Manitoba Issues 77 LAAs to Skilled Workers in Latest MPNP Draw

(Manitoba) Manitoba invited skilled workers in its latest provincial selection round, issuing 77 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) on August 21, 2025 under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program Skilled Worker Stream. Of these, 18 went to foreign nationals with valid Express Entry profiles and job seeker validation codes. The minimum Expression of Interest score needed to receive an invitation was 612 on the EOI system, a sharp drop from the earlier August round.

Program officials marked this as the 17th draw of the year, with invitations limited to candidates the province directly reached out to through strategic recruitment.

Distribution of LAAs by Targeted Area

Manitoba focused its selection on four targeted areas that link employers and communities with talent ready to settle. LAAs were distributed as follows:

• Employer Services: 6
• Francophone Community: 29
• Regional Communities: 31
• Ethnocultural Communities: 11

Officials also flagged a common frustration: some candidates who met or exceeded the 612 cut-off did not receive LAAs because of invalid or expired language test results or because their EOI lacked the correct invitation number tied to a strategic recruitment event. In other words, scoring high is not enough if the file is missing required proof or codes.

The Skilled Worker Stream includes two pathways — Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Worker Overseas. In this round, invitations were restricted to individuals the program had already identified through its strategic outreach. That approach helps the province match workers with proven demand in local job markets and communities that can support quick settlement.

Key takeaway

High EOI scores alone don’t guarantee an LAA — your supporting documents (valid language tests, correct invitation numbers) must also be current and complete.

Policy Context and Draw Details

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program remains central to Manitoba’s strategy to meet labor needs and offer a path to permanent residence for qualified people who want to live and work in the province. The government has reinforced this strategy with measures to keep people working while they wait for permanent status.

A temporary public policy introduced in 2024 allows eligible MPNP applicants to extend their work permits by up to two years, supporting an estimated 6,700 temporary workers. This aligns with Manitoba’s allocation of 9,500 provincial nominations for 2024 and reflects a sustained effort to move temporary workers to permanent status in a steady, orderly way.

Manitoba’s Minister of Labour and Immigration, Malaya Marcelino, has stressed the goal of keeping temporary workers in stable jobs while their cases move forward. That stability matters to families planning their futures and to employers who depend on trained staff. It also helps communities across the province retain people who have built lives there.

Draw activity this month shows how thresholds can shift from round to round. On August 7, the program issued 37 LAAs and set a much higher cut-off score of 724. Two weeks later, the 612 cut-off opened the door to more candidates, but only those invited through strategic recruitment channels were considered. These swings reflect both the number of invitations available and the province’s decision to focus on specific segments — employers with immediate needs, Francophone newcomers, regional towns facing shortages, and ethnocultural groups that can help newcomers settle fast.

For candidates with Express Entry profiles, Manitoba’s approach can offer a dual path:

• A provincial nomination can be used within Express Entry, potentially leading to a federal Invitation to Apply for permanent residence.
• Alternatively, candidates may proceed through the non-Express route if that better fits their profile.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the province’s targeted style — especially its emphasis on Francophone and regional recruitment — helps Manitoba match people to real jobs and real communities, making it an attractive landing spot in Canada for skilled workers who want clear steps from temporary to permanent status.

Impact on Applicants and Communities

The breakdown of the 77 LAAs shows where Manitoba sees need:

• 31 Regional Communities LAAs: indicate shortages in smaller towns and rural areas. Employers outside large cities often struggle to hire and keep workers; these targeted LAAs can quickly link vetted applicants with jobs in places where housing is more affordable and quality of life can be strong.
• 29 Francophone Community LAAs: show continued support for Francophone settlement and Manitoba’s goals to grow its French-speaking population and strengthen services in both official languages.
• 11 Ethnocultural Communities LAAs: reflect efforts to tap community groups that can help newcomers find mentors, housing leads, and social support shortly after arrival.
• 6 Employer Services LAAs: typically address urgent roles that must be filled quickly to maintain operations, meet seasonal peaks, or cover skill gaps.

Applicants benefit most when they prepare early and keep all documents current. Based on this draw, two simple checks can prevent lost chances:

• Ensure language test results are valid on the day the province reviews your file.
• If contacted through a recruitment mission or community referral, add the correct invitation number to your EOI. Without it, the system may skip your profile even if your score is high.

For families already in Manitoba on temporary permits, the up to two-year extension option is a lifeline. It allows parents to continue working and children to stay in the same schools while nomination and federal processing continue. For employers, fewer job disruptions mean less retraining and more stable teams.

Manitoba has also been testing new ways to bring newcomers to smaller centers. The West-Central Immigration Initiative, launched in late 2024, aims to support rural municipalities and Indigenous communities that want to grow. It is early days, but watchers expect these pilots to inform future draws focusing on specific regions.

Recent results hint at continued activity through 2025, with cut-offs that may rise or fall depending on the target group and the number of LAAs the program issues on a given day. Manitoba’s collaboration with the federal government on work-permit measures and nomination levels suggests steady support for those moving from temporary status to permanent residence.

Practical Steps and Common Pitfalls

For Skilled Worker Stream candidates, the process moves in clear stages:

1. Create an EOI with accurate details. Include valid language test numbers and any recruitment invitation number you received from the province.
2. Wait for an LAA. Selection depends on score and whether you fit a current recruitment focus.
3. Submit your full application to the MPNP within the deadline listed in the LAA.
4. If nominated by Manitoba, apply for permanent residence with IRCC. Those with Express Entry profiles may continue through that system; others can use the non-Express pathway.
5. If you qualify under the 2024 temporary policy, apply to extend your work permit to keep working while IRCC processes your case.

To understand provincial requirements and view past draw results, visit the official MPNP website: https://www.immigratemanitoba.com/. For those applying through the non-Express route at the federal stage, IRCC provides the Provincial Nominee Program application package, which includes the IMM 0008 form and related schedules; the official package is here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/provincial-nominees/application-package.html.

Read the guide carefully and double-check dates on language tests before uploading. Small errors — like a test that expired last week or a missing invitation code — can knock you out of a draw even if your score would have been enough.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Expired language test results on the review date.
• Missing or incorrect recruitment invitation numbers in the EOI.
• Relying on a single past cut-off — thresholds can change rapidly between draws.

The August 21 results reinforce why applicants should not fixate on a single cut-off number. As seen on August 7 (37 LAAs, 724 minimum) and August 21 (77 LAAs, 612 minimum), the key is to keep your profile ready and your documents valid so you are positioned when your target group is selected.

Examples of How This Matters

• A worker in Brandon whose work permit expires soon can use the two-year extension option to avoid a break in employment while nomination is processed.
• A French-speaking educator seeking to settle in St. Boniface can benefit from the Francophone Community stream, which may speed matching with schools or community groups.
• A welder recruited overseas to a regional shop may find Employer Services or Regional Communities pathways can turn a job offer into long-term residence.

Manitoba’s approach remains simple in aim but careful in detail: focus on communities with clear needs, invite candidates who can settle fast, and keep workers in their roles while permanent status is processed. For applicants, success often comes down to timely testing, up-to-date records, and close attention to the invitation instructions in the LAA.

Authorities indicated they will keep holding draws through 2025, adjusting targets to match labor gaps across sectors and regions. Applicants should watch official updates and be ready for changes in thresholds tied to specific recruitment pushes. Families, employers, and communities across Manitoba are watching as well, counting on the program to keep people in jobs and build stable neighborhoods across the province.