PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND (PNP)

Home PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND (PNP)

The purpose of the PEI Nominee Program is to select individuals who appear to be suitable for immigration to Prince Edward Island, meeting the province’s unique economy and culture. The PNP is a shared responsibility, whereby the province recruits, selects and nominates qualified immigrant applicants, with the federal government completing security and health background checks and giving final approval. The PNP expedites the immigration to Canada of individuals and their families who meet provincial criteria for initiatives to support:

increased business and economic development
the supply of skilled workers
increased population; and
achievement of provincial demographic, social and cultural objectives.

To find out about your eligibility under PEI program, please click here to complete our questionnaire.

There are four PEI Nominee Program Categories as follows;

Labour Impact Category

The Labour Impact Category focuses on the ever changing labour market needs of Prince Edward Island’s innovative and primary industries. While Prince Edward Island’s labour force is quite small and many industries are seasonal, labour market gaps are a reality and finding new employees, within Canada, who have the right skill sets, can be a challenge for many Prince Edward Island businesses.

The Labour Impact Category facilitates and provides opportunity for Prince Edward Island businesses and potential new employees from outside of Canada, who have the right skill set to immigrate, work and settle in Prince Edward Island.

There are three streams from which an applicant can choose:

Skilled Worker Stream

Prince Edward Island employers that have identified or hired a foreign worker may support that worker to obtain permanent residency to Canada through the PEI PNP Skilled Worker Stream. Those potential nominees who possess the necessary skills and fall under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level O, A or B are eligible provided they have obtained a post-secondary degree/diploma and experience in the intended profession. Furthermore, specific criteria must be satisfied to be nominated under the program.

Skilled Worker Selection Criteria

Under the Skilled Worker Stream, the applicant must:

Have a full-time, long-term (i.e. permanent or minimum of 2 years) job offer from a Prince Edward Island employer at a NOC skill level O, A or B.
Have a valid work permit if currently employed by a Prince Edward Island employer.
Have legal status in country of residence.
Be able to attend an interview at the Office of Immigration, if required.
Have successfully completed minimum 2 year post secondary education degree or diploma.
Be between 21 and 59 years of age.
Have at least two years of full-time work experience within the past five years.
Possess sufficient English and/or French language ability to perform the job offered by a Prince Edward Island employer. Language ability can be verified by one of the following:
- An International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) or Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF) test result with a minimum band score of 4 obtained within the last 2 years; or
- Declaration of language ability from the Island employer offering the full-time job; or
- Educational/training documents from an internationally recognized institution, indicating the principal language studied/communicated was in English and/or French.
Demonstrate sufficient settlement supports and financial resources as indicated by transferable funds, in order for the applicant and family to pay the immigration costs, travel expenses and other settlement expenses to be able to establish in Prince Edward Island.
Demonstrate genuine intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.
Complete the self-assessment and score 50 or more points to proceed to the application guide.

Skilled Worker Employer Requirements

The employer is responsible for ensuring:

Employment is full-time (training, internship or apprenticeship positions that terminate on a specific date will NOT be considered).
Employment contract is for a permanent position or minimum length of 2 years.
Employment in the intended occupation is consistent with the applicant’s ability to perform the job based on the applicant’s education, training and/or experience.
Employment terms and conditions meet all applicable provincial and federal employment workplace standards and the comparable industry wage rate.
Employment of the applicant does not contravene existing bargaining unit agreements or employment disputes.
Employment is in Prince Edward Island.
Employment that requires provincial licensing or accreditation has been verified to ensure the applicant has the necessary credentials to be eligible to work in the occupation in Prince Edward Island.
Employment contract is provided, which includes the terms and conditions of the full-time job offer, signatures of the authorized signing officer of the company, and the employee (applicant) accepting the offer including conditions for employment.
Settlement support is provided to the applicant and the family to help them establish.
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is provided, if applicable.
Attendance at an interview at the Office of Immigration, if required.
Documentation is provided to demonstrate effort to recruit for the intended profession has been unsuccessful through efforts within Canada and the position is critical to the operation of the employers business.

PEI PNP Approval and Application to CIC:

Successful PEI PNP applicants will receive a letter of approval and letter of instruction.
The applicant will need to apply to CIC to continue the immigration process for permanent residency to Canada with the nomination certificate from PEI.
CIC will provide notification to the applicant upon receipt of the application and a decision has been made.

