those without.

The Labour Impact category encompasses two streams:

• Skilled Worker Stream: This employer-driven stream allows skilled workers with a job offer in PEI to be nominated for Canadian permanent residence, provided they meet specific criteria, including a full-time employment offer from a PEI business, completion of post-secondary education, and proficiency in English or French, among other requirements.
• Critical Worker Stream: Aimed at addressing labor shortages, this category is open to foreign workers already in PEI with employment in critical demand occupations, such as truck drivers, customer service representatives, laborers, food and beverage servers, and housekeeping attendants.

The Business Impact category includes the Work Permit Stream, where candidates must obtain a Canadian work permit, work for a PEI business for a designated period, invest a minimum of $150,000 in the business, and commit to managing the business on a daily basis within PEI.

It’s worth noting that PEI closed its direct permanent residence business streams in September 2018 due to concerns related to immigration fraud.