Newfoundland and Labrador Invites 445 Candidates in Largest Draw Since March

Newfoundland and Labrador issued 445 invitations to provincial immigration candidates on July 28, marking its ninth selection round of 2026.

The province distributed 400 invitations through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program and 45 through the Atlantic Immigration Program.

The Office of Multiculturalism did not identify the NLPNP streams involved or the industries in which selected candidates worked.

Largest Round Since March

The July 28 selection was the province’s largest draw by invitation count since March 6, when it also invited 445 candidates.

It followed the smallest round of the year, held July 10, which issued only 57 invitations.

Newfoundland and Labrador has now issued 1,989 invitations in 2026 through the two programs. NLPNP candidates received 83.6 per cent of all provincial immigration invitations issued during that period.

The March 6 round included 362 NLPNP invitations and 83 AIP invitations. On March 30, the province issued 209 NLPNP and 36 AIP invitations.

It followed with 177 NLPNP and 33 AIP invitations on April 13, 157 and 33 on May 1, 168 and 18 on May 11, 84 and 19 on May 28, and 89 and 19 on June 10.

The July 10 round included 17 NLPNP invitations and 40 AIP invitations. The latest draw raised those figures sharply to 400 and 45, respectively.

How Candidates Enter the Selection Pool

Candidates seeking consideration under either program must first submit an Expression of Interest through Newfoundland and Labrador’s Immigration Accelerator Portal.

Except for applicants to the NLPNP entrepreneur streams, candidates generally need a valid job offer from an employer in the province before entering the EOI pool.

The profile collects information about education, work experience, language ability and the candidate’s intention to settle in Newfoundland and Labrador.

An EOI remains active for 12 months. Candidates who do not receive an invitation during that period must submit a new profile. For AIP candidates, the employer must complete the resubmission.

Province Uses Priority Criteria

Newfoundland and Labrador may prioritize candidates based on several factors.

These can include employment in health-related, sales or service occupations, work outside major urban centres, education completed in the province, French-language ability and the likelihood that the applicant will remain in Newfoundland and Labrador over the long term.

The province holds draws periodically and invites selected candidates to submit complete applications.

Under the NLPNP, the candidate submits the application. Under the AIP, the employer handles this step.

Selection under either pathway does not immediately grant permanent residence. It allows candidates or employers to submit the required provincial application before successful applicants move forward to the federal permanent residence stage.

Path to Permanent Residence

Successful NLPNP applicants receive a provincial nomination certificate, while successful AIP applicants receive an endorsement certificate.

Both groups can then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence.

As of July 7, federal processing estimates were 12 months for Base PNP applications, seven months for Enhanced PNP applications and 26 months for AIP applications.

These timelines may vary according to application volumes and individual circumstances.