Prince Edward Island is the smallest province in Canada and is Canada’s birthplace. PEI has always welcomed immigrants, who have contributed greatly to PEI’s prosperity and cultural fabric. The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) was initiated in 2001, is responsible for most of the immigration to PEI. Assessments are based on the criteria set forth in the Labour Impact and Business Impact Categories.
The Labour Impact Category consists of three streams: Skilled Worker, Critical Worker, and International Graduate Streams.
The Skilled Worker Stream requires that applicants have a post-secondary degree or diploma as well as the necessary experience in the proposed profession. To qualify under the Skilled Worker Stream, applicants must:
- Have a job offer (full-time, long-term) from a Prince Edward Island employer, at NOC skill level O, A or B.
- If employed, then the applicant must have a valid work permit.
- Be living legally in their country of residence
- Be able to attend any required interview at the Office of Immigration
- Be from 21 to 59 years old
- Have two years minimum of post secondary education
- Have a minimum of two years full-time work experience in the past five years
- Have enough language (English or French) capability to execute the job offered by a PEI employer
- Prove that they have the financial means to immigrate to and resettle in Prince Edward Island.
There are currently five occupations included in the Critical Worker Stream: truck drivers, customer service representatives, labourers, food & beverage servers and housekeeping attendants. To qualify for the Critical Worker Stream, applicants must:
- Have a full-time, long-term job offer from a PEI employer at NOC skill level C or D in one of the designated occupations: truck driver, customer service representative, labourer, food and beverage server or housekeeping attendant.
- Have worked full-time for at least 6 months for the PEI employer
- Have a valid work permit
- Be a legal resident of your original country of residence.
- Have the ability to attend an interview, if necessary.
- Possess a minimum of high school or its equivalence.
- Be from 21 to 59 years old.
- Have a minimum of two years full-time work experience or applicable education during the past five years.
- Provide a valid language competence test from the last two years.
- Prove that they can financially afford immigration and resettlement expenses.
The International Graduate Stream gives employers the opportunity to hire a recent graduate from an accredited PEI college or university. The international graduate must have an offer of a full-time job in their study field under the National Occupation Classification (NOC) skill level O, A, or B, represented by professional, managerial and skilled trade positions. The international graduate must also have a valid post-graduate work permit and must have worked with a PEI employer for at least six months in the relevant job before applying for nomination. To qualify for the International Graduate Stream, an applicant must:
- Have a permanent full-time job offer in their area of study through a PEI employer at skill level O, A or B
- Have been employed for at least six months in PEI
- Have legal status in Canada
- Have a valid post-graduate work-permit
- Have the ability to attend an interview, if necessary
- Have successfully studied full-time for a two-year diploma or degree program
- Have graduated within the last two years from full-time study at an accredited PEI University or College
- Be competent in either English or French in order to perform the job offered by the PEI employer
- Be from 21 to 55 years old
- Prove they have the financial capability to immigrate to and resettle in Prince Edward Island
Business Impact Category
The Business Impact Category offers foreigners the opportunity to become permanent residents in Prince Edward Island as long as they can invest in and manage the business. There are three streams in the Business Impact Category:
100% Ownership Stream
Prince Edward Island values those capable entrepreneurs who have the vision and determination to build a business that promotes Prince Edward Island’s economic success. The applicant has to follow the application process, and if approved, PEI will nominate him for permanent residence.
After the applicant receives his nomination, he will have to sign an escrow agreement, requiring him to buy or start a business which he will control 100%.
Program criteria have to be met; these include minimum net worth and investment thresholds. The applicant must also make a conditionally refundable deposit of $200,000 Canadian dollars (CAD) to be held in escrow. Of these $200,000 CAD the applicant will be refunded $25,000 CAD after 6 months of residency, and another $25,000 after one year of residency in Prince Edward Island. The remaining $150,000 CAD will be returned to the applicant once the conditions of the escrow agreement have been met.
Partial Ownership Stream
This stream has been devised so that an applicant who wants to join the Prince Edward Island community can do so by becoming part owner of a business. The applicant must follow every step of the application process: if approved he will receive a nomination from PEI and sign the necessary agreements. The applicant has to gain 33 1/3% of the business’ equity or invest $1,000,000 CAD into the business’ equity.
The applicant must meet program criteria; this includes minimum net worth and investment thresholds, as well as making a conditionally refundable deposit of $200,000 CAD to be held in escrow. Once these conditions have been met, the applicant will receive a nomination. Of these $200,000 CAD the applicant will be refunded $25,000 CAD after 6 months of residency, and another $25,000 after one year of residency in Prince Edward Island. The remaining $150,000 CAD will be returned to the applicant once the conditions of the escrow agreement have been met.
Work Permit Stream
The work permit stream allows applicants to apply for a work permit in order to come to Canada and explore their business opportunities. Applicants will be able to come to Prince Edward Island and start working and learning about the business they want to invest in before nomination by PEI. The applicant must follow the step-by-step application process, and if conditionally approved by the Office of Immigration in PEI, the applicant can then apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for a temporary work permit. The applicant may then come to PEI and put into motion his plans to invest in and operate a business in Prince Edward Island. When the work permit is issued the applicant will have to sign obligatory agreements specifying what is required of him. If the applicant meets the terms and conditions of the agreement, then he will be nominated by the PEI Office of Immigration for permanent residence in Canada.
Prioritization
Prince Edward Island upholds the right to prioritize nominations to the three streams of the Business Impact Category on the basis of the applications’ benefits and advantages to the economy of Prince Edward Island.
