Immigrate to Newfoundland and Labrador: NLPNP Categories and Newcomer Guide

Newfoundland and Labrador is Canada's most easterly province, made up of the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador. Newcomers are drawn by its safe, friendly communities, outdoor life on the Atlantic coast, and housing that generally costs less than in Canada's largest cities.

The province wants to grow its population and needs workers, especially in health care and in rural communities. Memorial University and College of the North Atlantic attract international students, many of whom stay after graduation. The economy includes health and public services, offshore energy, mining in Labrador, fisheries and aquaculture, construction, and a growing technology sector.

Because NL has a relatively small allocation and a strong focus on retention, the province favors people who show they will stay long term, such as local graduates and people with family or community ties.

Canada's 2026 Levels Plan sets a national Provincial Nominee Program target of 91,500 admissions, and provincial allocations rose about 31% for 2026. NL's estimated share is about 1,998 nominations, according to CIC News reporting in March 2026; figures for the Atlantic provinces were reported as estimates.

NL issues Invitations to Apply in batches. Rounds posted on the province's ITA Updates page, as of September 2026, have included roughly 100 to 220 NLPNP invitations and roughly 110 to 135 AIP invitations per round.

Worker categories need a job of at least 30 hours a week that lasts at least one year and pays regional prevailing wages. Learn how provincial programs fit together on our Provincial Nominee Program page.

1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) in the Immigration Accelerator Portal. The same EOI system covers the NLPNP and the AIP.
2. Wait for selection. The Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism (OIM) reviews the pool and issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in batches. EOIs expire after 12 months.
3. Apply within 60 days of an ITA. OIM does not extend invitations.
4. Track your file on the portal dashboard.
5. Use your nomination within its six-month validity to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.

What does NL prioritize?

OIM's published criteria put health and health-related occupations first. They also favor sales and service jobs that meet rural labor needs, jobs outside major urban centers, occupations used less in NL (business and finance, science and research, trades and transport), employers with good compliance and retention, NL graduates, Francophone candidates, and applicants likely to stay. EOIs tied to the St. John's area may get lower priority for sales and service jobs.

Using a consultant is optional. OIM gives no priority to represented applicants and will verify documents sent to immigration@gov.nl.ca. See scam protection.

The Atlantic Immigration Program is a federal program run with the four Atlantic provinces. It is open in 2026 with about 6,500 spots nationally.

• An NL employer must be designated by the province first. See Atlantic employer designation.
• In NL, AIP candidates also go through the EOI and ITA process, and a designated employer's job offer must be endorsed by the province.
• After endorsement, you apply to IRCC for permanent residence and may get a work permit to start sooner.

The AIP has no provincial application fee in the Atlantic provinces.

Health care is NL's top priority. Other needs include skilled trades and transport, business and finance, science and research, and sales and service roles in rural communities.

Jobs outside the St. John's area can get higher priority in NL's selection criteria.

When does health coverage start?

NL's public health insurance is the Medical Care Plan (MCP), and registration is free. Permanent residents register by sending an application form with a copy of an accepted immigration document, such as the PR card. For eligible international workers, MCP coverage starts on the later of your arrival in NL and the start of your full-time job, and it is renewed one year at a time. MCP does not pay for immigration medical exams. Confirm your group's rules on the MCP page before you arrive.

Can I exchange my driver's license?

You can drive on a valid foreign license only for a limited time after you move. The province's motor registration office exchanges licenses from some jurisdictions directly; drivers from other places usually take written and road tests. Check early, since test dates can take time.

Where can I get settlement help?

The Association for New Canadians (ANC) in St. John's helps newcomers with language training, jobs, housing, and community connections. The province also funds local settlement and integration projects through the NL Settlement and Integration Program. Many services are free for permanent residents.

What about regulated jobs?

Doctors, nurses, engineers, teachers, and many trades need a license from the relevant NL regulator before they can work. The Skilled Worker category requires the qualifications or accreditation your job needs, so start the licensing process early.

• Express Entry: a high Comprehensive Ranking System score can lead to permanent residence without a nomination.
• Post-graduation work permit: the usual next step for Memorial and CNA graduates.
• LMIA work permit: a common way workers first arrive.
• Start-Up Visa: closed to new applicants at the end of 2025.

NL has no communities in the Rural Community or Francophone Community Immigration Pilots. Compare nearby provinces on our Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island pages.