Maple News reports that Newfoundland and Labrador issued 445 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in its first draw of 2026, the highest single-round total the province has ever seen. The invitations were spread across two programs: 362 ITAs under the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and 83 ITAs under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).
This marks the largest number of invitations issued in a single NLPNP/AIP round since the province launched its Expression of Interest (EOI) system in April 2025. The NLPNP does not disclose which streams within the Provincial Nominee Program generated the ITAs.
The March 6 draw is the 14th selection round overall and the first conducted in 2026. The move to an EOI-based intake followed a substantial reduction in federal nomination allocations in 2025 and aligns NL’s provincial programs with similar reforms undertaken by other provinces to better target labor-market needs.
In 2025, the federal government allotted Newfoundland and Labrador a total of 2,525 nomination spaces across its two provincial programs—2,050 for the NLPNP and 475 for the AIP. That year, NLPNP and AIP combined issued 3,376 invitations across 13 rounds (2,473 NLPNP and 903 AIP), underscoring a sustained push to attract skilled workers despite tighter national quotas.
The NLPNP operates across multiple streams, with five primary channels used to allocate its nomination spaces. The province’s shift to the EOI system reflects a broader strategy to better align provincial nominations with local labor-market demand and the province’s immigration goals.
Overall, Maple News notes that the strong start to 2026 signals ongoing demand for skilled talent in Newfoundland and Labrador and highlights the province’s continued focus on targeted, data-driven immigration pathways.