Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP): 2025 Guide

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) was the first Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) introduced in Canada in 1998. Created by the Manitoba provincial government, the MPNP aimed to attract skilled foreign workers and business investors to fulfill provincial labour market needs and drive economic growth.

Over the past two decades, the MPNP has enabled over 146,000 immigrants to settle permanently in Manitoba. It continues to be a popular and successful immigration pathway with a high nomination success rate.

The MPNP offers several streams tailored for international skilled workers, recent graduates, entrepreneurs, and agricultural investors. Candidates nominated through the MPNP can then apply for permanent residence in Canada.

Overview of Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program Streams

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program consists of three main streams:

1. Skilled Worker Stream

This stream is divided into two main pathways:

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba
• Skilled Workers Overseas

2. International Education Stream

This stream has three pathways:

• Career Employment Pathway
• Graduate Internship Pathway
• International Student Entrepreneur Pathway

3. Business Investor Stream

This stream is further divided into:

• Entrepreneur Pathway
• Farm Investor Pathway

Let’s explore each of these streams and their specific requirements in detail:

Skilled Worker Stream

The MPNP Skilled Worker Stream allows the province to nominate eligible skilled foreign workers who can permanently reside in Manitoba and effectively contribute to the provincial labour market.

This stream is divided into two main pathways:

Skilled Workers in Manitoba

This pathway targets skilled foreign nationals already working in Manitoba on temporary work permits. It has two main sub-categories:

Manitoba Work Experience Pathway

This sub-category is for foreign nationals currently employed full-time in Manitoba. To be eligible:

• You must have a valid work permit and be employed in Manitoba for at least 6 months full-time with the same employer.
• Your employer must provide you with a permanent, full-time job offer.
• You must meet the minimum language requirements specified for your occupation. For NOC 0, A or B jobs, CLB 5 is required.
• You must prove you have sufficient settlement funds of CAD $10,000 for the principal applicant and CAD $2,000 for each dependent.
• You must submit a detailed Settlement Plan outlining your plans to permanently settle in Manitoba.

Employer Direct Recruitment Pathway

This sub-category enables employers to recruit overseas candidates directly. The eligibility criteria are:

• You must attend an in-person interview with an MPNP representative and a Manitoba employer overseas.
• You must receive an Invitation to Apply issued by the MPNP.
• You must meet the minimum language requirements for your occupation.
• You must prove you have sufficient settlement funds.

The key requirements for the Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway are summarized below:

Category	Minimum Work Experience	Language Requirements	Settlement Funds Required
Manitoba Work Experience	6 months full-time in Manitoba	CLB 5 for NOC 0, A, B	Yes
Employer Direct Recruitment	N/A	Based on NOC level	Yes

The application fee for this stream is CAD $500, and the average processing time is 6 months.

Skilled Workers Overseas

This pathway allows the MPNP to recruit skilled workers who reside overseas but have a strong connection to Manitoba. It has two sub-categories:

Manitoba Express Entry Pathway

This pathway links the MPNP with the federal Express Entry system. To be eligible:

• You must have an active Express Entry profile and qualifying score.
• You must have recent experience (6 months or more) in one of Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations. These are occupations in high demand in the local labour market.
• You must demonstrate a strong connection to Manitoba through previous work, studies, close relatives, or an MPNP invitation.
• You must meet the minimum language requirements of CLB 6 for NOC B jobs and CLB 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs.
• You must prove you have settlement funds for the initial establishment in Manitoba.

Human Capital Pathway

This pathway enables the MPNP to nominate overseas skilled workers who can effectively settle in Manitoba in the long term. The eligibility criteria are:

• You must score at least 60 points on the MPNP points assessment grid. This grid awards points for education, work experience, language skills, age, and Manitoba connection.
• You must have at least 6 months of experience in one of Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations.
• You must prove a valid connection to Manitoba.
• You must meet the minimum language requirements based on your occupation. CLB 5 is required for NOC 0, A and B occupations.
• You must be at least 18 years of age.
• You must submit a detailed Career Plan outlining your post-arrival job search and settlement goals.

