Maple News reports that the province of Newfoundland and Labrador held its sixth immigration draw of the year on July 29, extending a total of 150 invitations to candidates under both the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).
According to the province’s Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism (OIM), 100 invitations were issued through the NLPNP, while 50 went to applicants under the AIP. This marks the lowest number of total invitations in a single round since the province adopted the Expression of Interest (EOI) system for its immigration processes earlier this year.
The number of AIP invitations has remained relatively steady, but the NLPNP saw a significant decline compared to previous draws. For example, the earlier draw on July 10 invited 300 NLPNP candidates—three times more than the most recent round.
In total for 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador has invited 1,818 immigration candidates. Of these, 1,495 were through the NLPNP and 323 via the AIP. The province has been allocated 2,050 nomination spaces for its PNP in 2025, meaning 555 spaces are still available for the remainder of the year.
Looking at trends over the year, earlier draws consistently recorded higher volumes. The May 29 draw was the largest so far, inviting a combined 405 candidates (351 from NLPNP and 54 from AIP). Each subsequent draw up until July 29 has seen a downward trend in invitations, especially within the NLPNP.
Industry observers note that this shift may reflect a strategic slowdown or prioritization shift by provincial immigration officials. It also highlights the province’s possibly increased scrutiny in selecting candidates more closely aligned with labor market needs and demographic goals.
As Newfoundland and Labrador continues to attract skilled immigrants to support its economic and population growth strategies, future draws will be closely watched for new patterns in invitation volumes and eligibility criteria.
Maple News will continue to monitor developments in provincial immigration programs across Canada.