- Newfoundland and Labrador issued 445 invitations in its first immigration draws of 2026.
- The province targeted health care and offshore energy sectors through the NLPNP and AIP programs.
- Invited candidates must submit full applications within 60 days to pursue provincial nomination.
(NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, CANADA) — Newfoundland and Labrador issued 445 invitations to apply on March 6, 2026, in its first immigration draws of the year through the Enhanced Expression of Interest (EOI) system.
Provincial officials publicly announced the draws on March 10, 2026, using a rolling intake model rather than fixed schedules.
The invitations matter because they open the door to a full application under programs that can lead to a provincial nomination and the next steps in permanent residence processes.
Most of the invitations flowed through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program, with 362 issued under the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program framework.
The province directed those NLPNP invitations toward Priority Skills NL and Skilled Worker streams, focusing on offshore energy, health care, and information technology sectors.
Another 83 invitations went through the Atlantic Immigration Program, which the province used to support designated employers in aquaculture and green-tech industries.
That split reflects two different selection channels in the same round, with NLPNP generally targeting skilled worker-focused pathways tied to provincial labour needs and AIP operating as an employer-driven route in which designated employers play a central role.
AIP selections in this round aligned with sectors the province highlighted as aquaculture and green-tech, while NLPNP selections emphasized offshore energy, health care, and IT.
Candidates in both programs submit their EOIs through the province’s Immigration Accelerator portal, which serves as the entry point for creating and maintaining an EOI profile.
An invitation under the Enhanced Expression of Interest approach is not the final approval, because it triggers the next step of filing a full application under the relevant program stream.
EOIs remain valid for 12 months, and the province’s use of a rolling intake model makes it important for candidates to keep their profiles current while they are active.
Certain candidates already in Canada with valid temporary status are exempt from needing a pre-existing employer invitation code, a rule that can change how some applicants approach employer outreach before entering the EOI pool.
For NLPNP candidates who receive an invitation, the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism gives invited candidates 60 days to submit full applications.
Even with that official 60-day window, sources note a 30-day window for urgency compared to federal timelines, putting pressure on applicants to assemble complete packages quickly and to follow the instructions in their invitation.
Document readiness can shape whether an invited candidate meets the submission deadline, with common bottlenecks including reference letters, proof of status, translations, police checks, and employer documents.
The March 2026 round followed a strong 2025 in which the province issued 3,376 total invitations under NLPNP and AIP.
Officials anticipate modestly higher 2026 targets to address aging demographics, and invitation rounds function as part of annual planning in which targets and selections do not operate on a fixed schedule.
On the employer side, the province warned that AIP employer designations must be current at the time of use, a requirement that can affect whether a candidate can move forward after an invitation.
Job offers under AIP must align with TEER skill levels and meet wage thresholds, checks that sit alongside the program’s structure as an employer-driven pathway.
The province also noted that the Atlantic Immigration Program operates without an LMIA requirement for TEER 0-5 roles, a feature that can shape how designated employers recruit and support candidates.
Employers with questions can contact Labour Market Development Officers at 1-800-563-6600 or [email protected] for support.
Looking ahead, the province said the draws signal increased competition across Atlantic provinces this spring, and it pointed applicants and employers to watch portal updates, employer designation status, and the invitation instructions that apply to each selection round.
