PEI International Graduate Stream: PR for PEI Graduates

The International Graduate stream is part of the Workforce category of the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP). It rewards students who studied on the Island and want to stay. Your PEI employer supports you, the province nominates you, and you then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.

The stream is only for people who graduated from a publicly funded PEI post-secondary institution, such as the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) or Holland College. The guide defines this as a school that gets its main funding from the Province of PEI. Graduates of private career colleges, and graduates from schools in other provinces, do not qualify for this stream.

If you studied outside PEI, look at PEI Express Entry, which has a special rule for out-of-province PGWP holders, or the Skilled Worker stream.

According to the PEI Workforce Application Guide (January 2026), you must:

• have graduated from a publicly funded PEI post-secondary institution
• have a full-time, non-seasonal job offer from a PEI employer that is permanent or lasts at least two years
• hold a valid post-graduation work permit and legal status in Canada
• be able to attend an interview with the Office of Immigration if asked
• be 18 to 59 years old
• have enough money for immigration and travel costs and to settle in PEI
• show a genuine intention to live in PEI

What language proof do I need?

Notice that this stream does not require a set amount of work experience, unlike the Skilled Worker and Critical Worker streams. Your PEI job offer and your PEI education carry most of the weight.

The International Graduate column of the Labour Points Grid uses only four factors, for 100 points total:

There are no separate points for language or years of work experience in this column. A job offer that matches your field of study (as listed in the NOC description) is worth 10 points.

PEI does not guarantee that it will decide your application before your permit ends. You are responsible for keeping legal status in Canada. Plan early:

• Submit your EOI as soon as you have a qualifying job offer.
• Learn how maintained status works if you apply to extend a permit before it expires.
• If you are nominated and your permit is running out, your employer may be able to support a new work permit using PEI's work permit support letter, and must pay the $230 employer compliance fee in the federal Employer Portal.

Our PGWP guide explains the permit itself. If you are already out of status, talk to a lawyer or licensed consultant (RCIC) before you act.

• Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): a federal program with a stream for international graduates of Atlantic institutions. The employer must be designated. See the Atlantic Immigration Program.
• Express Entry: if you have a year of skilled Canadian work, the Canadian Experience Class may apply, and a PEI Express Entry nomination adds points.
• Business Work Permit stream: for graduates planning to run a business, see the PEI Business Work Permit stream.

Compare the paths on our Express Entry vs PNP page.