Newfoundland and Labrador are situated on the east coast of the Canadian seaboard. For a simpler, more pastoral life, and is considered a gem among those searching for that lifestyle.

It's easy to write off the province as nothing but seaside villages, but in recent years, it has experienced a boom in business, arts, and culture. This has attracted looking to move away from the big city yet still enjoy the subculture of trends offered by city life.

The province, renowned for its beauty, is divided into different sections; Labrador in the north and Newfoundland, an island 17km from the coast of Labrador. The capital city, St. John's, is where most of the population lives. Urban institutions, events, and facilities are offered in this metropolitan city and include:

• Excellent schools
• Top-notch healthcare facilities
• Fantastic restaurants
• Exceptional nightlife
• A vibrant and exciting arts scene

If all of these things raise you and make you want to move to Newfoundland and Labrador, we recommend you consider the following eligibility criteria.

To be eligible for the NLPNP, you must have:

• a job offer in a skilled occupation from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer, or
• work experience in a specified sector the province has identified
• training, qualifications, or a license necessary for the job
• a valid work permit if you presently work in Canada
• sufficient English or French language proficiency to carry out your job duties
• sufficient funds to settle in Newfoundland and Labrador
• enough funds to settle in Canada

One of the most accessible and quick ways to move to Newfoundland and Labrador is to use the Provincial Nominee Programs offered by the province. The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nomination Program allows the province's businesspeople to nominate foreign workers with the necessary skills and experience to move to the province.

This is done to address the labor and population shortages in the province. The following presents a comprehensive list of some of the most significant immigration pathways immigrants can use to move to Canada.

Make Your Move to Canada

For Immigrants With a Job Offer in Newfoundland and Labrador

A common eligibility criterion for a Provincial Nomination Program is obtaining a job offer. If you are fortunate enough to have received an offer of employment in Newfoundland and Labrador, you can use the following immigration pathways:

Skilled Worker Category

If you have the specialized skills needed by employers in Newfoundland and Labrador, this program may be for you. To be eligible for this stream, you must:

• Have a permanent offer of employment in Newfoundland and Labrador
• have offer meeting the employment and wage standards of Newfoundland and Labrador
• have all the necessary qualifications, training, and documentation needed to perform your job
• have a valid work permit or meet the requirements to apply for one
• show clear intentions to live and work in the province
• have sufficient settlement funds for both yourself and your accompanying relatives
• be employed by someone or a business that can show that your skillset as a worker is necessary
• Submit the relevant language test results that clearly show you have the needed language ability to perform your job duties.

Priority Skills NL Category

The Priority Skills Newfoundland & Labrador (Priority Skills NL) PNP Stream is created to help skilled international workers immigrate to the province so they can boost the provincial economy by filling in high-demand jobs in the following industries:

• Technology
• Healthcare
• Aquaculture
• Agriculture

You are required to submit an expression of Interest (EOI) and complete a questionnaire regarding your:

• Language ability
• Age
• Education
• Work experience
• Familial ties to the province

A profile based on this questionnaire will be created and scored on your behalf, and to be considered, you will need to receive at least 60 points. The highest-scoring applicants will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from provincial employers, after which they can apply for permanent residency.

Meet the following eligibility requirements to apply for the Priority Skills Newfoundland Category:

• Education:
  • You need a Ph.D. or Master's degree granted by Memorial University in the last three years for Technology, Health Care, Aquaculture, and Agriculture
• Work Experience:
  • experience working in a specialized, high-skilled, and in-demand occupation for an entire year in the past decade
• Language:
  • You need a level of language proficiency taken from an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program language test in the last year that has a CLB score of 5 or higher
• Age:
  • You must be at least 21

Express Entry Skilled Worker Category

The Express Entry, Skilled Worker Category provides the quickest path to obtaining Canadian permanent residency for those settling in Newfoundland and Labrador. Application processing times for Express Entry applications can be as fast as six months.

To be eligible to apply for this category, you must:

• be accepted into the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Express Entry pool
• score a minimum of 67 points of a possible 100 on the PNP Assessment Grid
• Obtain an offer of employment from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer which meets the employment and wage governmental standards.
• Have a valid work permit or meet the criteria to apply for one.
• Have a tertiary degree and/or diploma from a Canadian institution or an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) that verifies your foreign credentials as equal to the standards of education in Canada.
• Intend to live and work in Newfoundland and Labrador
• have enough funds to settle you and your dependents in Newfoundland and Labrador
• provide the relevant language test results that show you have the language ability required to fulfill your job's duties.

Start Your Canadian Journey

For Immigrants who Studied in Canada

Studying in Canada is an honor and a privilege granted to a few. If you have recently completed your studies in Canada, you can use the following programs to move to the country.

International Graduate Category

If you're an International student who graduated from a tertiary institution in Canada, you can be nominated for permanent residency by applying through this category.

To be eligible for this program, you must:

• have graduated from a publicly funded and recognized Canadian tertiary institution and have completed at least half of your studies in Canada
• study full-time and complete at least a minimum of a two-year diploma or degree.
• have a job offer for a permanent, full-time position;
• be legally enabled to work in Canada, meaning you must receive a Post-Graduate Work Permit granted by the IRCC.
• Have the required qualifications, training, and documentation to perform your duties.
• intend to live and work in the province
• have a job offer that meets the salary and employment standards of the province
• have a job offer from a job that gives you opportunities for advancement
• have enough funds to settle your dependents and yourself in the province
• provide relevant language test results and show you have the required language ability to do your job's duties.

Do You Qualify?

