3 Easy Ways to Apply for Immigration in Manitoba

To officially immigrate into Manitoba you will need a permanent residency. There are 3 ways in Manitoba to get a permanent residency:

1. Career Employment Pathway
2. International Education Pathway
3. Business Investor Pathway

1. Career Employment Pathway

This pathway is for people who want to work in Manitoba in order to get their permanent residence. 

Manitoba selects trained and experienced workers who have the skills needed in the local labour market. They nominate them to receive Canadian permanent resident visas to settle and work in Manitoba. 

There are 2 ways to get residency from this pathway:

1. Skilled Workers in Manitoba
2. Skilled Workers Overseas

1. Skilled Workers in Manitoba

Manitoba wants workers who will contribute to the local economy, and ongoing employment in Manitoba is a great way to show the province that. 

You will obviously need to be working at a job in Manitoba (no other province) in order to get your residency. This shows the province that you are making a contribution to, and forming a connection with, the Manitoban community. 

To see if you're eligible as a Skilled Worker in Manitoba then click here. 

How to apply in 3 steps:

1. Submit an Expression of Intent
2. The highest-scoring qualified candidates who submitted an expression of intent, will receive a Letter of Advice to Apply, and are then allowed to submit an MPNP application within 60 days (which costs $500).
3. Following a thorough assessment, the MPNP will tell successful candidates to make a separate application to the Government of Canada for permanent resident visas for you and your family.

2. Skilled Workers Overseas

Manitoba also wants skilled Workers from other countries. But they still want to see that you have an established connection to Manitoba, so you must meet the following requirements:

• have friends or family that live in Manitoba
• must have previous education or work experience in Manitoba
• get an Invitation to Apply received directly from the MPNP as part of a Strategic Recruitment Initiative.

To see if you're eligible as a Skilled Worker Overseas then click here.

How to apply in 3 steps:

1. Submit an Expression of Intent
2. The highest-scoring qualified candidates who submitted an expression of intent, will receive a Letter of Advice to Apply, and are then allowed to submit an MPNP application within 60 days (which costs $500).
3. Following a thorough assessment, the MPNP will tell successful candidates to make a separate application to the Government of Canada for permanent resident visas for you and your family.

2. International Education Pathway

This pathway is for International students who want to get residency through their university/college. All you have to do is graduate in Manitoba (if you graduate in any other province you will not be able to go through this pathway).

There are 3 ways to get residency from this pathway:

1. Career Employment Pathway
2. Graduate Internship Pathway
3. International Student Entrepreneur Pilot

1. Career Employment Pathway

The Career Employment Pathway is faster for getting residency for students who graduate. To do this, a graduate will need to find long-term employment in Manitoba consistent with their training that they studied for. 

To qualify you must have:

• graduated in the past 3 years from a designated post-secondary institution in Manitoba (minimum one year, two semesters, full-time coursework).
• English-speaking level equivalent to a CLB/NCLC 7
• You must have a full-time job offer from an eligible Manitoba employer, with a minimum 1-year contract on Manitoba’s published In-Demand Occupations list that is consistent with your completed program of studies. You must be working full-time in MB at the time your application is assessed.
• You must have enough cash requirements for 6 months (to find out how much click here) OR be employed in a full-time, long-term position in Manitoba
• You must be residing in Manitoba at the time of application and show the intent to continue to reside in Manitoba after nomination, including the submission of a Career Employment Plan.

If you meet these conditions, you will be eligible to apply to the MPNP immediately after graduating and obtaining the job offer.

How to apply in 3 steps:

1. Submit an Expression of Intent
2. The highest-scoring qualified candidates who submitted an expression of intent, will receive a Letter of Advice to Apply, and are then allowed to submit an MPNP application within 60 days (which costs $500).
3. Following a thorough assessment, the MPNP will tell successful candidates to make a separate application to the Government of Canada for permanent resident visas for you and your family.

