IMMIGRTION NEWS
October 2026
Manitoba Sends 1,304 Invitations to Skilled Workers in Its 21st Draw
On October 22, 2026, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) issued 1,304 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs). This letter is not a nomination. It gives the candidate the right to submit a full nomination application to the province, which is an important early step on the Provincial Nominee Program route to permanent residence.
Three groups received letters: Manitoba graduates and their spouses, top-ranked candidates who already live in the province, and workers the MPNP recruited directly.
Draw 21 in Numbers
This was the MPNP’s 21st selection round. Invitations went out under two streams and three categories.
| Stream/Pathway | Selection Category | LAAs Issued | Cut-off Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker in Manitoba | Post-secondary study in Manitoba | 734 | 816 |
| Skilled Worker in Manitoba | Top-scoring profiles | 513 | 846 |
| Skilled Worker Stream (in Manitoba and Overseas) | Direct invitation through strategic recruitment | 57 | N/A |
Of the 1,304 letters, 353 went to candidates who said they had a valid Express Entry profile and a job seeker verification code.
Graduates Take the Lead
Most invitations went to the Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway, 1,247 in total. Of these, 734 were issued in the post-secondary education category.
To be picked here, a candidate had to report that they, or their spouse, had finished post-secondary studies in Manitoba. They also needed a score of at least 816. The MPNP asks these candidates to back up the claim, so a diploma and an academic transcript must go in with the nomination application.
Where Only the Score Counts
The other 513 letters in this pathway were handed out on Expression of Interest (EOI) ranking alone. The lowest-scoring candidate to receive one had 846 points. Only workers living in Manitoba were considered in this category, so a high score from outside the province did not help.
57 Direct Invitations Through Recruitment Drives
The remaining 57 letters came through the Skilled Worker Stream, which covers candidates in Manitoba and overseas. No cut-off score applied because the MPNP had already invited these people directly. That happened either through a strategic recruitment initiative or under the Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate Work Permits for Prospective Provincial Nominee Program Candidates (TPP), which has now expired.
| Initiative | LAAs Issued |
|---|---|
| Employer Services | 21 |
| Francophone Community | 16 |
| Regional Communities | 15 |
| TPP | 3 |
| Ethnocultural Communities | 2 |
Employer Services produced the most invitations, followed by the Francophone Community and Regional Communities initiatives.
Sixty Days to File a Complete Application
Candidates who received an LAA have 60 days to send in their complete nomination application. Incomplete files and late submissions put the invitation at risk. Gathering documents should start the day the letter arrives, not the week before the deadline.
Working in Canada While You Wait
Nomination opens a few doors on the work permit side:
- Nominated candidates can ask Manitoba for a work permit support letter and attach it to their federal work permit application.
- After submitting a permanent residence application, a provincial nominee may qualify for a bridging open work permit.
- Candidates still in the EOI pool without an invitation may be eligible for a special work permit under a temporary federal measure. They need a Manitoba support letter issued by December 31, 2025 that confirms their pool placement by that date. They also need a work permit that is current, recently expired or waiting for renewal.
What Draw 21 Tells
Graduates and their spouses received more than half of the letters, and top-ranked candidates living in Manitoba received most of the rest. Local study and local presence clearly carry weight. Employer, community and regional ties still count too, through the strategic recruitment route.
Candidates who missed out this time can keep their EOI profiles current and wait for the next round. Those who did receive an LAA should begin their paperwork immediately.
Planning Your Move to Manitoba? Neximm Can Help
Reading a draw report is easy. Working out where your own profile fits is harder. At Neximm Immigration, our RCIC-certified team looks at your education, work history and score, then maps out the pathway that suits you best, whether that is Manitoba or another province. We also help with documents, so nothing holds up your application.
Visit neximmvisa.com or email us at connect@neximmvisa.com to book a free assessment with our expert team.
Legal Advisory: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. MPNP selection criteria, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and work permit policies may change without notice. Receiving a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA) does not guarantee provincial nomination or Canadian permanent residence. Applicants should verify the latest requirements through the official Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program website and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) before making immigration decisions. Individual eligibility and outcomes depend on the applicant’s circumstances and the applicable rules at the time of application.