The Priority Skills Newfoundland and Labrador
A New Immigration Pathway to settle in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Launched on January 2, 2021, the Priority Skills Newfoundland and Labrador is a new immigration program designed for highly educated, highly skilled newcomers with specialized experience in areas where demand has outpaced local training and recruitment, such as Technology, Health Care, Aquaculture, and Agriculture.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- The program is open to persons who have one or more of the following:
- Memorial University Masters or PhD degree graduates, whose studies have been completed within the last three years; or
- Exceptionally qualified individuals who have worked in a specialized, highly skilled, high-demand occupation for at least 1 year (full-time) in the past 10 years
- Candidates need a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of at least 5 in order to be eligible. The results of the language test must be less than 12 months old.
Note: The higher the language score, the better your chances of receiving invitation
- Candidates also need to be at least 21 years old and intend to live permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador.
IN-DEMAND OCCUPATIONS
| Health Care sector | Aquaculture sector | Engineers and Developers | Technical Specialists |
|---|---|---|---|
|
• Physician • Nurse Practitioner (NP) • Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) • Personal Care Attendant (PCA) • Clinical Psychologist • Medical Physicist • Radiation Therapist • Dosimetrist
|
• Captain (FM4 certification required) • Farming and Feeding Manager • Facility Technician • Assistant Manager • Cage Site Technician • Site Manager (with water quality expertise) • Area Manager
|
· Software Developer · Biomedical Engineer · UI/UX Developer · Electrical Engineer · AI Developer · Mechanical Engineer · Python Developer · .NET Developer · Infrastructure Engineer |
• Security Specialist • Cloud Specialist • Bioinformatician • Computer Network Support • Research Associate • Data Analytics • Offshore Technician • ROV Operator • Ocean Mapping Specialist • Technical Writer |
APPLICATION PROCESS
The first step of the Priority Skills NL process is completing a questionnaire, which is scored based on your English and French language ability, age, education, work experience and whether you have family in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Applicants who exceed the minimum score of 60 points will be accepted and their information will be viewable by staff and local employers. Candidates who have submitted Expressions of Interest (EOI) with the highest scores, and who have received the greatest interest from employers will be invited to submit an application to the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program without a job offer.
Candidates, who meet eligibility criteria for either the Skilled Worker or Express Entry Skilled Worker category, will be issued a provincial nomination certificate. Applicants can include this certificate in their application for permanent residency, and send to the federal government.
While their Permanent Residency application is in process, candidates receive dedicated support from Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism staff, and access to specialized services, for instance letters of support for work permit requests.
Step 1: Complete an Expression of Interest (EOI)
Step 2: Promising candidates receive an invitation to apply
Step 3: Filing formal application with PNP to obtain Nomination
Step 4: PR filing either with Express Entry pathway or through direct pathway
Step 5: Can obtain Work Permit if supported by PNP authorities
