Prince Edward Island (PEI) conducted a new round of targeted invitations through its Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) on July 17, issuing a total of 39 invitations to eligible foreign nationals to apply for a provincial nomination. Candidates invited in this round were selected based on their potential to make a positive impact on the province's economy by working in priority sectors and in-demand occupations.

Eligibility Requirements for This Draw

According to information released by the PEI Office of Immigration, candidates invited in this round were required to meet a series of strict criteria to ensure their seamless integration into the local labour market. The specific requirements are as follows:

• Job Offer: Must hold a permanent, full-time, non-seasonal job offer from a PEI employer in a position on the province's designated in-demand occupations list.
• Work Experience: Must have at least one year of full-time work experience that is directly related to the job being offered by the PEI employer.
• Age: Must be between 18 and 59 years of age.
• Education: Must have completed at least a high school education or its equivalent.
• Language Proficiency: Must submit valid language test results from an approved testing organization, taken within the last two years, demonstrating a proficiency equivalent to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level 4.
• Settlement Funds: Must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to cover all immigration-related costs for themselves and any accompanying family members to settle in PEI, including travel expenses.

Notably, candidates currently residing outside of Canada were also eligible for this draw, provided their employer had received prior authorization from the PEI Office of Immigration before issuing the job offer.

PEI's Designated In-Demand Occupations List

To address specific labour shortages, the PEI PNP has identified the following as "in-demand" occupations, presented with their corresponding National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes:

Future Trends: A More Selective Immigration Strategy

Provincial immigration in Canada is facing new challenges this year. Due to the federal government's reduction in nomination allocations issued to provincial immigration authorities, provinces are becoming more stringent in their selection of candidates.

As a result, the PEI PNP has been impacted and has officially stated it will narrow the scope of its invitations. According to its website, the PEI Office of Immigration is currently focusing on selecting and prioritizing skilled workers in high-demand sectors, including healthcare, trades, childcare, and other critical industries experiencing labour shortages. The office also advised that individuals employed in non-priority sectors, such as sales and service, may not be invited at this time.

In addition to specific occupations, the provincial government may also consider one or more of the following attributes when assessing a candidate's ability to meet the province's economic and labour market needs:

• Language proficiency: In English or French.
• Education: Including the level, field of study, and where it was completed.
• Occupational skill level and relevant work experience.
• Additional factors related to employment prospects, such as holding a job offer in PEI and/or having prior Canadian work experience.

This series of adjustments indicates that PEI is committed to using its Provincial Nominee Program to precisely attract professionals who can immediately contribute to its key industries, thereby addressing current economic and labour market challenges.