Manitoba Skilled Workers Overseas Stream

Manitoba Skilled Workers Overseas Stream

Skilled Workers Overseas (SWO) is a stream of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) that allows the province to nominate eligible skilled workers who have a strong connection to Manitoba but are living and working outside of Canada. Applicants must have an established connection to Manitoba, have previous work experience in the province, and demonstrate that they have the skills, education, and work experience required to succeed in Manitoba’s labour market. Successful applicants to the SWO stream receive a nomination from the province, which can be used to apply for permanent residency through the federal government’s Express Entry system or the Provincial Nominee Class. The SWO stream is an important tool for Manitoba to attract and retain skilled workers who have a strong connection to the province and can help contribute to Manitoba’s economy and society.

Pathway requires

1. Established connection to Manitoba.
2. Score at least 60 points of the points grid based on five factors: language proficiency, age, work experience, education, and adaptability.

A) Connection to Manitoba

• The support of family members or friends (Manitoba Support),
• Previous education or work experience in the province (Manitoba Experience), or
• An Invitation to Apply received directly from the MPNP as part of a Strategic Recruitment Initiative (Manitoba Invitation).

i. Manitoba Support

Manitoba Supporter – an established resident of the province who is a friend or relative of the applicant and is willing and able to review and endorse the applicant’s plan for settling and finding employment. Must be:

• Able to provide documents proving they reside and are established in Manitoba and have been living in the province continuously for at least one year.
• A Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Able to demonstrate sufficiently close ties to the applicant and to Manitoba.
• Able to demonstrate that any applications they previously supported resulted in successful, permanent economic establishment in Manitoba; and
• Able to support the applicant’s Settlement Plan.

Close relatives: both the applicant and the supporter must provide documents proving their familial relationship. Must be related to the applicant or the applicant’s spouse.

• Sister or brother,
• Niece or nephew (i.e., child of your sister or brother),
• Aunt or uncle (i.e., brother or sister of your mother or father),
• First cousin (i.e., child of your aunt or uncle),
• Mother or father, or
• Grandmother or grandfather.

Friends and distant relatives: their household must not be currently supporting the settlement of another MPNP applicant.

Children living in Manitoba cannot serve as Manitoba Supporter for their parents’ MPNP application. (see IRCC Sponsor your parents and grandparents)

If you are married to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you are not eligible to apply to the MPNP. (see IRCC Spouse and common law application)

ii. Manitoba Experience

• In the past, you lived in the province as a temporary foreign worker or international student.
• Temporary foreign worker: worked full-time for a Manitoba employer for at least six consecutive months.
• International student: must have attended and completed an authorized education or training program at a public, or registered private vocational, post-secondary institution in Manitoba; language studies are not authorized.

iii. Manitoba Invitation

MPNP issues Invitations to Apply to qualified candidates who are identified through one of our Strategic Recruitment Initiatives in Manitoba and overseas.

• Recruitment missions – The MPNP regularly travels overseas on recruitment missions, often in partnership with Manitoba employers. Watch this page for news of the next MPNP initiative.
• Exploratory visits – a pre-arranged trip that potential MPNP applicants may make to the province of Manitoba to research communities and employment opportunities to help them make an informed decision on whether they have the intention and ability to find employment and settle with their family in Manitoba as permanent residents.

Eligibility criteria to participate in visits and missions:

Point assessment

Ineligibility

• Refugee claimants, or individuals involved in a federal appeal or removal process.
• Live-in Caregivers currently living in Canada.
• Temporary foreign workers are currently working and residing in a province other than Manitoba.
• Spouses of Canadian citizens or permanent residents
• Individuals who have been refused by the MPNP within the last six months and who are not able to address the reason(s) for refusal.
• Individuals who have an active immigration application with any other provincial immigration program or federal immigration program in Canada.

Note: An Express Entry profile is not considered an immigration application.

How to apply

Step 1: Create an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile.

Step 2: If you receive a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA), submit a full application to the MPNP.

Step 3: Applications are thoroughly assessed by an MPNP officer.

Step 4: Successful applicants are nominated by the MPNP.

Step 5: Within 180 days from the date of nomination, make a separate application to the Government of Canada for permanent resident visas for you and your family.