Dear future neighbour,
If you studied in Manitoba and were counting on the Career Employment Pathway (CEP) to get your permanent residence, this update is important and it affects you right now.
As of June 11, 2026, Manitoba’s Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) officially shut down the Career Employment Pathway, which was part of its International Education Stream. The closure took effect immediately, with no transition window. If your Expression of Interest was sitting under that pathway, it no longer leads anywhere on its own which means you’ll need to make a move.
So what happens now?
The good news is there’s still a route. Manitoba is redirecting graduates toward the Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway, and if you’ve been working in the province for at least six months with the same employer, you may already qualify. In fact, the province says graduates who studied at a Manitoba Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and are currently working there will be prioritised in future draws under this stream. Manitoba has already held 11 draws through the Skilled Worker stream just in 2026 alone, so activity is consistent.
There is one thing worth noting though – the two pathways are quite different in what they ask for. The old CEP required a job offer from an in-demand occupation list, a specific language score (CLB 7 or above), and proof that your studies were completed within the past three years. The Skilled Worker pathway works differently: instead of a job offer tied to your field of study, it asks for six months of continuous full-time work with your current employer before that offer is extended. It also requires a settlement plan, which the CEP did not.
One pathway that isn’t going anywhere is the Graduate Internship Pathway – that one stays open, but only for master’s and PhD graduates who completed a Mitacs internship.
If you had an active profile under the CEP, Manitoba is asking you to log into your account, review the Skilled Worker in Manitoba eligibility criteria, and update your profile if you qualify. It’s also important to declare all your Manitoba connections when you do – things like completing your post-secondary education in the province can work in your favour.
The province says the goal of this change is to create clearer, more consistent standards for all Manitoba graduates and to better connect education with actual labour market needs. In short, they want people who are already settling in and contributing – not just those with paper qualifications.
If this update has left you uncertain about your next step, you’re not alone. Changes like this can shift your entire immigration plan, and the worst thing to do is wait and hope for the best. Whether you’re navigating provincial nomination, express entry, a work permit, post-graduate work permit, spousal sponsorship, or even exploring other provinces – we can help you figure out what actually makes sense for your situation. Book a consultation with our team using the link below and let’s work through your options.
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