Maple News reports that Prince Edward Island conducted a new round of invitations for immigration candidates on November 19 through its Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP), welcoming a total of 254 individuals seeking permanent residency in Canada.
Of the total invitations, a large majority—221—were issued to candidates under the Express Entry and Labour Impact streams. The remaining 33 invitations went to Business Impact candidates who met a minimum score threshold of 92 points.
The PEI PNP is a vital component of Canada’s broader Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), allowing provinces and territories to nominate candidates who align with local labour market demands. Some streams, such as PEI’s Express Entry Category, are integrated with Canada’s federal Express Entry system, providing an accelerated pathway to permanent residency.
Express Entry itself manages permanent residency applications under three federal streams: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. Candidates in this system are scored via the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which assesses factors such as age, work experience, education, and language proficiency.
A provincial nomination from PEI adds a valuable 600 points to a candidate’s CRS score, practically guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in a future federal Express Entry draw.
To be considered for a PEI nomination via Express Entry, candidates must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to PEI’s immigration office. These EOI profiles are ranked against the province’s selection grid, with top scorers invited in monthly draws.
While PEI disclosed the overall number of invitations in this draw, it did not provide a specific breakdown between Express Entry and Labour Impact categories or indicate the minimum EOI scores needed for those streams.
This draw continues Prince Edward Island’s proactive strategy in attracting skilled immigrants and entrepreneurs to address local workforce needs and drive regional economic growth.