2. Graduate Internship Pathway

Similar to the previous pathway but you don't need a job. Instead, graduates who complete an Accelerate or Elevate internship with Mitacs in Manitoba can apply to the MPNP immediately after graduation, even if they don't have a job offer.

To qualify you must have: 

• Completed a master or doctoral degree program in Manitoba within the past 3 years
• English-speaking level equivalent to a CLB/NCLC 7
• Completed a Mitacs Elevate or Accelerate (including Accelerate Entrepreneur) internship with an eligible industry and research enterprise in Manitoba
• You are NOT required to have a job offer at the time of application (though you can)
• You must have enough cash requirements for 6 months (to find out how much click here) OR be employed in a full-time, long-term position in Manitoba
• You must be residing in Manitoba at the time of application and show the intent to continue to reside in Manitoba after nomination, including the submission of a Career Employment Plan.

How to apply in 3 steps:

1. Submit an Expression of Intent
2. The highest-scoring qualified candidates who submitted an expression of intent, will receive a Letter of Advice to Apply, and are then allowed to submit an MPNP application within 60 days (which costs $500).
3. Following a thorough assessment, the MPNP will tell successful candidates to make a separate application to the Government of Canada for permanent resident visas for you and your family.

3. International Student Entrepreneur Pilot

This pathway will give up to 20 (per year) International students who graduated in Manitoba up to 20 the opportunity to pursue entrepreneurship rather than employment. Once the student meets the conditions of their Business Performance Agreement, they are nominated for permanent residence.

Anyone interested students should email [email protected] to register for an information session.

To qualify you must have:

• A business plan is required
• Must operate the business as a senior manager on a daily basis from the place of business in Manitoba for at least 6 months prior to nomination while on a valid temporary work permit, consistent with the requirements of your Business Performance Agreement (BPA). 
• Must also have business equity ownership of at least 51%.
• English-speaking level equivalent to a CLB/NCLC 7
• Complete a full-time post-secondary program in Manitoba that is at least 2 years in duration. (distance learning or compressed academic programs are not eligible)
• Must be 21-35 years of age
• Have a valid open work permit or post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the time of application
• Have continuously resided in MB since graduation and show intent to continue to reside in MB after nomination.
• After an application is approved, a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) must be signed prior to the MPNP issuing you an approval-in-principle letter to implement your business plan.

How to apply in 3 steps:

1. Submit an Expression of Intent
2. The highest-scoring qualified candidates who submitted an expression of intent, will receive a Letter of Advice to Apply, and are then allowed to submit an MPNP application within 60 days (which costs $500).
3. Following a thorough assessment, the MPNP will tell successful candidates to make a separate application to the Government of Canada for permanent resident visas for you and your family.

3. Business Investor Pathway

Manitoba likes people who want to open their own businesses within the province. This pathway allows Manitoba to get qualified business investors and entrepreneurs from around the world, who have the intent and ability to start or purchase businesses in Manitoba.

There are 2 ways to get residency from this pathway:

1. Entrepreneur Pathway
2. Farm Investor Pathway

1. Entrepreneur Pathway

This is for people who want to open a business in Manitoba. There are 6 basic steps to get residency from this pathway. For a PDF version of the steps click here.

Step 1: Self-Assess Your Eligibility and Business Research

The requirements of the Entrepreneur Pathway are:

• Business Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of full time work experience in the past five (5) years either as an active business owner (minimum 33% or one-third ownership) or working in a senior management role of a successful business
• Net Worth: Minimum of $500,000 CAD
• Official Languages Proficient: Minimum CLB/NCLC 5 and
• Education: Minimum Canadian high school certificate equivalent

Step 2: Submit Your Expression of Interest to the MPNP

Once you have completed Step 1, you can submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) by email to [email protected] with following forms:

• Business Concept Form;
• Self-Assessment Form; and
• MPNP Code of Conduct

Step 3: Receive an LAA and Submit Your Complete Application

You will be required to pay a processing fee by wire transfer in the amount of $2,500.00 CAD when submitting an application to the MPNP. Processing fees are not refundable.

