The province of Prince Edward Island (PEI) has reopened the Express Entry stream of the PEI PNP program . The government of PEI had not been accepting new Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to this stream since late 2016. However, the PEI PNP is now once again accepting EOIs.
PEI’s Express Entry stream is enhanced, meaning that candidates who obtain a nomination certificate will be awarded 600 additional points and an invitation to apply for permanent residence at a subsequent draw from the federal Express Entry pool.
How does it work?
The PEI PNP Express Entry stream is something of an outlier if compared to other provinces’ Express Entry PNP streams.
First, it does not operate on a points-based system. Almost any candidate who has successfully created an Express Entry profile is also eligible to make an EOI to the PEI PNP Express Entry stream. (The only exception to this rule is in the case of international graduates working in PEI on a Post-Graduate Work Permit. These candidates must have at least four months of full-time experience working for their PEI employer, and have at least four months remaining before the expiration of the work permit when applying.)
Another advantage is that there is no government application fee to submit an EOI. Moreover, the submission process is relatively simple, consisting of a one-page form that asks for a few personal details followed by an open field asking ‘Why would you like to immigrate to Prince Edward Island?’
Being nominated
To be eligible for nomination through PEI PNP Express Entry, candidates must:
meet the requirements of at least one of the federal economic immigration programs:
Federal Skilled Worker Class;
Federal Skilled Trades Class; or
Canadian Experience Class, and
create a federal Express Entry profile
The submission of an EOI is not considered an application to the program. For that, the candidate must first be selected to apply.
Even though there is no points system, the process of deciding which candidates are selected to apply is not arbitrary. It is what might be described as semi-transparent. Though any candidate who submits an EOI to the PEI PNP may be selected to apply, there are certain things that candidates can do to enhance their chances of selection. These factors include working or studying in PEI, having family connections in the province, obtaining a job offer, having a business interest or residential property in the province, or having experience in an area that has a skill shortage in the province.
About PEI
Connected to “the mainland” by the stunning Confederation Bridge, PEI is Canada’s smallest and least populated province. It is located in Atlantic Canada.
Agriculture, tourism and fishing are the main industries. Tourism, in particular, is on the rise as the Island’s charm, landscapes, and golf courses entice greater numbers of visitors each year. The manufacturing sector is comprised mainly of food processing. High-technology is also becoming important, especially in the medical, electronics and agricultural fields.