For more information about PEI PnP and to find out if you quality please click here to complete our questionnaire

Critical Worker Stream

Prince Edward Island Employers that have hired a foreign worker may support that worker to obtain permanent residency to Canada through the PEI PNP Critical Worker Stream. The PEI PNP helps to facilitate filling labour market shortages through enabling foreign workers to apply to become permanent residents. The job being offered must fall under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level C or D which requires the completion of a minimum of 12 years of education – equivalent to a high school diploma or on the job training. The Critical Worker Stream is a pilot program to be reviewed annually for both the impact on the industries represented and the occupations selected to participate. There are five occupations currently included in the pilot program: truck drivers, customer service representatives, labourers, food & beverage servers and housekeeping attendants. Furthermore, specific criteria must be satisfied to be nominated under the program.
Critical Worker Selection Criteria

Under the Critical Worker Stream, the applicant must:

Have a full-time, long-term (i.e. permanent or minimum of 2 years) job offer from a Prince Edward Island employer at a NOC skill level C or D in one of the following occupations; truck driver, customer service representative, labourer, food & beverage server or housekeeping attendant.
Have worked a minimum of 6 months full-time for the Prince Edward Island employer.
Have a valid work permit.
Have legal status in country of residence.
Be able to attend an interview at the Office of Immigration, if required.
Possess a minimum education of high-school equivalent.
Be between 21 and 59 years of age.
Have at least two years of full-time work experience or relevant education within the past five years.
Provide a valid language test result obtained within the last 2 years. A minimum standard of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)/Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 4 across all 4 categories (listening, reading, writing and speaking) is required.
Demonstrate sufficient settlement supports and financial resources as indicated by transferable funds in order for the applicant and family to pay the immigration costs, travel expenses and other settlement expenses to be able to establish in Prince Edward Island.
Demonstrate genuine intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.

The employer is responsible for ensuring:

Employment is full-time (training, internship or apprenticeship positions that terminate on a specific date will NOT be considered).
Employment contract is for a permanent position or minimum length of 2 years.
Employment in the intended occupation is consistent with the applicant’s ability to perform the job based on the applicant’s education, training and/or experience.
Employment terms and conditions meet all applicable provincial and federal employment workplace standards and the comparable industry wage rate.
Employment of the applicant does not contravene existing bargaining unit agreements or employment disputes.
Employment is in Prince Edward Island.
Employment that requires provincial licensing or accreditation has been verified to ensure the applicant has the necessary credentials to be eligible to work in the occupation in Prince Edward Island.
Employment contract is provided, which includes the terms and conditions of the full-time job offer, signatures of the authorized signing officer of the company, and the employee (applicant) accepting the offer and conditions of employment.
Settlement support is provided to the applicant and the family to help them establish.
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is provided.
Attendance at an interview at the Office of Immigration, if required.
Documentation is provided to demonstrate effort to recruit for the intended profession has been unsuccessful within Canada and the position is critical to the operation of the employers business.

International Graduate Stream

The International Graduate Stream is employer driven and provides opportunity for Prince Edward Island employers to hire a recent graduate from a recognized accredited Prince Edward Island university or college.

The international graduate must have a full-time job offer in their field of study under National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A or B which represents professional, managerial and skilled trade positions. The international graduate must have a valid post graduate work permit and is expected to have worked a minimum of six months with the Prince Edward Island employer in the position before submitting an application for nomination.

International Graduate Selection Criteria

Under the International Graduate Stream, the applicant:

Must have a permanent, full-time job offer in their field of study from a Prince Edward Island employer at a NOC skill level 0, A or B
Must have worked a minimum of 6 months for the Prince Edward Island employer
Must have legal status in Canada
Must have a valid post-graduate work permit
Must be able to attend an interview at the Office of Immigration, if required
Must have completed at least a two-year diploma or degree program while studying full time
Must possess a valid diploma/degree from the recognized accredited Prince Edward Island University or College
Must have graduated within the past two years from full-time study at an accredited Prince Edward Island University or College
Should be between 21 and 55 years of age
Must possess English and/or French language ability to perform the job offered by a Prince Edward Island employer
Must demonstrate sufficient settlement supports and financial resources, including transferable funds, in order for the applicant and family to pay the immigration costs, travel expenses and establish in Prince Edward Island
Must demonstrate genuine intention to settle in Prince Edward Island

International Graduate Employer Requirements

The employer is responsible for ensuring:

Employment is full-time (training, internship or apprenticeship positions that terminate on a specific date will NOT be considered)
Employment in the intended occupation is consistent with the applicant’s ability to perform the job based on the applicant’s education, training or experience
Employment terms and conditions meet all applicable provincial and federal employment workplace standards and the comparable industry wage rate
Employment of the applicant does not contravene existing bargaining unit agreements or employment disputes
Employment is in Prince Edward Island
Employment that requires provincial licensing or accreditation has been verified to ensure the applicant has the necessary credentials to be eligible to work in the occupation in Prince Edward Island
Employment contract is provided, which includes the terms and conditions of the full-time job offer, signature of the authorized signing officer of the company, and the employee (applicant) accepting the offer and conditions of employment
Settlement support is provided to the applicant and the family to help them establish
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is provided, if applicable
Attendance at an interview at the Office of Immigration, if required