Step 4: Assessment of Your Application

A complete application will be assigned to a Business Immigration Officer (BIO) for full assessment. The assessment of the application is based on the established eligibility criteria of the MPNP (who reserve the right to prioritize applications for businesses that contribute significant economic benefit to Manitoba).

The application will be assessed by a minimum of two BIOs who will review the information provided in the application prior to making a recommendation to approve or refuse. MPNP may invite you to attend an interview during the assessment process.

Step 5: Establish Your Business in Manitoba and Fulfill the BPA

Once you have received a Work Permit and arrived in Manitoba, you must notify the MPNP in person, within 30 days of the Date of Arrival, of your Manitoba address and telephone number. You will be assigned to a BIO, who will become your contact person for any questions and concerns you may have going forward.

You are also required to submit Progress Reports to the MPNP:

• First Progress Report: within six (6) months of the Date of Arrival
• Final Progress Report: no later than 20 months after the Date of Arrival.

Note: Please be advised that you should have been operating your business for no less than six (6) months immediately prior to submitting the Final Progress Report to the MPNP.

Step 6: Forms and Documents

Make sure you have all the correct forms and documents to apply. To see what forms and documents you need then click here.

2. Farm Investor Pathway

This is for those intending to open and operate a farm in rural Manitoba. There are 7 steps for this pathway. To see a PDF version of the steps click here. To see all the forms you'll require for this process then click here.

Step 1. Explore and research Farm Business in Manitoba

• Determine that you meet the minimum criteria of the Farm Investor Pathway.
• Complete a Farm Investor Pathway Interest Guidelines Form.
• You must meet the minimum eligibility requirements to continue to the next step.
  • Please pay close attention to adaptability, specifically relating to your practical farming skills, technical knowledge and experience in technological based farming practices that will transfer directly to Manitoba’s current primary farm production industry.  Your existing farm operation must be comparable to current Manitoba farming operations in terms of technology utilization, technological practices employed, scale, equipment utilized, production output, etc.

Step 2: Complete the Interest Guidelines and Farm Business Concept forms

• Research your proposed farm business in Manitoba and explore the province.
• Based on your research findings and your self-assessment of the FIP eligibility criteria, you may consider completing a Farm Business Concept Form.

Step 3: Submit your Interest Guidelines and Farm Business Concept forms to the MPNP

• Once you have completed your farm business research and determined that you are eligible for the FIP, you can submit your forms by email to the MPNP. The following forms are required:
  • Your Interest Guidelines Form;
  • Your Farm Business Concept Form; and
  • Code of Conduct for Immigration Representatives, if applicable.
• A response will be emailed to you. If you do not meet the minimum stream criteria requirements, your business concept will not be reviewed.

Step 4: Submit your full application to the MPNP

• If you have been sent a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA) to the MPNP, you will receive an email with detailed instructions.
  • Your LAA may include a request for verification of your net worth and financial information by a designated third-party service provider.
• Read and follow the Instructions and Document Checklist.
• Electronic submission (email) of all provincial and federal forms is required. Physical copies of these forms will not be accepted.
• Physical copies (hard copies) of supporting documents can be submitted by mail or in person.
• All documents listed in the Instructions and Document Checklist and your net worth verification report must be submitted, and your application fee must be paid within 120 days of receiving your LAA for your application to be considered complete.

Step 5: Application assessment

• Your complete application will be assessed by the MPNP. This may include an interview.
• If your application meets all of the requirements of the MPNP, the MPNP will issue you a certificate of nomination.
• If you are approved for nomination, you will be instructed to sign a Deposit Agreement and send a deposit of CAD$75,000.

Step 6: Apply for Permanent Residence

• Once nominated, you can apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
• If your application is favourably assessed by IRCC, you will receive a permanent resident visa.

Step 7: Establish your farm business in Manitoba

• Provide your new contact information to the MPNP within 30 days of your landing as a Permanent Resident.
• MPNP Business Immigration Officers of the Immigration Programs Branch can assist you with information, feedback, and guidance.