Prince Edward Island (PEI) is Canada's smallest province. Despite its size, it is a popular destination for immigrants due to being rich in natural beauty, history, and Canadian culture.

Prince Edward Island is an ideal place to settle in Canada, with excellent schools, almost no pollution or traffic, and home to the historic Charlottetown Conference of 1864 that led to the Canadian Confederation. Additionally, the province has an exceptionally high quality of life. Tourists love the province's fantastic beaches, top-rated golf courses, and cultural attractions.

With some of Canada's safest and closest-knit communities, it's understandable why people worldwide want to settle in Prince Edward Island. For anyone interested in moving to the Atlantic Canadian province, here is what you need to know about which Provincial Nominee Program/s (PNPs) you're best suited to, how to apply for it, and other relevant information.

Make Your Move to Canada

For Immigrants With a Job Offer

Suppose you searched for and received a job offer from a Canadian employer. In that case, you can apply for the following Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee streams that, if successful, will allow you to settle in and move to the province.

Prince Edward Island Critical Workers Stream

The PEI Critical Worker Stream is employer-driven, enabling Prince Edward Island employers to fill job posts for low-skilled positions they cannot fill with local talent. If you currently work in PEI, you can use this stream to apply for permanent residency status in the province. The only exception to this rule is truck-sector employers who can be recruited from other provinces in Canada.

Prince Edward Island Critical Workers Stream Eligibility Requirements
Profile (Express Entry) Not needed
Ties to the Province Yes, work experience is needed
Offer of Employment, Yes and it must be in NOC TEER 4 or 5
Proficiency in Language A CLB score of 4 or above
Education Level Complete Secondary School
Working Experience Work for at least six months in a full-time position by a PEI employer
Age 18-59
Settlement Funds Yes. Enough to support yourself and your family if necessary
Average Application Processing Time An average of 18 months

Skilled Worker in Prince Edward Island Stream

You can apply for a nomination for permanent residency through the Skilled Worker in PEI Stream if an employer currently employs you in Prince Edward Island.

Skilled Worker in Prince Edward Island Stream Eligibility Requirements
Profile (Express Entry) No
Ties to the Province Yes, work experience
Offer of employment Yes, and it must be in NOC TEER 0, 1, or 2
Proficiency of Language A CLB score of 4 or above
Education levels Have a Post-Secondary Degree or Diploma
Working Experience At least two years of permanent full-time work experience in the past five years.
Age 18-59
Settlement Funds Yes. Enough to support yourself and your family
Average Application Processing Time An average of 18 months

Skilled Workers Outside Canada Stream

You can apply for a nomination for permanent residency through the Skilled Worker Outside Canada Stream of the PEI PNP if you have a job offer from an Island employer.

Skilled Workers Outside Canada Stream Eligibility Requirements
Profile (Express Entry) Not needed
Ties to the Province Not needed
Offer of Employment Yes, and it must be for NOC TEER 0, 1, or 2
Proficiency in Language A CLB score of 4 or above
Education levels Have a Post-Secondary Degree or Diploma(2 years)
Working Experience At least two years of permanent full-time work experience in the last five years.
Age 18-59
Settlement Funds Yes. Enough to support yourself and your family
Average Application Processing Time An average of 18 months
Start Your Canadian Journey

For Immigrants who Have Studied on Prince Edward Island

Experiences in Canada are a precious asset in the long term concerning optimizing your chances of obtaining permanent residency status in Canada. This goes for study experiences as well, so if you have any prior experience studying and graduating from a Canadian university, then you may be eligible to apply to move to the province using the following Prince Edward Island provincial nominee streams, which include:

International Graduate Stream

You could apply for a nomination for permanent residency through the International Graduate Stream of the PEI PNP if you graduated from a publicly-funded PEI post-secondary institution.

International Graduate Stream Eligibility Requirements
Profile (Express Entry) Not needed
Ties to the Province Yes. Prior education in Canada needed
Offer of Employment Yes, at least for 2-years
Proficiency in Language A CLB score of 4 or above
Education Level Have a Post-Secondary Degree or Diploma from PEI
Working Experience Not needed
Age 18-59
Settlement Funds Yes. Enough to support yourself and your family
Average Application Processing Time An average of 18 months
Do You Qualify?

For Immigrants Who Want to Start a Business on Prince Edward Island

Canada constantly needs capable new immigrants who can contribute to the growth of their nation's economy through entrepreneurship. Suppose you have a lot of interesting and innovative ideas that you think will greatly benefit the provincial economy of Prince Edward Island. In that case, we recommend using the following PEI provincial nominee streams to apply:

Business Start-Up and Entrepreneurship

If you are interested in moving to Prince Edward Island to invest in and run a business in the province, then we recommend using this stream. Using the Work Permit Stream, you may be eligible for a provincial nomination for permanent residency.

Created for foreign nationals with business ownership and management experience who wish to move to PEI to establish their business and eventually become permanent residents. This stream facilitates the entire application process for these individual immigrants.

Work Permit Stream Eligibility Requirements
Personal Net Worth CAD 600,000
Ties to the Province Not needed
Proficiency of Language A CLB score of 4 or above
Education level Complete Secondary School
Working Experience Have management skills you can transfer and past business ownership or employment experience;
Age 21-59
The Performance Agreement Document Yes. It is needed

What is a Performance Agreement?

