Priority Skills Category

Priority Skills Category

The Newfoundland and Labrador Priority Skills Category is a stream within the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) that is designed to attract skilled foreign workers in priority occupations that are in high demand in the province. This stream is specifically geared towards individuals who have Work Experience in one of the In demand occupations of Newfoundland and Labrador however, this work experience can be obtained in Canada or abroad. The eligible occupations under the Priority Skills Category include healthcare professionals, IT professionals, Agriculture, skilled trades workers, and other professionals in various fields. Applicants must have the necessary qualifications and experience to work in the nominated occupation and must meet the minimum language requirements for their occupation. One of the key benefits of the Priority Skills Category is that it allows individuals to obtain permanent residency in Canada more quickly than other immigration streams. This is because the program is designed to address the province’s immediate labour market needs, and as such, applications are typically processed more quickly than other immigration programs. Newfoundland and Labrador Priority Skills Category is for:

• Individuals who have work experience in occupations in demand in NL.
• Those who have a high level of education and language ability, and
• Who wish to express their interest in either staying in or coming to the province and becoming a permanent resident of Canada.

Currently, Expressions of Interest (EOI) are being accepted from:

• Individuals who have worked in a specialized, highly skilled, in-demand occupation for at least one full year in the last 10 years.
• Individuals who have completed PhD or Master’s degrees from Memorial University within the past three years in Technology, Health Care, Aquaculture, and Agriculture.

Eligibility Criteria

All candidates must:

• Have taken an IELTS or CELPIP language test within the last twelve months and scored equivalent to CLB level 5 or higher;
• Be at least 21 years of age; and
• Intend to live permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador

In-demand Academic Candidates

Must have completed Ph.D. or Master’s degrees from Memorial University within the past three years in Technology, Health Care, Aquaculture, and Agriculture.

In-demand Work Candidates

Must have worked in a specialized, highly skilled, in-demand occupation for at least one full year in the last 10 years.

In-demand Occupations

In-demand Health Care sector occupations for public and private healthcare providers:

• Physician
  • Family Medicine; Psychiatry; Pathology; General Internal Medicine; Radiology; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Anesthesia; Pediatric Intensivists (PICU); Neonatologists (NICU); Pathology (Hemopathology)
• Nurse Practitioner (NP)
• Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
• Personal Care Attendant (PCA)
• Clinical Psychologist
• Medical Physicist
• Radiation Therapist
• Dosimetrist

In-demand Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector occupations:

1. Engineers and Developers

• Software Developer
• Biomedical Engineer
• UI/UX Developer
• Electrical Engineer
• AI Developer
• Mechanical Engineer
• Python Developer
• Web Developer
• .NET Developer
• Infrastructure Engineer

2. Technical Specialists

• Security Specialist
• Cloud Specialist
• Bioinformatician
• Computer Network Support
• Research Associate
• Data Analytics
• Offshore Technician
• ROV Operator
• Ocean Mapping Specialist
• Technical Writer

3. In-demand aquaculture sector occupations

• Captain (FM4 certification required)
• Farming and Feeding Manager
• Facility Technician
• Assistant Manager
• Cage Site Technician
• Site Manager (with water quality expertise)
• Area Manager

Application Process

• Operates on an Expression of Interest (EOI) system.
• Applicants should submit a profile using Newfoundland and Labrador’s online immigration portal.
• Candidates will be assigned a score and ranked using NL Questionnaire Scoring Grid.
• Candidates must meet a minimum of 60 points for their profile to be considered by the province.
• Candidates eligible to submit an EOI will be asked to submit three supporting documents relating to their work experience and education.
• These documents will be viewable by both the province and Newfoundland and Labrador employers.
• The highest-ranking candidates with the most interest from NL employers be invited to apply for nomination.
• If invited, candidates must submit a complete application to the province.
• If the application is approved, the candidate will be issued a provincial nomination for permanent residence from NL.
• If the applicant meets the criteria for the Express Entry Skilled Worker category, their provincial nomination certificate may be issued to their Express Entry profile. Will take around 6 months.

If the applicant meets the criteria for the Skilled Worker program, the processing of a subsequent non-Express Entry permanent residence application may take closer to 18 months.