Business Impact Category

The Business Impact Category provides the opportunity for foreign nationals to be nominated by Prince Edward Island to become permanent residents of Canada providing they invest in and actively manage a business in Prince Edward Island. The Business Impact Category is looking for interested businesspersons who can demonstrate vision, leadership and determination. Together with a growing population and economy, PEI is confident that a choice to invest in and operate a business in Prince Edward Island will serve not only the interests of the business person themselves but the entire province at large.
To find out about your eligibility under PEI program, please click here

There are three streams from which an applicant can choose:

100% Ownership Stream

For foreign nationals, one avenue for entry into the Province to showcase entrepreneurial ability is through the 100% Ownership Stream.

The applicant must follow the step by step application process. If approved by the Office of Immigration, the applicant will receive nomination from Prince Edward Island and will need to sign an escrow agreement. The escrow agreement requires the applicant to obtain 100% control of a business through the outright purchase of an existing business or the start of a new business in Prince Edward Island.

Program Criteria

The applicant must meet the program criteria, minimum net worth and investment thresholds and will be required to make a conditionally refundable deposit of $200,000 Canadian dollars (CAD) to be held in escrow. Of the $200,000 CAD deposit $25,000 CAD will be refunded after 6 months of residency on Prince Edward Island another $25,000 CAD will be refunded after 1 year of residency on Prince Edward Island and the remaining $150,000 CAD will be released upon the applicant meeting the requirements outlined in the escrow agreement.

Possess a minimum verifiable personal net worth of $600,000 which has been accumulated through legal and legitimate sources in their own right.
Possess a minimum education of high-school equivalent.
Be within 21-59 years of age at the time of application.
Have transferable management skills and past employment.
Have scored a minimum band score of 4.0 on the IELTS within the last 2 years.
Provide a detailed business plan for 100% business ownership that falls within an eligible sector and meets all program criteria in place at the time of application.
Provide active and on-going management of the business from within Prince Edward Island.
Sign an escrow agreement containing stipulations on a deposit of $200,000 to be held by the Province until terms of the agreement have been met.
Make a minimum of $150,000 investment into a new or existing Prince Edward Island owned and operated business. All transactions must conform to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Priority Sectors
Prince Edward Island will be limiting its nominations to those applicants who are best suited to enhance the Prince Edward Island economy. Prince Edward Island’s economy relies heavily on its core industries to create economic value. Accordingly, Prince Edward Island will be giving priority to applications involving:

The starting or expanding of an export-oriented business.
Businesses that utilize primary sector resources from the following sectors (Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry).
Businesses that help economically diversify rural communities in Prince Edward Island.
Businesses that develop the province’s emerging innovative sectors: bioscience, information technology, aerospace and renewable energy.

Preference will be given to applications that can demonstrate the ability to increase or maintain employment levels within the business.
To find out about your eligibility under PEI program, please click here

Partial Ownership Stream
The Partial Ownership Stream is designed for applicants who wish to transition into the Prince Edward Island business community by becoming a part owner in a business.

The applicant, amongst other conditions, must obtain 33 1/3% of the business’ equity or invest $1,000,000 CAD in the equity of the business.
Program Criteria
The applicant must meet the program criteria, minimum net worth and investment thresholds and will be required to make a conditionally refundable deposit of $200,000 CAD to be held in escrow. Upon applying, meeting the criteria of the program, signing the necessary agreements and making the $200,000 CAD refundable escrow deposit, the applicant will be granted nomination. Of the $200,000 CAD deposit $25,000 CAD will be refunded after 6 months of residency on Prince Edward Island another $25,000 CAD will be refunded after 1 year of residency on Prince Edward Island and the remaining $150,000 CAD will be released upon the applicant meeting the requirements outlined in the escrow agreement.

