Prince Edward Island Welcomes 142 New Skilled Workers and Entrepreneurs

Prince Edward Island, a province in Atlantic Canada, has recently conducted its Expression of Interest (EOI) draw, issuing a total of 142 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to skilled workers and candidates in the entrepreneurial category through two provincial draws.

In the latest draw held on August 17th, Prince Edward Island’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) granted four ITAs to Business Impact candidates who scored a minimum of 102 points.

Here is a breakdown:

Throughout this year, PEI has issued a cumulative total of 1,839 ITAs under these streams. The most recent draw contributes to the tally of 48 Business Impact invitations and 1,792 Labour and Express Entry invitations issued since the beginning of 2023.

Within the Prince Edward Island Labour Impact category, two streams are operational: Skilled Worker and Critical Worker.

The Skilled Worker stream is driven by employer needs and enables skilled workers with job offers from Prince Edward Island businesses in occupations categorized as TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 to be nominated for permanent residence. The eligibility criteria include having completed post-secondary education with a minimum of 14 years, being between 21 and 55 years old, having accumulated at least two years of full-time work experience in the last five years, demonstrating proficiency in English or French, possessing sufficient settlement funds, and having the intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.

The Critical Worker stream, designed to address labor shortages, extends nomination opportunities to temporary foreign workers already employed in specific critical-demand occupations on the island. Eligible candidates need to have a full-time employment offer from a Prince Edward Island business in occupations such as truck driver, customer service representative, labourer, food and beverage server, or housekeeping attendant. Requirements also include six months of work experience with the PEI business, a valid Canadian work permit, at least 12 years of formal education, age between 21 and 55, a minimum of two years of full-time work experience in the past five years, basic proficiency in English or French, adequate settlement funds, and an intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.

The PEI Express Entry system considers candidates from Canada’s Express Entry pool. Under the Business Impact category’s Work Permit stream, candidates need to obtain a Canadian work permit and work for a PEI business for a specified period mentioned in a performance agreement. Once the agreement’s terms are met, the applicant must invest a minimum of $150,000 in the business and commit to its daily management within the province.

Notably, PEI’s Express Entry category involves considering candidates already in the federal Express Entry Pool for provincial nomination. Such a nomination provides candidates with an additional 600 points in their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, virtually guaranteeing an ITA for Canadian immigration. The PEI Express Entry category includes two pathways to Canadian permanent residence: one for candidates with a job offer and another for those without.