An agreement specifies which requirements you need to receive a provincial nomination from the province. These requirements are as follows:

  • Watching and reporting guidelines
  • Report occurrences of investment
  • Your invested amount
  • Pre and post-nomination requirements

Please take note:

  • You must hand in a Sale Agreement if you want to purchase 100% of a business
  • You must hand in an Investment Agreement to purchase a third (33.33%) of a business

Ensuring you have all you need to begin a business in your country is challenging. In another country, this task is even more daunting. To assist with taking the stress and pressure out of the process, we recommend using the resources of one of our certified immigration professionals, like our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants.

Talk to an Expert

For Immigrants applying via the PEI Express Entry System

Looking for a fast way to move to Prince Edward Island? We recommend utilizing the Express Entry linked PNP of Prince Edward Island.

Prince Edward Island Express Entry Stream

The Express Entry System enables Prince Edward Island to attract and retain immigrants for their provincial nominee program. PEI sends a "Notification of Interest" (NOI) to prospective immigrants whose EE profiles meet the criteria outlined by the province.

If you want to immigrate to Prince Edward Island but do not have a job offer in the province, then you can use the PEI Express Entry stream to apply without a job offer.

PEI accepts applicants whose work experience and skill set are in demand and aligns with PEI's labor needs. If successful, the candidate will receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residency status.

To qualify for a nomination from the Prince Edward Island PNP Express Entry stream, you must meet these requirements:

These programs require a certain level of language ability, as evidenced through the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) System; Education, as demonstrated through an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA); and work experience is required.

Nominated individual immigrants can receive enough points under the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to almost guarantee receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in Canada in the following Express Entry draw.

After receiving an ITA, it does not take too long to be accepted for PEI immigration, given that Express Entry applications can be as fast as six months. Eligibility requirements may vary over time due to changes in labor needs in the province.

As a candidate, we invite you to investigate PEI's needs before applying for the Express Entry System.

Prince Edward Island Express Entry Stream Eligibility Requirements
(Profile) Express Entry Yes
Ties to the Province No
Offer of Employment No need but immigrants with job offers are prioritized.
Proficiency in Language Express Entry Requirements apply (CLB score of 7 for FSWP and CEC; CLB score of 4 for FSTP)
Education level Express Entry Requirements apply(Have tertiary qualifications and/or a high school abandon-specific or on-the-job-training)
Working Experience Requirements for Express Entry(minimum of a year for FSWP and CEC and minimum of two years for FSTP)
Age Requirements for Express Entry apply
Settlement Funds Yes. Enough to support yourself and your family
Average Application Processing Time An average of Six months

Other Programs Specific to Prince Edward Island

These programs are for immigrants looking to move to Prince Edward Island in a direct and precise manner. Other programs can lead to permanent residency but are only open to a few provinces. The Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) is one of these programs which is open to use to immigrate to Prince Edward Island.

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) targets skilled and semi-skilled individuals who want to move permanently to Canada's four Atlantic provinces:

The three programs within this pilot are:

  • Atlantic International Graduate Program
  • Atlantic High Skilled Program
  • Atlantic Intermediate Skilled Program
Find Your Pathway

Prince Edward Island: Natural Wonders and Lifestyle Benefits

Prince Edward Island is a charming, beautiful, and small island on the east coast of Canada. PEI is the perfect destination for those seeking a peaceful and laid-back lifestyle. The island has beautiful beaches, friendly locals, and rolling hills. These are some reasons to consider moving to Prince Edward Island.

Quality of Life

PEI is well-known for its high quality of life. The low crime rates, inexpensive cost of living, and affordable and universal healthcare system make it a prime place to call home.

Natural Beauty

PEI is a beautiful island with picturesque fishing villages and rolling hills. Prince Edward Island National Park is also on the island, offering hiking trails, beautiful scenery, and camping.

Culinary Delights

The island is also known for its delicious seafood, including lobster, mussels, and oysters. Some of Canada's best chefs are located in the province. They are famous for creating unique and delightful cuisine with local ingredients.

Outdoor Activities

If you love the outdoors, then the island is perfect for you. The island offers various outdoor activities, including kayaking, fishing, and golfing.

Arts and Culture

Although it's small, PEI has a vibrant art scene. Known for its music and theatre festivals, museums, and art galleries, you will never run out of cultural activities to do.

Education

A high-quality education system with excellent schools and universities is one of the lasting benefits of moving to the province. The also island hosts the University of Prince Edward Island.

Make the Move to Prince Edward Island's Shores Today!

If Prince Edward Island is the perfect place for you, but you do not know where to begin your application journey, we recommend using the services of an RCIC. An RCIC assists you in creating your online Express Entry profile and submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI).

Ready to Start Your Journey?

FAQs

What is the Most Affordable Place to Move to in Prince Edward Island?

Depending on your subjective needs and wants, various places in Prince Edward Island may be affordable to you as an immigrant settler. However, generally speaking, Charlottetown and Summerside at the most cited affordable places in Canada according to Expat in Canada.

Which Place in Prince Edward Island has the Highest Number of Employment Opportunities?

Which place in Prince Edward Island provides the most employment opportunities depends on your work profile and employment needs. However, Charlottetown, the country's capital and most populated city is generally regarded with the highest employment opportunities in Prince Edward Island.

Is Prince Edward Island Bilingual?

Prince Edward Island, much like the rest of Canada, has English and French as official languages, and therefore it has a significant bilingual population.