The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) is Canada’s First Provincial Nominee Program and is created with the aim to increase the economic benefit of immigration to Manitoba. A big advantage of this program is receiving a Manitoba Provincial Nomination Certificate. This Certificate accelerates the immigration process. In order to know if you are eligible for the MPNP and can obtain the Certificate, you need to apply for the right “stream”. There are four main immigration streams in this program: International Education Stream (IES), Business Investor Stream (BIS), Skilled Worker in Manitoba Stream (SWM) and Skilled Worker Overseas Stream (SWO). This short article focuses on the SWO with the specific sub-stream of the Manitoba Express Entry.
MPNP-account
An important part of the sub-stream is that SWO-applicants need to demonstrate their connection to Manitoba. This can be through the support of a family member or friends, a previous temporary stay for education or work or they received directly an “Invitation to Apply” (ITA) from the MPNP. After receiving an ITA, the applicant has 60 calendar days to submit a complete application for permanent residence, which means all supporting documents need to be provided. If it is not possible within that time, the applicant can decline the ITA and be considered for another invitation in the future. When there is no responding to the ITA, the ITA will expire and the applicant will no longer be in the Express Entry Pool.
If you already have an active application with the MPNP you can only submit an Express Entry profile if you are directly contacted by the MPNP and they advise you to submit. When you apply for a permanent residence, applicants will receive a Letter of Approval from the MPNP which includes an outline of all the steps.
Express Entry
The minimum requirement for this Express Entry is an acceptance into the online pool by providing a valid Express Entry ID and a so-called Job Seeker Validation Code. You can find this Validation Code in your account under the section “To register with Job Bank”. You also need to complete an assessment for Educational Credentials and provide evidence of sufficient funds meeting higher federal requirements.
In conclusion applicants who choose for the SWO-stream through the sub-stream of the Express Entry need to be eligible for both: the MPNP and the Express Entry. This sub-stream is especially created for candidates with a strong connection to Manitoba, such as family, study or work ties. Applicants who are already have an active MPNP-account and want to apply for the Express Entry sub-stream, depend on a direct contact by the MPNP.
All said and explained in this article does not constitute a legal opinion and does not replace legal advice. Responsibility for using the wordings and opinions conveyed in this article relies solely and entirely on the reader.
This article was written by Dotan Cohen Law Offices, working in the field of immigration law in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
