(PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND) — Prince Edward Island held a Provincial Nominee Program draw on December 23, 2025, issuing 13 invitations to candidates through the Labour Impact and PEI Express Entry pathways.
Focus and selection criteria
The draw concentrated on candidates in occupations supporting the province’s economic priorities. Selection was limited to streams tied to Labour Impact and Express Entry, reflecting a continued emphasis on sectors viewed as generating a positive economic impact.
Unlike earlier rounds in 2025 that prioritized candidates with direct provincial ties, the December 23, 2025 draw broadened its scope to include eligible candidates regardless of direct PEI connections.
Context: scheduling and recent trends
Prince Edward Island’s latest invitations marked the second unscheduled “surprise” draw of 2025, deviating from the province’s typical monthly schedule.
- The first unscheduled draw occurred on October 27, 2025.
- From July 2025 onward, PEI ran six rounds that prioritized:
- workers employed by PEI employers, and
- recent graduates from designated institutions including University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), Holland College, and Collège de l’Île.
The December 23 draw differed from those earlier rounds by widening selection criteria to occupations aligned with economic priorities, not just those with provincial ties.
Why the shift happened
The province has been operating under what was described as a “use-it-or-lose-it 2025 nomination allocation.” Under Canada’s 2025–2027 Levels Plan, PEI’s allocation was reduced by half, which prompted extra draws to avoid leaving nomination spots unused.
Recent draw history and totals
- December 15, 2025 — the previous draw issued 166 invitations under the Labour Impact and PEI Express Entry pathways, targeting PEI-employed workers and certain international graduates.
- Across 2025, Prince Edward Island issued nearly 1,609 invitations, almost all through:
- Labour Impact, and
- PEI Express Entry.
- There was one invitation issued via the Business Work Permit Entrepreneur stream.
How PEI’s PNP works (candidate process)
PEI’s Provincial Nominee Program selection system requires prospective candidates to:
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile through the province’s online process.
- Have their profile accepted under one of these categories:
– Labour Impact
– Express Entry
– Business Impact
The province’s use of the PEI Express Entry pathway links its provincial nomination activity to the federal Express Entry system, which manages pools of candidates who may qualify for Canadian permanent residence through federal economic immigration programs.
Key takeaway
Prince Edward Island continued to prioritize Labour Impact and PEI Express Entry invitations in 2025, combining scheduled rounds with occasional unscheduled draws to maximize use of a reduced nomination allocation.
Next expected draw
The next draw is predicted for January 6, 2026, extending a year in which PEI mixed scheduled rounds with surprise draws while maintaining a focus on Labour Impact and Express Entry invitations.
Prince Edward Island issued 13 invitations in a surprise December 23, 2025, PNP draw. The round targeted Labour Impact and Express Entry candidates in priority economic sectors. This unscheduled event aims to ensure the province exhausts its 2025 nomination quota, which was recently halved by federal authorities. The draw reflects a shift toward sector-specific needs over strict local residency requirements.