Below is a summary of the key requirements for this overseas skilled worker pathway:

Category	Job Offer Required?	Minimum Language Requirement	Connection to Manitoba Required?
Manitoba Express Entry Pathway	No	CLB 6 or 7	Yes
Human Capital Pathway	No	CLB 5	Yes

The application fee for Skilled Workers Overseas is CAD $500, and the average processing time is 6 months.

International Education Stream

The MPNP International Education Stream allows international students who graduated from post-secondary institutions in Manitoba to obtain permanent residence in the province.

It offers three possible pathways:

Career Employment Pathway

This pathway is for international students who completed post-secondary education in Manitoba and obtained job offers after graduation. The eligibility criteria are:

• You must have graduated with a program of at least 1 year (2 semesters) at a designated Manitoba post-secondary institution within the past 3 years.
• You must provide proof of education, such as transcripts and graduation certificates/diplomas.
• You must have a minimum CLB 7 language score on the Canadian Language Benchmark assessment.
• With a valid job offer letter, you must have secured full-time, long-term employment in Manitoba for at least 1 year. Your occupation must be classified as In-Demand.
• You must be living in Manitoba at the time of your MPNP application.

Graduate Internship Pathway

This pathway allows international students who completed Master’s or PhD programs in Manitoba to apply after finishing an eligible internship. The requirements are:

• You must have completed a Master’s or PhD degree from a Manitoba educational institution within the past 3 years.
• You must achieve CLB 7 on your language proficiency exams.
• You must provide transcripts and certificates confirming your Manitoba graduation credentials.
• You must have finished an eligible post-graduate internship program in Manitoba, such as through Mitacs Elevate or Accelerate internships.
• You must be living in Manitoba when you apply to the MPNP.

International Student Entrepreneur Pathway

This pathway enables international graduates who studied in Manitoba to start entrepreneurial ventures in the province. To qualify:

• You must have graduated from a Manitoba post-secondary institution after completing a program of at least 2 years.
• You must submit a detailed business plan and proof of business registration.
• You must operate your business in Manitoba for at least 6 months prior to MPNP nomination.
• You must hold at least a 51% ownership stake in the business.
• You must meet CLB 7 language requirements.
• You must have a valid post-graduation open work permit when applying.

Below is a summary of the key requirements for the three education pathways:

Category	Job Offer Required?	Minimum Language Requirement	Graduation Requirements
Career Employment	Yes	CLB 7	1 year program
Graduate Internship	No	CLB 7	Master’s or PhD
Student Entrepreneur	No	CLB 7	2 year program

The application fee for the International Education Stream is CAD $500, except for the Student Entrepreneur Pathway, which is CAD $2,500. The average processing time across all pathways is 6 months.

Business Investor Stream

The MPNP Business Stream allows experienced business owners and agricultural investors to obtain provincial nomination through starting ventures in Manitoba.

This stream contains two possible pathways:

Entrepreneur Pathway

This pathway is open to qualified international entrepreneurs planning to establish businesses in Manitoba. The eligibility criteria are:

• You must have at least 3 years of full-time business ownership and/or senior business management experience within the past 5 years.
• You must make a minimum capital investment of CAD $250,000 if establishing a business within Winnipeg or CAD $150,000 if establishing a business outside of Winnipeg.
• You must demonstrate a sufficient personal net worth of CAD $500,000.
• You must achieve CLB 5 on the language proficiency test.
• You must provide a detailed business establishment plan with financial projections.
• You must visit Manitoba on an exploratory trip to evaluate potential business opportunities.

Farm Investor Pathway

This pathway allows experienced farm owners and operators to purchase and establish agricultural businesses in rural Manitoba. The eligibility requirements are:

• You must have a minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience as an active farm owner-operator within the past 10 years.
• You must demonstrate in-depth knowledge of the farming industry you wish to invest in.
• You must invest at least CAD $300,000 to purchase qualifying agricultural land, equipment, and facilities in rural Manitoba.
• You must provide an agricultural investment business plan outlining your proposed operations.
• Before applying, you must visit potential rural investments on an exploratory trip to Manitoba.

Below is a summary comparing the Business Stream pathways:

Category	Minimum Investment Required	Minimum Language Score	Business/Farm Plan Required?	Exploratory Visit Required?
Entrepreneur	CAD $150,000 – $250,000	CLB 5	Yes	Yes
Farm Investor	CAD $300,000	Conversational English or French	Yes	Yes

The application fee for the Business Stream is CAD $2,500, and the average processing time is 6 months.

