Express Entry candidates included in new Manitoba draw

A total of 317 invitations were issued under the Skilled Workers Overseas Streamin the December 5 draw and another 213 invitations went to Skilled Workers in Manitoba candidates. (File Photo by Robert Linsdell/Flickr, CC BY 2.0)

The province of Manitoba has issued 530 new invitations to apply for a provincial nomination to immigration candidates in its Skilled Workers in Manitoba and Skilled Worker Overseas streams.  

A total of 317 invitations were issued under the Skilled Workers Overseas Streamin the December 5 draw and another 213 invitations went to Skilled Workers in Manitoba candidates.

Both streams are part of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), which allows the province to nominate a set number of economic immigration candidates for permanent residence each year.

The December 5 draw included an unspecified number of invitations to candidates in the federal Express Entry system, which manages the pool of candidates for Canada’s three main federal economic immigration programs — the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and the Canadian Experience Class.

The MPNP has an Express Entry-linked immigration pathway that is part of its Skilled Workers Overseas Stream and allows it to nominate eligible Express Entry candidates for permanent residence.

Express Entry candidates who apply for and receive a provincial nomination from Manitoba are awarded an additional 600 points toward their Express Entry ranking score, which effectively guarantees an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Among other criteria, Express Entry candidates must have at least six months of recent work experience in an occupation that is considered in-demand in Manitoba.

In order to be considered for this pathway, Express Entry candidates must register an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile with the MPNP.

Profiles include information on a candidate’s education, work experience, proficiency in English or French and other factors and are given a score, which determines their rank in the pool of eligible candidates.

A set number of the highest-ranked candidates are then invited to apply for a provincial nomination through regular draws from Manitoba’s EOI pool.

The December 5 draw issued invitations to Skilled Workers Overseas candidates with scores as low as 596. The minimum score for foreign workers invited directly by the MPNP through a strategic recruitment initiative was 711.

The minimum score for candidates invited through the Skilled Workers in Manitoba Stream in this round was 375.