Newfoundland and Labrador Invites 122 in Latest PNP Draw

Newfoundland and Labrador issued 122 invitations to foreign nationals seeking provincial nomination in its latest immigration draw on August 18, 2026.

The selection round was notable because every invitation went through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP). It was the first draw since the province introduced its Expression of Interest system in February 2025 to exclude candidates from the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).

Province Breaks From Previous Draw Pattern

Newfoundland and Labrador has held 11 immigration draws so far in 2026. Before August 18, every round included invitations through both the NLPNP and AIP.

The previous draw, held on August 10, issued 208 invitations, including 186 through the NLPNP and 22 through the AIP.

One of the largest rounds of the year took place on July 28, when the province invited 445 candidates. Of those, 400 received invitations through the NLPNP and 45 through the AIP.

The province also issued 445 invitations on March 6, including 362 through the NLPNP and 83 through the AIP.

By contrast, the August 18 round issued all 122 invitations through the provincial nominee program.

Newfoundland and Labrador's Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism does not disclose which NLPNP streams were targeted or the employment sectors represented among invited candidates.

The province had not publicly explained the narrower selection approach at the time of publication.

More Than 2,000 Invitations Issued in 2026

Between January 1 and August 18, Newfoundland and Labrador issued 2,197 immigration invitations.

Of these, 1,849 went to NLPNP candidates and 348 went through the AIP. That means about 85 per cent of invitations issued this year have gone to candidates under the provincial nominee program.

How the NLPNP Process Works

Foreign nationals who want to immigrate through the NLPNP must first create an Expression of Interest, or EOI, through the province's Immigration Accelerator Portal.

Applicants provide information about their education, employment history, language ability and plans to settle in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Except for candidates applying through entrepreneur streams, applicants generally need a valid job offer from an employer in the province.

The Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism reviews EOI profiles and issues invitations based on provincial labour market and immigration priorities.

The province may give priority to applicants working in healthcare, candidates employed outside major urban centres, French-speaking applicants and graduates of Newfoundland and Labrador post-secondary institutions.

An EOI remains valid for 12 months. Candidates who are not invited during that period must submit a new profile if they want to remain under consideration.

Invited Candidates Have 60 Days to Apply

Candidates who receive an invitation have 60 days to submit a complete provincial nomination application.

Those approved for nomination can then apply to the federal government for permanent residence.

As of August 10, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada listed an estimated processing time of 13 months for base Provincial Nominee Program applications and seven months for enhanced PNP applications.

Applicants approved for permanent residence receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence from the federal government.