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Prince Edward Island (PEI) is the smallest province in Canada. Despite its size, it is one of the most popular destinations for prospective immigrants due to its riches in natural beauty, history, and Canadian culture.
Prince Edward Island has excellent schools, almost no pollution or traffic, and is the home of the historic Charlottetown Conference of 1864 which eventually led to the nation's formation. In addition to being the birthplace of the confederation, the province has an exceptionally high quality of life and is very popular among tourists, thanks to its fantastic beaches, top-rated golf course, and many cultural attractions.
Known as one of the safest and closest knit communities in Canada, it is easy to see why people from around the world want to live and work in Prince Edward Island. The easiest way for a foreign national to immigrate to PEI is under Canada's Express Entry immigration system. Here's what you need to know about the Prince Edward Island PNP (or PEI PNP in short), and its immigration streams.
What Is the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program
The PEI PNP (Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program) is a program created for foreign workers to help the province’s economy by filling in in-demand jobs.
The program is divided into three main categories.
Below are the 7 Canadian immigration streams under the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program:
Prince Edward Island Express Entry Stream
The Canada Express Entry System allows the province of Prince Edward Island to attract potential immigrants for their provincial nominee program. The province can send a "Notification of Interest" to people whose Express Entry profiles match the criteria the province is seeking.
Individuals nominated for Canadian immigration by the PEI PNP will receive enough points under the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System to more or less be assured of an invitation during the next draw. Once given an Invitation to Apply for Canadian permanent residence, it does not take long to get accepted for PEI immigration, seeing as Express Entry processes applications in six months or less.
Not every applicant will be accepted into the Prince Edward Island PNP through the Express Entry System. Candidates must have skills that meet current PEI labor needs. These requirements vary over time as labor needs change in the province. Candidates are encouraged to investigate the current needs of PEI before applying for the Express Entry System. If nominated through a PEI Express Entry stream, potential immigrants can apply for residency through Citizenship and Immigration Canada's online system which is much faster.
| Prince Edward Island Express Entry Stream Eligibility Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | Yes |
| Connection to Province | No |
| Job Offer | No |
| Language Proficiency | Express Entry Requirements (CLB 7 for FSWP and CEC; CLB4 for FSTP) |
| Level of Education | Express Entry Requirements (tertiary qualification, high school and/or job-specific training or on-the-job-training) |
| Work Experience | Express Entry Requirements (1 year for FSWP and CEC; 2 years for FSTP) |
| Age | Express Entry Requirements |
| Income/Settlement Funds | Yes |
| Average Processing Time | 6 months |
Prince Edward Island Critical Workers Stream
The PEI Critical Worker Stream is employer-driven, allowing Island employers to fill low-skilled positions that they are unable to fill through the local job market. You can apply to immigrate to Canada through this stream if you are currently working in PEI with the exception of trucking-sector employers who may be recruited from other provinces within Canada.
| Prince Edward Island Critical Workers Stream Eligibility Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | No |
| Connection to Province | Yes, work experience |
| Job Offer | Yes in NOC C or D |
| Language Proficiency | Minimum of CLB 4 or above |
| Level of Education | Secondary School |
| Work Experience | Have worked a minimum of six months full-time for a PEI employer |
| Age | 18-59 |
| Income/Settlement Funds | Yes |
| Average Processing Time | 18 months |
Skilled Worker in Prince Edward Island Stream
You can apply for a nomination for permanent residency through the Skilled Worker in PEI Stream if you are currently employed by an Island employer. The Skilled Worker stream is employer-driven, allowing Island employers to fill high-skilled positions that they are unable to fill through the local job market.
| Skilled Worker in Prince Edward Island Stream Eligibility Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | No |
| Connection to Province | Yes, work experience |
| Job Offer | Yes in NOC O, A, or B |
| Language Proficiency | Minimum of CLB 4 or above |
| Level of Education | Post-Secondary Diploma or Degree |
| Work Experience | Have at least two years of full-time work experience in the past five years |
| Age | 18-59 |
| Income/Settlement Funds | Yes |
| Average Processing Time | 18 months |
Skilled Workers Outside Canada Stream
You can apply for a nomination for permanent residency through the Skilled Worker Outside Canada Stream of the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) if you have a job offer from an Island employer. The PEI Skilled Worker stream is employer-driven, allowing Island employers to fill high-skilled positions that they are unable to fill through the local job market.
| Skilled Workers Outside Canada Stream Eligibility Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | No |
| Connection to Province | No |
| Job Offer | Yes in NOC O, A, or B |
| Language Proficiency | Minimum of CLB 4 or above |
| Level of Education | Post-Secondary Diploma or Degree (2-years) |
| Work Experience | Have at least two years of full-time work experience in the past five years |
| Age | 18-59 |
| Income/Settlement Funds | Yes |
| Average Processing Time | 18 months |
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot is aimed at skilled and semi-skilled individuals looking to move permanently to one of the four Atlantic provinces, in this case namely Prince Edward Island.
