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Opportunity Lives Here

Canadian Immigration Lawyer

Manitoba has become a popular Canadian immigration destination due to its strong and growing economy and its needs to recruit workers to the province. It is expected that from now until 2020, there will be 254,000 new employment opportunities created in the province. Many of these jobs are due to the growth of the economy as well because the amount of people who will be retiring from their jobs. Although it is always helpful to have arranged employment, the Manitoba PNP does not require that overseas skilled workers applicants have a job before they immigrate to Manitoba. Contact our full-service law firm, and a Canadian immigration lawyer can review your options.

Once an applicant is nominated under the Manitoba PNP, the applicant may then apply to the federal government for their Canadian permanent resident status. Being nominated demonstrates to the federal government that the province believes you are a good candidate to immigrate to Canada and therefore helps expedite the applicant’s immigration process to Canada (compared to those programs found at the federal level).

Below is a list of the options available to those who are interested in immigrating to Manitoba:

–       Foreign Nationals Currently Working in Manitoba Category

  • For temporary foreign workers and international student graduates who are already working full-time in Manitoba and have a permanent job offer from their employer.

–       Skilled Workers Overseas Category

  • For foreign skilled workers who meet the criteria established under the Manitoba PNP.

–       Immigration Program for Business Category

  • For qualified business people who have the intention and ability to either establish a business, purchase a business or become partners of an existing business, in Manitoba.

–       Manitoba Young Farmer Nominee Program

  • For those who not meet the requirements under the Immigration Program for Business but wish to establish, purchase or become partners of an existing farm in Manitoba.

Foreign Nationals Currently Working In Manitoba Category

This Manitoba PNP steam is for foreign nationals who have been working in Manitoba as a temporary foreign worker and/or for those international student graduates who have been working full-time, for at least six months in Manitoba.  The applicants must have also been offered a full-time permanent job offer from their employer.  The point system referred to in the overseas skilled worker category does not apply to this category.

Skilled Workers Overseas Category – Manitoba Immigration

Under this Manitoba immigration category, skilled workers from abroad may be eligible to immigrate to Canada if they score sufficient points (minimum of 60 points) for employability and adaptability based on a the following five factors:

  • Age (from the date application is received – up to 10 points
  • Language Proficiency (in English and/or French) – up to 25 points
  • Work experience (full-time, within the past 5 years) – up to 15 points
  • Education and training (completed programs) – up to 25 points
  • Adaptability (connections and experience in Manitoba) – up to 25 points

Adaptability is the applicant’s intention and ability to live and support themselves economically in Manitoba whereas employability has to do with the ability for the applicant to find work once they arrive in Manitoba. As such, a job offer is not necessary however the applicant must satisfy the government of Manitoba that they will be able to find employment once they arrive. Those applicants who wish to work in a regulated profession or trade must also go through a licensing process to make sure that they have the proper credentials/licensing to work in that profession or trade.

The demand for certain workers in the province will also be a factor in your application. It is possible that your occupation and experience may come with transferrable skills that could make you a good candidate for other jobs if the occupation you normally work in is not high in demand in the province.

Applicants must also submit a “Settlement Plan” to demonstrate their adaptability and employability. The Settlement Plan will outline why you chose Manitoba, your plan for settling in a particular community, your connections to the province and what steps you have taken to ensure you will be able to quickly find long-term employment once you arrive in Manitoba.

Applicants who have a connection in Manitoba may also have their plan endorsed by this connection, which is referred to as their Manitoba Supporter. The supporter may be a family member or friend and such person must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who has been living continuously in Manitoba for at least one year. The support must review the applicant’s plan and submit what is referred to as Settlement Plan Part 2, outlining the supporter’s information, relationship to the applicant and confirming other information about the applicant and the supporter.

Generally, applicants are required at least have $10,000 CAD plus a $2,000 CAD for each additional family member that will be accompanying them, including their spouse and each dependent.

Manitoba Immigration Program for Business

The Manitoba PNP program for business is designed to recruit and nominate qualified business people who have the intent and ability to start a business, purchase a business or become partners of an existing business, in Manitoba.

To qualify for this program, foreign nationals must meet the following requirements:

  • have previously visited Manitoba for at least 7 days to investigate business opportunities and the province in general;
  • have a personal net worth of at least $350,000 CAD;
  • be willing to make a minimum investment of $150,000 CAD and have an active role in the management of a business in Manitoba;
  • Have a minimum of three years business ownership experience, of which was a successful business, or extensive experience in a senior management position of a company;
  • The applicant, and accompanying dependent family members, must intend to reside in Manitoba;

If the application is approved by government of Manitoba, the applicant will be required to make a $75,000 Cdn deposit to the government of Manitoba guaranteeing that the applicant will live in Manitoba and establish or purchase a business or farm in Manitoba within two years after receiving their permanent residency. Once these requirements are met and the business or farm is operational, the government will then return the deposit without interest.

Manitoba Young Farmer Nominee Program

Interested applicants who do not meet the requirements under the Immigration Program for Business may still qualify under Manitoba’s Young Farmer program. This Manitoba immigration program is designed to recruit and nominate those business-farming people who have the ability and intent to establish a farm, purchase a farm or become partners in an existing farm, in Manitoba.

To qualify under this program, interested applicants must meet the following requirements:

  • Applicant must have a personal net worth of at least $150,000 CAD once they have relocated to Manitoba;
  • Applicant must make a minimum equity investment of $150,00 CAD in Manitoba;
  • Applicant must be under 40 years of age;
  • Applicant must have had at least three years of experience owning a farm or three years of experience managing a farm.
  • Applicant (and his spouse, if applicable) must have marketable skills that would supplement farm income;
  • The applicant must have made an exploratory visit to Manitoba for a minimum of seven days to investigate the farming opportunities in Manitoba and quality of life in the province, prior to submitting their application.
  • Applicant must be able to provide documented assessment of farming opportunities and demonstrate general knowledge of the province
  • Applicant and accompanying family members must intend to reside in Manitoba
  • Applicant must be able to demonstrate that they will have an income in excess of $35,000 CAD (after tax) from the farm income and off-farm supplementary income.

If the application is approved by Manitoba, the applicant will be required to make a $75,000 CAD deposit to the government of Manitoba to guarantee that the applicant will live in Manitoba and establish or purchase a farm in Manitoba within two years after receiving their permanent residency. Once these requirements are met and the farm is operational, the government will then return the deposit (without interest).