Newfoundland and Labrador

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program is a Canadian immigration service for those wishing to live and work in Canada on a permanent basis.

Like Provincial Nominee Programs in various Canadian provinces, the Newfoundland provincial system permits immigration to Canada on the basis that successful applicants will establish themselves in Newfoundland, either in a skilled position of permanent employment or starting, or investing in an existing business. The program awards successful applicants Canadian permanent resident status, and places no time restrictions upon their stay. However, successful applicants must settle in Newfoundland and Labrador and must have the ability to 

Global Visas can provide immigration lawyer advice throughout your migration to Canada and can help you to determine the best Canadian visa service for your needs. We can help you to assess the wide range of Canada visas and work permits available to ensure that you embark upon the most appropriate Canada visa service for you. Canada visa applications can be monitored at every stage and our immigration consultants can assist you at every stage of immigrating to Canada.

Benefits

Unlike some other Provincial Nomination Programs for Canada immigration the Newfoundland and Labrador scheme is a candidate led process, allowing applicants migrating to Canada to apply personally, subject to meeting the criteria for qualification. Nomination programs in provinces such as Alberta share features with a Canadian Work permit in that only an employer making a job offer may apply on behalf of the candidate. This is not the case in Newfoundland; in addition, there are three separate streams through which an applicant may commence living and working in Canada. The Newfoundland and Labrador provincial program offers successful applicants permanent residence status and beyond this subject to meeting the minimum residency requirement for Canadian citizenship of three years, an applicant may be able to apply to become a Canadian citizen.

In addition, the Newfoundland model does not require a minimum threshold to be met on a points based assessment. Many Canadian visas for business immigration services such as the Entrepreneur visa, Self Employed Person visa and Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) are based upon points based qualification tests. This is also true of the Federal Skilled Worker visa for Canada, which is designed, much like the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme or HSMP in the UK, to attract applicants with desirable skills and experience. Whist the Newfoundland scheme does assess a candidate upon a wide range of criteria, no points assessment is employed.

Understanding the system

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nomination Program may be subdivided into three categories, each with their own requirements as set out below.

Newfoundland and Labrador Occupational/Skilled Worker

To qualify under this route an applicant must have a guaranteed job offer in place from a Newfoundland based company, which is full time, permanent and utilizes skills which could not be satisfied by the domestic labour market. The job must be on the province's Strategic Sector list of professions and must accurately reflect wage and employment standards in the province.

Applicants wishing to immigrate to Canada in the skilled worker category may also be required to visit the province in order to undergo an interview with the employer and the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development prior to employment.

Newfoundland and Labrador Immigrant Entrepreneur

Canada migration under this route requires an applicant to either establish or purchase a business which is included in Newfoundland's Strategic Sector list. They must also be able to contribute at least five years of experience, either senior management or entrepreneurial in a similar business.

Candidates must have a net worth of at least CDN $450,000, of which at least CDN $350,000 should be in liquid assets, and must be prepared sign a performance agreement to invest a minimum of CDN $200,000. A deposit of CDN $100,000 will be required which will be returned once the other obligations have been met.

Finally, candidates will need to visit the province in order to make an exploratory visit and must submit a comprehensive business plan.

Newfoundland and Labrador Immigrant Partner

This route allows an applicant to enter a partnership with up to three other immigrants in order to establish or purchase a business.

A minimum net worth of CDN $750,000 will be required, of which at least CDN $350,000 should be in liquid assets. Applicants must also make a minimum business investment to establish or invest in a business venture. If the enterprise is located within the greater St. John's area this investment must be a minimum of CDN $200,000. If the enterprise is outside this area, the minimum investment is $100,000. A deposit of CDN $25,000 will be necessary and as with the Entrepreneur route, a visit to the province prior to completion of the application will be required.

Spouse Immigration and Dependant Immigration

Immigration to Newfoundland and Labrador through the provincial route is intended as a means to settled status, and as with other province-based Canadian migration services, family immigration is permitted, allowing successful applicants to bring their spouse or partner and dependent children with them.

An applicant's spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner may migrate to Canada along with the principal applicant. Dependent immigration Children under the age of 22 who are unmarried may be included on the application. Children over this age may be included if they are in full time education and therefore dependent upon their parents or if they are unable to support themselves due to a mental or physical disability.