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 consider moving 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
  • Have work experience in a specified sector the province has identified
  • Have training, qualifications, or a license necessary for the job
  • Have a valid work permit if you presently work in Canada
  • Have sufficient English or French language proficiency to carry out your job duties
  • Have sufficient funds to settle in Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Have enough funds needed 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 provides the province's businesspeople with the opportunity to nominate foreign workers with the necessary skills and experience to move to the province.

This is done with the intention of addressing 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

One of the most common eligibility criteria for a Provincial Nomination Program is the obtainment of 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
  • Your offer must meet the employment and wage standards of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • You must have all the necessary qualifications, training, and documentation needed to perform your job
  • You must have a valid work permit or meet the necessary requirements to apply for one
  • You must show clear intentions to live and work in the province
  • You must have sufficient settlement funds for both yourself and accompanying relatives
  • You must be employed by someone or a business that can show that your skillset as a worker is necessary
  • You must submit the relevant language test results that clearly show you have the needed language ability to perform the duties of your job

Priority Skills NL Category

The Priority Skills Newfoundland & Labrador (Priority Skills NL) PNP Stream is created with the purpose 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.

You must meet the following eligibility requirements to apply for the Priority Skills Newfoundland Category:

  • Education:
    • You must have 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:
    • You must experience working in a specialized, high-skilled, and in-demand occupation for a full year in the past decade
  • Language:
    • You must have 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 a minimum age of 21 years old

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
  • You must score a minimum of 67 points of a possible 100 on the PNP Assessment Grid
  • You must obtain an offer of employment from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer which meets the employment and wage governmental standards
  • You must have a work permit that is valid, or meet the criteria to apply for one
  • You must 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
  • You must intend to live and work in Newfoundland and Labrador
  • You must have enough funds to settle you and your dependents in Newfoundland and Labrador
  • You must 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 Have 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 that has 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
  • You must study full-time and complete at least a minimum of a two-year diploma or degree.
  • You must have a job offer for a permanent, full-time position;
  • You must be legally enabled to work in Canada, which means you need to be in receipt of a Post-Graduate Work Permit granted by the IRCC
  • You must have the required qualifications, training, and documentation necessary to perform the duties of your job
  • You must be intending to live and work in the province
  • You must have a job offer that meets the salary and employment standards of the province
  • You must have a job offer from a job that gives you opportunities for advancement
  • You must have enough funds to settle your dependents and yourself in the province
  • You must provide language test results that are relevant 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, in accordance with 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 that can enable skilled businesspeople to move to the country.

The same applies to its provinces and for those with Newfoundland and Labrador as their goal, the following 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
  • You must complete and submit a business plan for your venture and it must be verified by a third-party professional
  • You must have a minimum of a Canadian high school diploma which needs to be verified by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
  • You must have intentions to settle and operate your business in Newfoundland and Labrador
  • You must have a net worth to the value of CAD 600,000
  • You must invest at least CAD 200,000 in your business or own at least a third of an existing business
  • You must create a minimum of one full-time job for Canadian permanent residents or citizens
  • You must have a minimum of two years of work experience in the management of your business or worked five years in senior management
  • You must have a minimum score of 5 for all Canadian Language Benchmark test categories
  • You must 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.

  • You must have started or bought a business in Newfoundland & Labrador already and been involved in the day-to-day operations for a minimum of one continuous year
  • You must be a minimum of 21 years old
  • You must create and provide a business continuity plan that must be verified by a professional third party
  • You have completed a degree or diploma worth at least two academic years, full-time
  • You must hold a valid Post-Graduate Work Permit
  • You must intend to work and live in Newfoundland and Labrador in the process of managing your business
  • You must own at least a third of your business
  • You must create a minimum of one full-time job for a Canadian permanent resident citizen
  • You must demonstrate your intentions for your business to be for-profit
  • You must score at least 7 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 must have a valid offer of employment from a Newfoundland and Labrador business employer in order to apply. We recommend you consult the in-demand occupations list in order to get a comprehensive list of the jobs on hand that 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’re eligible to 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. You must go through 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. If your application is approved, the province will issue you a nomination certificate.

Step 7: Apply for Permanent Residence

You must 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 that is also characteristic of its people, Newfoundland and Labrador are 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 per month.

Friendly People:

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

Family-friendly:

Newfoundland and Labrador are great places to raise a family. The education system is excellent, and the province is loaded with family-friendly activities such as hiking, visiting 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 to help 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, is generally considered the most interesting place to visit in Newfoundland and Labrador almost solely for the sense of feeling like you have the entire country behind your back!

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

Which place in Newfoundland and Labrador has the best employment opportunities?

Employment opportunities are highly dependent on your industry and occupation.