Manitoba announces two new immigration pathways for international graduates

FILE: Manitoba Farmland Wind Turbines (Photo: Tony Webster/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Manitoba has unveiled two new “fast track” immigration pathways for international graduates of post-secondary institutions in the province.  

The International Student Entrepreneur Pathway and Graduate Internship Pathway are part of the province’s International Education Stream, which was created a year ago as part of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)’s renewal program.

The MPNP allows the province of Manitoba to nominate a set number of immigration candidates for permanent residence each year. The popular Provincial Nominee Program has welcomed more than 130,000 newcomers to the province since its creation in 1998.

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The International Student Entrepreneur Pathway is for international graduates who have completed a minimum two-year program at a Manitoba post-secondary institution and who want to establish and operate a business in Manitoba. Candidates are expected to invest in and actively manage the business.

Those selected under the International Student Entrepreneur Pathway will receive a temporary work permit as part of a two-year pilot program, the Government of Manitoba says.

The Graduate Internship Pathway is for international students who have completed either a Master’s or Doctoral degree at a university in the province within three years and an eligible internship.

Candidates who complete an Accelerate or Elevate internships organized through Mitacs, a non-profit organization that links universities and industries across Canada and internationally, with eligible industry and research enterprises in Manitoba can apply with or without a job offer from an employer in the province.

Both pathways are designed “to attract and retain more talented innovators and entrepreneurs from all over the world,” Manitoba’s Minister of Education and Training, Kelvin Goertzen said.

“International students bring new ideas, global connections and an entrepreneurial spirit to our province and when they create opportunities for themselves, Manitoba becomes more competitive and innovative.”