The smallest of Canada’s provinces, Prince Edward Island is an evocative selection of islands with a rich history and culture, and a strong economy based around fishing, agriculture, and tourism – the latter who revel in the wondrous coastline and beautiful scenery.
The province operates an immigration program as it needs to fill skilled posts throughout, and applicants may be invited to apply via the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP).
Invited candidates are targeted for their relevant skills and experience in positions considered essential to the province, and may apply via the following schemes:
- PEI PNP Express Entry
- Labour Impact Category
- Business Impact Category
PEI PNP Express Entry
Candidates targeted by the PEI PNP will have recognized skills that are important to the Prince Edward Island labor market at that time. To be eligible, candidates must have a valid profile in the Express Entry pool and have been invited by PEI PNP to apply for provincial nomination.
Express Entry is a fast-track process run by the federal government of Canada that applies to applicants using the Prince Edward Island Express Entry programs. The applicant is required to submit an online profile. This will include details of their age, marital status, work experience, education, and other details. A rank will be determined using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
Those who score highly on the CRS, which is a pass or fail assessment, will be put into the Express Entry Pool. From the pool, a draw is made regularly and those who are successful are issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA). At this stage, they can begin applying for permanent residence in Prince Edward Island. As with all pathways, there are strict criteria that must be met.
Labour Impact Category
The PEI PNP targets individuals who have skills that are needed in the Prince Edward Island labor market for application via one of three streams in the Labour Impact Category:
Skilled Worker Stream – This stream is for applicants who either have a job offer from a Prince Edward Island employer or be currently working on a temporary visa in the province. The job must be recognized as a skilled position beneficial to the economy.
Critical Worker Stream – individuals who have a job with a Prince Edward Island employer can be sponsored by the employer for permanent residence status. This applies to skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers deemed vital to the economy.
International Graduate Stream – International students who recently graduated from a recognized Prince Edward Island university and who have a job with a Prince Edward Island can apply for permanent residence.
Business Impact Category
Work Permit Scheme
Foreigners who are interested in investing in a business in Prince Edward Island are invited to apply for a temporary work permit and start the process. They will be required to work within the business for a year and meet certain investment, skills, and language requirements before applying for permanent residence.
Atlantic Immigration Pilot Programme – the Atlantic regions of Canada are in great need of skilled workers, hence Prince Edward Island is one of four provinces taking part in the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Scheme run by the Canadian Government. Applicants may be in Canada or otherwise at the time of application and must have a job offer from a Prince Edward Island employer and meet the criteria for the program.