If You Want to Start a Business in Newfoundland and Labrador

Canada, per its deep need and desire to attract foreigners with rare skills to contribute to its national economy, has created several entrepreneurship-based immigration visa programs and pathways enabling skilled businesspeople to move to the country.

The same applies to its provinces, and for those with Newfoundland and Labrador as their goal, the NL PNPs can be used by experienced foreign business owners looking to call the province their home.

International Entrepreneur Category

This program is catered to experienced business owners or managers who intend to either begin or buy an existing business in Newfoundland & Labrador and permanently settle in the province.

To be eligible to use this program to apply to move to Newfoundland and Labrador, you must:

• be 21 to 59 years of age
• complete and submit a business plan for your venture, and a third-party professional must verify it
• have a minimum of a Canadian high school diploma which needs to be verified by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
• have intentions to settle and operate your business in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• have a net worth to the value of CAD 600,000
• invest at least CAD 200,000 in your business or own at least a third of an existing business
• create a minimum of one full-time job for Canadian permanent residents or citizens
• have a minimum of two years of work experience in the management of your business or worked five years in senior management
• have a minimum score of 5 for all Canadian Language Benchmark test categories
• complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) and must receive an invitation to apply (ITA)

International Graduate Entrepreneur Category

International students that have graduated from Memorial University or College of the North Atlantic are eligible to be nominated for permanent residency through this category. To be eligible, you must:

• Have already started or bought a business in Newfoundland & Labrador and been involved in day-to-day operations for at least one continuous year.
• Be a minimum of 21 years old.
• Create a business continuity plan that a professional third party must verify.
• You have completed a full-time degree or diploma worth at least two academic years.
• Hold a valid Post-Graduate Work Permit.
• Intend to work and live in Newfoundland and Labrador while managing your business.
• Own at least a third of your business.
• create a minimum of one full-time job for a Canadian permanent resident citizen
• demonstrate your intentions for your business to be for-profit
• score at least seven on the CLB test

Find Your Pathway

Applying for the Newfoundland and Labrador PNP: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you want to apply for the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program, you must follow these steps:

Step 1: Determine Your Eligibility

Ensure you meet the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program eligibility requirements before you go on to apply. We recommend using the services of an RCIC to provide you with a trusted professional evaluation.

Step 2: Secure a Job Offer

You need a valid offer of employment from a Newfoundland and Labrador business employer to apply. We recommend you consult the in-demand occupations list to get a comprehensive list of the jobs you're eligible to apply for. Your job offer must be full-time and permanent and a skilled occupation in a targeted sector identified by the province.

Step 3: Submit an Expression of Interest

Once the eligibility requirements have been met and you have obtained a valid job offer, you can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the NL PNP. Your EOI will be assessed based on your education, language skills, work experience, and ties to the province.

Step 4: Receive an Invitation to Apply

If you're selected from the EOI pool, you will receive an ITA. You have 60 days to complete and submit your application.

Step 5: Submit a Complete Application

You should include the following required documents: ECA, language test results, bank statements, references from past employers, etc., undergo a medical exam, and get a police certificate showing you are cleared.

Step 6: Wait for a Decision

Application processing times for the Newfoundland and Labrador PNP usually take 3 to 4 months. The province will issue you a nomination certificate if your application is approved.

Step 7: Apply for Permanent Residence

Apply through the federal government and use the nomination certificate granted by Newfoundland and Labrador.

Newfoundland and Labrador In-demand Occupations

The Newfoundland and Labrador job market is as eager for skilled foreign individuals to join its dwindling pool of labor that can contribute economically to the province.

If you're looking to become eligible to apply to move to the province via a job offer, go through the list of Newfoundland and Labrador's in-demand occupations and see if one of the occupations matches your work experience.

Can You Work in Canada?

Why Choose Newfoundland and Labrador?

Located on the east coast of Canada and brimming with a unique rustic vibrancy characteristic of its people, Newfoundland and Labrador is one of Canada's hidden jewels concerning natural beauty.

Low Crime Rate

Its close-knit communities enjoy some of the lowest crime rates in Canada, and affordable housing gives it some of the lowest homelessness rates in the country.

Low Cost of Living:

The cost of living is relatively low compared to other provinces in Canada. For example, according to Numbeo, a family of four can live on CAD 4,782.1 without rent per month compared to a family of four in Ontario, which needs to live on CAD 5,120.6 without rent.

Friendly People:

The people of Newfoundland and Labrador are known for their warmth and hospitality. They are welcoming to newcomers, and a sense of community is vital.

Family-friendly:

Newfoundland and Labrador are great places to raise a family. The education system is excellent, and the province has family-friendly activities such as hiking, museums and parks, and camping.

Be Prepared to Live Your Best Life in Newfoundland and Labrador Today!

To find out how to start your business in Newfoundland and Labrador, you can speak to one of our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs).

RCICs are professionals given authority by the Government of Canada to give immigration advice, assistance, and representation to individuals looking to move to Canada. RCICs perform the role of helping clients navigate the immigration process and ensure their applications are accurate, complete, and timely submitted.

Ready to Start Your Journey?

FAQs

What is the Most Interesting Place in Newfoundland and Labrador?

One of the most beloved places in Newfoundland and Labrador that tourists love, among many others, is Cape Spear Lighthouse, the most eastern point in Canada. It is generally considered the most interesting place to visit in Newfoundland and Labrador, almost solely for feeling like you have the entire country behind you!

What is the Best Place to Move to in Newfoundland and Labrador?

There is no universally stated best place to live in Newfoundland and Labrador. However, the following presents a list of some of the best places to move to in the province:

• St. Johns
• Corner Brook
• Gander
• Mount Pearl