(MANITOBA, CANADA) — Manitoba’s Provincial Nominee Program issued 72 Letters of Advice to Apply to skilled foreign workers on February 26, 2026, in Expression of Interest Draw #265 under the Skilled Worker Stream.
The draw matters for candidates in Manitoba’s immigration queue because a Letter of Advice to Apply, or LAA, is the program’s formal invitation step. Candidates submit an Expression of Interest, receive an LAA if selected, file a full application, and can then seek a provincial nomination.
Manitoba targeted candidates in the Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Worker Overseas pathways who declared direct invitations from MPNP strategic recruitment initiatives or the Temporary Public Policy for work permits, which ended December 31, 2025.
In this round, Manitoba split the 72 LAAs across several initiative categories tied to specific connections, such as an employer, a community group, a regional aim, francophone selection, or a public policy pathway.
Employer Services accounted for the largest share, with 40 LAAs, listed as 55% of the total. Ethnocultural Communities received 12 LAAs, while Regional Communities received 8.
Manitoba also issued 5 LAAs through the Francophone Community initiative. The Temporary Public Policy category accounted for 7 LAAs.
Targeted initiative draws like this one generally mean the program focuses on candidates it has already identified through specific channels, rather than drawing broadly from everyone who has an Expression of Interest on file. That approach can affect both who gets invited and how applicants prepare their profiles.
The February 26 draw covered two Skilled Worker Stream pathways: Skilled Worker in Manitoba and Skilled Worker Overseas. Both routes use the Expression of Interest system, but candidates’ eligibility and ties to the province can differ by pathway.
For Skilled Worker Overseas, Manitoba’s eligibility basics include scoring at least 60 points based on factors that include language, age, education, work experience and Manitoba connections. The points factors listed include language with a CLB 5 minimum, age with 21-45 ideal, education with 1+ year post-secondary, and work experience with 2 years full-time in past 5.
Manitoba connections, listed as part of the Skilled Worker Overseas factors, can include family, prior work or study, or a recruitment invitation. Language test results matter in the EOI system because candidates use valid results to support their language claims.
A provincial nomination can also intersect with the federal Express Entry system. Manitoba nominations add 600 CRS points for Express Entry, which can aid candidates seeking federal permanent residence.
Within Draw #265, Manitoba issued 11 LAAs to candidates who had valid Express Entry profile numbers and job seeker validation codes. That detail matters for applicants watching both provincial and federal pathways, because it signals that some invitations went to profiles aligned with Express Entry requirements.
Manitoba limited consideration in this round to directly invited candidates. Only EOIs from directly invited candidates were considered, and self-selection is not permitted.
Invitations can stem from MPNP recruitment missions or exploratory visits. That direct invitation requirement can shape how candidates understand their prospects in any given round, since not every EOI remains eligible for selection if a draw targets specific invited groups.
Draw #265 was Manitoba’s fourth Skilled Worker Stream draw of 2026. The previous draw took place February 1, 2026 and issued 47 LAAs.
That February 1 round was also described as targeted, totaling 102 LAAs year-to-date as of early February. Manitoba’s draw sizes and targeting can vary across the year, and the program can shift attention among initiatives depending on the candidates it seeks to invite.
Candidates who were not selected in the February 26 round can still take steps that keep their profiles ready for future consideration. Manitoba says candidates must update EOIs with valid language test numbers or invitation codes if not selected.
Keeping EOI information current can matter in a targeted system because eligibility can hinge on specific identifiers, such as an invitation code, or on documentation that supports declared factors. Applicants also need to ensure their Express Entry information stays accurate if they aim to link a provincial pathway to the federal pool.
Manitoba directs applicants to confirm draw information through its official immigration channels. Official details are available through Manitoba’s official immigration website, where candidates can check draw updates and program information tied to the Provincial Nominee Program and its Letters of Advice to Apply.
Manitoba Sends New Letters of Advice to Apply in Provincial Nominee Program
Manitoba recently issued 72 invitations through its Provincial Nominee Program draw on February 26, 2026. Targeting specific recruitment initiatives, the draw favored candidates with direct ties to employers, regional communities, or francophone groups. By focusing on pre-identified talent, Manitoba aims to streamline the path to provincial nomination, which provides a significant 600-point boost for those also registered in the federal Express Entry system.
