Dear future neighbour,
Newfoundland and Labrador isn’t slowing down on immigration this year. On September 4, the province sent out 97 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination, marking its 13th round of the year so far. For the people who received one, this is a real, tangible step toward permanent residence in Canada.
Here’s the part that makes this round stand out: every single invitation went to candidates under the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP). None went to the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) this time around. This has only happened once before, back when the province first switched to its Expression of Interest (EOI) system in February 2025. So if you’re wondering why your AIP profile hasn’t been picked yet, you’re not alone, and it’s not necessarily anything you’re doing wrong.
One thing worth knowing if you’re applying from inside Canada: since June 9, 2026, many provincial nominees can now get a Bridging Open Work Permit before they even receive their Acknowledgement of Receipt. In plain terms, that means you can keep working and maintain your status while your PR application is being processed, instead of being left in limbo.
How this round compares to the rest of 2026
Newfoundland and Labrador has been fairly active this year, and the numbers bounce around a lot depending on the province’s needs at the time. Here’s how the September 4 draw stacks up against every other round so far:
| Date of draw | Invitations issued | Invitations 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 |
| August 18, 2026 | 122 | NLPNP – 122 |
| August 26, 2026 | 140 | NLPNP – 94, AIP – 46 |
| September 4, 2026 | 97 | NLPNP – 97 |
Since the start of the year, the province has now issued 2,556 invitations combined, 2,162 through the NLPNP and 394 through the AIP. The province doesn’t publish which specific NLPNP streams or job sectors these candidates come from, so if you’re keeping track of your own EOI, the safest move is to stay ready rather than try to predict the pattern.
So how do you actually get into this pool?
If you’re hoping to be one of the next names called, here’s the process in a nutshell:
You start by submitting an Expression of Interest through the province’s Immigration Accelerator Portal. This isn’t a full application yet, it’s more like putting your profile in the running. You’ll need to share details about your education, your work history, how well you speak English or French, and your plans for settling in the province. If you’re applying under one of the worker streams, you’ll also need a valid job offer in hand.
From there, the province reviews the pool of EOIs and selects candidates based on what it currently needs. Some candidates get priority, particularly those working in healthcare, those willing to settle outside the bigger cities, French speakers, and graduates of a Newfoundland and Labrador post-secondary school. If any of these apply to you, it’s worth making sure your profile reflects that clearly.
Once you’re invited, the clock starts ticking. You’ll have 60 days to submit a complete application for your provincial nomination. Get that right, and you’ll receive a nomination certificate, which lets you apply to the federal government for permanent residence. If that application is approved, you’ll get your Confirmation of Permanent Residence, and that’s the big one.
One more thing to keep an eye on: your EOI is only valid for 12 months. If you don’t get invited within that window, you’ll need to submit a fresh profile to stay in the running.
Current PR processing times
| Application type | Processing time (as of September 4) |
|---|---|
| Base PNP | 13 months |
| Enhanced PNP | 7 months |
As you can see, the enhanced stream moves considerably faster, so it’s worth understanding which category your application falls under before you plan around timelines.
Ready to Turn Your Invitation Into a Real Plan?
Getting invited is exciting, but it’s also where a lot of people get stuck. The paperwork, the deadlines, the fine print about worker streams and priority criteria, it adds up fast, and a small mistake here can cost you months. Whether you’re putting together your EOI for the first time, sitting on an invitation and unsure what’s next, or trying to figure out if you even qualify, we can walk through it with you. Our team handles provincial nominations, Express Entry, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications, and school admissions, so wherever you are in the process, there’s a good chance we’ve helped someone in your exact situation before. Book a free consultation at https://euiacademy.selar.com/30minutes and let’s map out your next step together.