Canadian immigration via the Newfoundland and Labrador PNP

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program seeks to recruit foreign workers with specialised occupational or entrepreneurial skills. The program is the result of an agreement between the Government of Canada and the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, through which the local body can nominate immigrants who can contribute to the economic and social goals of the province, for permanent resident status.

General requirements include the ability to communicate in either English or French well enough to settle successfully in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The program is divided in four categories, each with its own set of criteria:

• Occupational/Skilled Worker
• Immigrant Entrepreneur
• Family Connections
• International Graduate

Occupational/Skilled Worker

If you are a foreign skilled worker with a bona fide offer of paid employment from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer, you might be able to be nominated by the province for a permanent resident visa.

As an applicant in this category, you may be required to visit Newfoundland and Labrador for a pre-employment interview with the employer and the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism, Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment.

To apply under this category, you must submit one of each of the following documents:

• Provincial form – Self-Assessment
• Provincial form – Application
• Provincial form – Employment Offer
• Provincial form – Declaration of Personal Net Worth
• Provincial form – Document Checklist
• Federal form – Application for permanent residency
• Federal form – Schedule 1 – background/Declaration
• Federal form – Additional Family Information Form
• Federal form – Schedule 4 – Economic Classes – Provincial Nominees
• Federal form – Use of Representative Form
• Federal form – Instructions for Use of Representative
• Federal form – Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union

Immigrant Entrepreneur

This category is aimed at immigrants who propose to establish a new business or purchase all or part of an existing business that has supportable prospects for expansion in Newfoundland and Labrador, and who intend to be self-employed in that business.

There are a number of criteria that applicants in this category must meet:

• Eligible business activity – Applicants must want to start or purchase a business that generates revenue by selling goods and/or services at arm’s length to third parties. Priority will be given to immigrant entrepreneurs who intend to establish or buy an active business in a sector identified by the Strategic Sector List.
• Required business experience – Applicants must have a minimum of five years in senior management or direct entrepreneurial experience in a business similar to the one proposed.
• Net worth and liquidity requirements – Applicants must have a minimum net worth of CA$450,000, including a minimum liquid assets of CA$350,000.
• Immigrant entrepreneur investment in a new or expanding existing business – Applicants must be prepared to make a minimum direct business investment of CA$200,000 in equity to establish a new enterprise or purchase all or part of an eligible existing business in the province.
• Evidence of investment in a new business or purchase of all or part of an expanding existing business – This may include elements such as start up costs and early cash flow deficiencies financed by cash, inventories and accounts receivable associated with the business start, leasehold improvements to leased business premises, etc.
• Performance agreement – This agreement sets out the terms and conditions of the immigrant entrepreneur’s investment required under this category.
• Exploratory visit – Immigrant Entrepreneur applicants are required to make at lest one exploratory visit to Newfoundland and Labrador, at their own expense.
• Business plan – Applicants are required to submit a detailed business plan outlining how the new enterprise is to be successfully established.

After you pass the pre-assessment, you are required to submit original signed copies of the following documents:

• Self-Assessment Form (PNP-NL-01E)
• Pre-Assessment Form (PNP-NL-02)
• Performance Agreement (PNP-NL-08)
• Newfoundland & Labrador Supplementary Information Form (PNP-NL-05)
• Information Release Form (PNP-NL-06)
• Business Net Worth Form (PNP-NL-07B)
• Schedule 1 Background/Declaration Form (IMM 0008-Schedule 1)
• Application for Permanent Residence Form (IMM 0008-Generic)
• Schedule 4 – Economic Classes – Provincial Nominees (IMM 0008-Schedule 4)
• Schedule 4A – Economic Classes – Provincial Nominees – Business Nominees (IMM 008-Schedule 4A)
• Additional Family Information Form (IMM 5406)
• Authority to Release Information to Designated Individuals Form (IMM 5476)
• Supporting documents – see document checklist
• Provincial Form – Document Checklist

Family Connections
If you have a family member living in Newfoundland and Labrador who is willing and able to support your move to the province, you might be eligible to get nominated through the Family Connections stream.

In order for you to qualify, your family member must have been living in Newfoundland and Labrador for at least one year.

There are other requirements that you must meet to make sure your application is successful:

• You must be between 18 and 49 years old.
• You must have a signed Affidavit of Support from one or more family members residing in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• You must have a full-time, permanent job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer or intend to find full-time, permanent work in the province.
• You must have completed post-secondary education, training, or apprenticeship of at least one year in length that has resulted in a diploma, certificate or degree.
• You must have enough language skills to either do the job you have been offered by a Newfoundland and Labrador employer, or to get a job in your field of education or training.
• You must have enough money to live in the province for a short time without work after arrival (CA$10,000 for you and $2,000 for each accompanying family member).
• You must have the intention to settle in Newfoundland and Labrador.

If you want to apply under this category, the following forms need to be submitted:

• Provincial Form – Relative Application Form
• Provincial Form – Sponsor Affidavit of Support Form
• Provincial Form – Declaration of Personal Net Worth Form
• Provincial Form – Employer Information and Declaration Form
• Provincial Form – Employer Affidavit of English-French Language Form
• Provincial Form – Affidavit of Translator Form
• Provincial Form – Family Connections Chart
• Provincial Form – Document Checklist
• Federal Form – Application for Permanent Residence
• Federal Form – Background/Declaration
• Federal Form – Economic Classes
• Federal Form – Additional Family Information Form
• Federal Form – Use of Representative Form
• Federal Form – Instructions for Use of Representative
• Federal Form – Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union

International Graduate

This category was created for international students who have graduated from a recognised Newfoundland and Labrador post-secondary educational institution, to be considered for nomination for permanent residence in Canada.

In order to be considered, applicants must:

• Have graduated within the last two years from a program of at least two academic years of a full-time study in Newfoundland and Labrador and have received a certificate, diploma, or degree
• Have a full-time job offer in their field of study, or related field of study, from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer or have a proven attachment to the local labour market over at least a six-month period with a reasonable expectation for future employment
• Have obtained a Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) post-graduation work permit
• Demonstrate the intention and ability to settle permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador
• Show evidence of sufficient settlement funds and financial resources to establish themselves and any dependants in Newfoundland and Labrador
• Demonstrate sufficient English or French language capability to perform employment duties

Applicants must provide signed copies of the following documents:

• Provincial Form – Application
• Provincial Form – Employment Offer
• Provincial Form – Employer Affidavit of English-French Language
• Provincial Form – Affidavit of Translator
• Provincial Form – Declaration of Personal Net Worth
• Provincial Form – Document Checklist
• Federal Form – Application for Permanent Residence
• Federal Form – Schedule 1 – Background/Declaration
• Federal Form – Additional Family Information Form
• Federal Form – Schedule 4 – Economic Classes – Provincial Nominees
• Federal Form – Use of Representative Form
• Federal Form – Instructions for Use of Representative
• Federal Form – Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union