There are three programs within the pilot, namely:
- Atlantic International Graduate Program - for international graduates who have just graduated from a Prince Edward Island Institute.
- Atlantic High Skilled Program - for skilled professionals with at least one year of experience and an accredited foreign degree or diploma.
- Atlantic Intermediate Skilled Program - for semi-skilled workers with at least one year of experience, the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma, and industry-specific training.
International Graduate Stream
You can apply for a nomination for permanent residency through the International Graduate Stream of the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP), if you graduated from a publicly-funded PEI post-secondary institution. The International Graduate stream is employer-driven, allowing Island employers to fill positions that they are unable to fill through the local job market.
| International Graduate Stream Eligibility Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | No |
| Connection to Province | Yes, education |
| Job Offer | Yes, a minimum of 2-years |
| Language Proficiency | Minimum of CLB 4 or above |
| Level of Education | Post-Secondary Diploma or Degree obtained in PEI |
| Work Experience | No |
| Age | 18-59 |
| Income/Settlement Funds | Yes |
| Average Processing Time | 18 months |
Business Start-Up and Entrepreneurship
Work Permit Stream
If you are interested in immigrating to Prince Edward Island and would like to invest in and run a business, you may be eligible for a nomination for permanent residency through the Work Permit Stream of the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP). This stream is for foreign nationals with business ownership or extensive management experience who would like to move to PEI to start their business, and eventually become a permanent resident.
| Work Permit Stream Eligibility Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Net Worth | $600, 000 |
| Connection to Province | No |
| Language Proficiency | Minimum of CLB 4 or above |
| Level of Education | Secondary School |
| Work Experience | Have transferable management skills and past employment or business ownership experience; |
| Age | 21-59 |
| Performance Agreement | Yes |
What is a Performance Agreement?
It is an agreement that specifies what requirements you need to meet to get a PN from the province. These requirements are the:
- Reports and watching of guidelines;
- Reports of investments and when they occurred;
- The amount you invested; and
- Requirements of both pre and post nomination
Please note that if you:
- Buy 100% of the company you must hand in a Sale Agreement; or
- Buy 33.33% of the company you must hand in an Investment Agreement
Buy or Sell a PEI Business
An online business platform available on the Prince Edward Island Provincial website to connect people looking to buy or sell an existing business in PEI.
FAQ 1: Does Prince Edward Island PNP require a job offer?
For those wanting to immigrate to PEI but do not have a job lined up, the good news is that the PEI Express Entry stream allows you to apply without a job offer from a PEI employer.
In other words, PEI will accept applicants whose skill set is in-demand with the right work experience that aligns with PEI’s labour needs. If the applicant meets the criteria of PEI’s labour force needs, the candidate will most likely receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
You could qualify for a provincial nomination via the PEI PNP Express Entry stream if you meet the requirements of one of the following Express Entry programs:
- *Federal Skilled Worker Program;
- *Federal Skilled Trades Program; or
- *Canadian Experience Class
Have a Federal Express Entry profile
Do you meet the eligibility requirements above? Before going further, you need to read the Workforce Application Guide. You can find all relevant information here.
FAQ 2: Is it easy to get PR in Prince Edward Island?
The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program has two parts to it:
- Business Impact
- Labour Impact
There are two easy methods to apply for for permanent residency through the PEI PNP:
- The first method is through the Express Entry stream of the Prince Edward Island PNP which allows for applicants to become a Canadian permanent resident in approximately 6 - 8 months. If you’re applying outside of the Express Entry system, the application can be made via the PEI office of immigration. Once accepted by PEI PNP, the applicant should have an Express Entry profile for potential nomination.
- The second method is through the PNP PEI where the applicant creates an Express Entry profile and creates an Expression of Interest to immigrate to PEI on the system. In turn, PEI PNP will get in touch with the candidate via Express Entry to invite them to apply for the PNP.
Feel free to visit the provincial website to find out more. Click here to find out how you can get a permanent residence in PEI.
FAQ 3: What is the average cost of living in Prince Edward Island?
If you’re thinking about immigrating to Prince Edward Island (PEI) for a better cost of living, you’re looking at $1,409 according to LivingCost.org. This means that the cost of living is 1.14 times less than the average cost of living in many of Canada’s big cities, making it reasonably low. For an extensive overview on the cost of living in Prince Edward Island, feel free to click here.
If you think that Canada is the perfect place for you, but you do not know where to start, just sign up here and we will help start your Canadian visa application today!