Possess a minimum verifiable personal net worth of $600,000 which has been accumulated through legal and legitimate sources in their own right.
Possess a minimum education of high-school equivalent.
Be within 21-59 years of age at the time of application.
Have transferable management skills and past employment.
Have scored a minimum band score of 4.0 on the IELTS within the last 2 years.
Provide a detailed business plan for partial business ownership that falls within an eligible sector and meets all program criteria in place at the time of application.
Provide active and on-going management of the business from within Prince Edward Island.
Sign a escrow agreement containing stipulations on a deposit of $200,000 to be held by the Province until terms of the agreement have been met.
Make a minimum of $150,000 investment into an existing Prince Edward Island owned and operated business for a partial ownership interest of a minimum of 33 1/3% of voting shares; or make a minimum $1 million investment. The transaction must be in compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

To find out about your eligibility under PEI program, please click here

Work Permit Stream

Applicants may wish to transition in a more timely fashion to start a new life and business utilizing a work permit to enter Canada and begin the journey. The Work Permit Stream will allow applicants to come to Prince Edward Island and begin working and learning about the business they will be investing in prior to nomination by the Province of Prince Edward Island.

If conditionally approved by the Office of Immigration, the applicant will apply to CIC for a temporary work permit to come to Prince Edward Island to start the process to invest in and operate the business in Prince Edward Island. At the time of work permit issuance, the applicant will sign the necessary agreements outlining what is required of them. Upon meeting the terms and conditions of a performance agreement, the applicant will be nominated by the Office of Immigration for permanent residency to Canada.

Under the Work Permit Stream, the applicant must:

Complete and submit all required Federal and Provincial PNP forms and supporting documentation.
Apply to CIC for approval of a work permit for the Prince Edward Island business that the applicant intends to invest in and manage.
Possess a minimum verifiable personal net worth of $600,000 which has been accumulated through legal and legitimate sources in their own right.
Possess a minimum education of high-school equivalent.
Have transferable management skills and past employment.
Have scored a minimum band score of 4.0 on the IELTS within the last 2 years.
Provide a detailed business plan that falls within an eligible sector and meets all program criteria in place at the time of application.
Provide active and on-going management of the business from within Prince Edward Island.
Sign a Performance Agreement containing stipulations on the business investment that must be satisfied to proceed with nomination.
Make a minimum of $150,000 investment into a new or existing Prince Edward Island owned and operated business. The transaction must be in compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

To find out about your eligibility under PEI program, please click here
If an applicant meets all program criteria in place at application time and is approved, a letter of support for a Work Permit will be issued. When the Performance Agreement is satisfied a nomination certificate will be issued.

Under the work permit option, business applicants have the greatest potential to not only enhance the value of the business they are investing in, but also to integrate into Prince Edward Island society.

Once an application and all supporting documentation has been submitted and approved by Immigration Services, the applicant is deemed eligible for the Work Permit Stream. The applicant will be presented with a letter of support from Immigration Services to apply to CIC for a work permit to Canada.

The applicant will be required to sign a performance agreement with the Office of Immigration. The performance agreement will outline the terms and conditions with which the applicant will be required to execute on the business plan, prior to the Office of Immigration nominating the applicant for permanent residency to Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Investment Agreement
Should the applicant choose to purchase not less than 33 1/3% of the equity of an eligible Prince Edward Island business, the applicant is required to submit an investment agreement to the Office of Immigration. The investment agreement outlines the details of the proposed investment between the applicant and the Prince Edward Island business and must include as a minimum the following information:

Confirmation that the Business is not operated primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income such as interest, dividends and/or capital gains;
The proposed amount of the Investment in the Business;
The number, class and conditions of the shares being purchased (if applicable);
Confirmation that the investment does not include a redemption option;
Confirmation that the Investment is not less than 33 1/3% of the equity in a Prince Edward Island business or make an equity investment in the business of at least $1,000,000;
Confirmation that the Applicant provides or will provide active and ongoing management of the business from within Prince Edward Island; and
Time frames for the Investment.

Purchase and Sale Agreement
Should the applicant choose to purchase a 100% of an eligible Prince Edward Island business, the applicant is required to submit a purchase and sale agreement to the Office of Immigration. The purchase and sale agreement outlines the details of the proposed investment between the applicant and the Prince Edward Island business and must include as a minimum the following information:

Confirmation that the Business being acquired is not operated primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income such as interest, dividends and/or capital gains;
Purchase price for the Business;
The number, class and conditions of the shares being purchased (if applicable);
Confirmation that the investment does not include a redemption option;
Confirmation that the applicant provides , or will provide, active and ongoing management of the business from within Prince Edward Island;
Timelines for the purchase of the Business;
Confirmation the purchase price is for the whole Business, not a part of the Business;
Detailed description of the activities and interests of the Business.

The starting or expanding of an export-oriented business.
Businesses that utilize primary sector resources from the following sectors (Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry).
Businesses that help economically diversify rural communities in Prince Edward Island.
Businesses that develop the province’s emerging innovative sectors: bioscience, information technology, aerospace and renewable energy.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND (PNP)

One World Immigration Canada

Translate

Latest Post