Dear future neighbour,
Good news keeps rolling in from Atlantic Canada. On August 10, Newfoundland and Labrador held its 10th provincial immigration draw of the year, and this time, 208 lucky candidates got the invitation they’d been waiting for.
These invitations were split between two pathways: the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). If either of these programs is on your radar, this is everything you need to know about this round, and what it means for your own application.
Breaking down the numbers
The NLPNP carried most of the weight in this draw, accounting for close to 90% of all invitations sent out.
| Program | Invitations Issued |
|---|---|
| NLPNP | 186 |
| AIP | 22 |
The province hasn’t said which specific NLPNP stream(s) these invitations came from. What we do know is that Newfoundland and Labrador continues to prioritize candidates working in healthcare, sales and service roles, rural communities, and occupations that are underrepresented in the province, based on its Expression of Interest (EOI) prioritization framework.
It is important to note that this round produced the smallest number of AIP invitations since June 10, so if you’re pursuing that pathway specifically, competition for those spots may be tightening.
How 2026 has looked so far
Newfoundland and Labrador has been busy this year. See below how the August 10 draw stacks up against every other round held in 2026:
| Date of Draw | Invitations Issued | Breakdown by Program |
|---|---|---|
| March 6, 2026 | 445 | NLPNP – 362, AIP – 83 |
| March 30, 2026 | 245 | NLPNP – 209, AIP – 36 |
| April 13, 2026 | 210 | NLPNP – 177, AIP – 33 |
| May 1, 2026 | 190 | NLPNP – 157, AIP – 33 |
| May 11, 2026 | 186 | NLPNP – 168, AIP – 18 |
| May 28, 2026 | 103 | NLPNP – 84, AIP – 19 |
| June 10, 2026 | 108 | NLPNP – 89, AIP – 19 |
| July 10, 2026 | 57 | NLPNP – 17, AIP – 40 |
| July 28, 2026 | 445 | NLPNP – 400, AIP – 45 |
| August 10, 2026 | 208 | NLPNP – 186, AIP – 22 |
Since the year began, Newfoundland and Labrador has now welcomed a combined 2,197 invitations across both programs, and NLPNP candidates have taken home over 84% of them. If your goal is provincial nomination, this province has clearly been one to watch.
What it actually takes to get invited
Both the NLPNP and the AIP generally require a valid job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer. The only exception is for those applying through the NLPNP’s entrepreneur streams.
Here’s how the process typically unfolds:
You’ll start by submitting an Expression of Interest through the province’s Immigration Accelerator Portal, where you’ll share details about your education, work history, language ability, and your plans to settle in the province. From there, your profile joins the EOI pool and waits to be considered in a future draw.
The province regularly reviews these profiles and invites its strongest candidates to move forward, either for nomination under the NLPNP or endorsement under the AIP. Newfoundland and Labrador leans toward candidates whose skills match its current labour market needs, so it genuinely pays to understand where you fit before you apply.
Once you receive an invitation, you’ll have 60 days to respond. For NLPNP applicants, your employer handles the application submission. For AIP applicants, that responsibility falls on you.
After you’re nominated or endorsed, your next stop is the federal government, who will review your application for permanent residence and, if approved, issue your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR).
How long will you actually wait?
Processing times matter just as much as getting the invitation itself. According to the latest IRCC data as of August 10, here’s what current applicants are looking at:
| Application Type | Processing Time |
|---|---|
| Base PNP | 13 months |
| Enhanced PNP | 7 months |
| AIP | 26 months |
One more thing to keep in mind: your EOI profile only stays active in the pool for 12 months. If a draw doesn’t pick you up in that window, you’ll need to resubmit (or have your employer resubmit, in the case of AIP) to stay in the running.
Ready to Make Your Move?
Numbers and timelines can only tell you so much, what actually matters is whether your profile is positioned to get picked in the next draw. Every province weighs occupations, connections, and priorities differently, and getting that strategy right from the start can be the difference between waiting months and waiting years.
At Ese Umoh Immigration, we help clients navigate every step of the Canadian immigration journey, from provincial nomination and Express Entry to work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications, and school admissions. Whether you’re just starting to explore your options or ready to submit your EOI, we’re here to make sure your application is built to succeed.
Book your consultation today and let’s map out the fastest, most reliable path to your Canadian permanent residence.