Why Choose the Manitoba PNP?

There are many key benefits that make the MPNP an attractive immigration pathway:

High Provincial Nomination Success Rate

In 2021, the MPNP nominated 5,114 applicants, with an overall nomination success rate of 82% across all streams.

Gain Valuable Canadian Work Experience

Many MPNP streams enable candidates to work temporarily in Manitoba to gain Canadian work experience that greatly strengthens their nomination and permanent residence applications.

Aligns with Manitoba’s In-Demand Occupations

The MPNP actively recruits candidates whose skills and experience match current in-demand occupations in Manitoba’s labor market, including those in IT, healthcare, natural resources, agriculture, and hospitality.

Settlement and Integration Assistance

MPNP nominees can access settlement services offered by the provincial government, such as job search assistance, language training, and community integration programs.

High Retention Rate of Nominees

Over 90% of MPNP nominees choose to permanently settle in Manitoba long-term, highlighting the program’s effectiveness in attracting and retaining newcomers.

Pathway to Canadian Permanent Residence

Nomination through the MPNP provides a direct pathway for applicants to achieve permanent resident status in Canada.

MPNP Application Process Step-by-Step

To be nominated through the MPNP, you must complete a six-stage application process:

Step 1: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

An Expression of Interest (EOI) is submitted online via your MPNP account. You must complete a questionnaire covering areas like your education, skilled work experience, language abilities, connection to Manitoba, and settlement funds.

You will receive a score and ranking based on your responses. The highest-scoring EOIs are invited to submit full MPNP applications in the next stage.

Step 2: Receive an Invitation to Apply

If your EOI is selected from the pool, you will receive a formal Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the MPNP. This invitation is valid for 90 days.

Step 3: Submit MPNP Application and Supporting Documents

You must submit a complete application package within 90 days, including the following:

• MPNP application forms
• Language test results proving CLB level
• Educational credentials
• Proof of work experience letters
• Settlement funds evidence
• Business plan (if required)
• Other supporting documents

Step 4: Application Assessment

The MPNP will assess your application and may request an in-person or virtual interview.

Step 5: Nomination Issued

If approved, you will receive nomination certification from the MPNP. This nomination is valid for 6 months.

Step 6: Apply for Permanent Residence

You can use your nomination to apply to IRCC for Canadian permanent residence for yourself and your eligible family members.

Settling in Manitoba as a Provincial Nominee

Manitoba offers an attractive lifestyle and many benefits that make it easy for MPNP nominees to successfully settle in the province in the long term. Here are the key advantages:

Vibrant Economy and Employment Opportunities in Winnipeg

As Manitoba’s economic and cultural hub, Winnipeg provides diverse employment prospects and competitive salaries, especially in skilled occupations.

Lower Cost of Living

Manitoba’s cost of living is affordable compared to other large Canadian metro areas. Housing prices are relatively lower outside of Winnipeg.

Tight-Knit Immigrant Communities

Manitoba has close-knit immigrant networks that help newcomers integrate through community associations, multicultural events, and networking opportunities.

Outdoor Activities and Attractions

Manitobans enjoy fishing, camping, hiking, and water sports, and there are countless pristine lakes, forests, and national/provincial parks offering natural adventures.

High Quality of Life

Manitoba provides free high-quality healthcare, excellent public education from K-12 to post-secondary, arts, culture, sports, culinary diversity, and community services.

In summary, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program offers a well-established pathway for skilled worker applicants, international students, entrepreneurs, and agricultural investors to achieve permanent immigration to Canada.

For applicants who meet the eligibility criteria, the MPNP provides an excellent opportunity to launch an exciting new life and career in the welcoming province of Manitoba.

Canada offers Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) in other provinces that provide pathways to permanent residence based on local economic needs. Some of these other PNPs include:

• British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
• Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)
• Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
• Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
• New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)

FAQs related to the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program

Article Sources

• Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) – canadavisa.com
• Manitoba PNP – www.canadim.com
• Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) – elaarimmigration.com
• Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) – immigtoronto.com