Newfoundland and Labrador has invited 97 candidates to apply for provincial nomination in its latest immigration selection round, giving selected foreign nationals another opportunity to pursue Canadian permanent residence.
The province conducted the selection on September 4, 2026, through its Expression of Interest (EOI) system. All 97 invitations were issued through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP), while no invitations were issued through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) in this round.
Newfoundland and Labrador Immigration Draw: Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Draw date | September 4, 2026 |
| Total invitations | 97 |
| NLPNP invitations | 97 |
| AIP invitations | 0 |
| Selection system | Expression of Interest (EOI) |
| Program | Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program |
| Application deadline after invitation | 60 days |
The September 4 selection was the province’s 13th immigration selection round of 2026.
No Atlantic Immigration Program Invitations in This Draw
A notable feature of the latest selection was that all 97 invitations went to NLPNP candidates.
No candidates were selected through the Atlantic Immigration Program.
This was only the second selection round since Newfoundland and Labrador introduced its EOI system in February 2025 in which no AIP invitations were issued. The previous NLPNP-only round took place on August 18, 2026, when the province issued 122 invitations.
The province does not follow a fixed NLPNP-to-AIP split for every draw. Instead, the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism reviews candidates according to its current priorities and selects profiles in batches throughout the year.
September Draw Was Smaller Than Previous Rounds
The 97 invitations represent a relatively small selection compared with several earlier draws in 2026.
The province issued 445 invitations on July 28, followed by 208 on August 10, 122 on August 18 and 140 on August 26.
Recent Newfoundland and Labrador Immigration Draws
| Draw Date | Total Invitations | NLPNP | AIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 4, 2026 | 97 | 97 | 0 |
| August 26, 2026 | 140 | 94 | 46 |
| August 18, 2026 | 122 | 122 | 0 |
| August 10, 2026 | 208 | 186 | 22 |
| July 28, 2026 | 445 | 400 | 45 |
| July 10, 2026 | 57 | 17 | 40 |
| June 10, 2026 | 108 | 89 | 19 |
| May 28, 2026 | 103 | 84 | 19 |
| May 11, 2026 | 186 | 168 | 18 |
| May 1, 2026 | 190 | 157 | 33 |
The official provincial records show that Newfoundland and Labrador has issued 2,556 invitations through its provincial immigration programs so far in 2026, including 2,162 NLPNP invitations and 394 AIP invitations as of September 4.
Which Occupations Were Targeted?
Newfoundland and Labrador did not publish a specific list of occupations or sectors targeted in the September 4 selection.
The province’s Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism evaluates candidates in the EOI pool according to its current immigration priorities. Therefore, receiving an invitation depends on the candidate’s overall profile rather than simply working in a particular occupation.
The province has indicated that its selection priorities may include candidates who:
- Work in healthcare;
- Work outside major urban centres;
- Have French-language proficiency;
- Graduated from a Newfoundland and Labrador post-secondary institution; and
- Meet other provincial labour-market and immigration priorities.
These factors do not guarantee an invitation, since the province can adjust its selection priorities between rounds.
How the Newfoundland and Labrador EOI System Works
Newfoundland and Labrador introduced its Expression of Interest model on February 19, 2025 for economic immigration applications.
Under this system, candidates cannot directly submit a complete application for provincial nomination simply because they meet program requirements.
Instead, the process starts with an EOI.
Step 1: Submit an EOI
Candidates create an Expression of Interest through the province’s Immigration Accelerator Portal.
The profile provides information about factors such as:
- Education;
- Employment;
- Work experience;
- Language ability;
- Occupation; and
- Plans to establish themselves in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Step 2: Enter the EOI Pool
Once submitted, the candidate’s profile enters the provincial pool.
The province reviews EOIs periodically and determines which candidates should receive invitations based on its current priorities.
Step 3: Receive an Invitation
Only candidates who receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) can proceed to the full provincial nomination application.
Step 4: Submit the Full Application
Candidates invited through the NLPNP generally have 60 days to submit their complete application for provincial nomination.
Step 5: Receive a Provincial Nomination
If the application is approved, the candidate receives a provincial nomination.
The applicant can then proceed with a permanent residence application to the federal government.
Job Offer Requirements
For most Newfoundland and Labrador worker immigration pathways, candidates need a valid job offer from an employer in the province.
The province notes that exceptions apply to certain entrepreneur streams.
A job offer can therefore be an important part of a candidate’s strategy when seeking nomination through Newfoundland and Labrador.
Candidates should ensure that their employment information is accurate and that the job offer satisfies the requirements of the particular provincial pathway.
Who May Have an Advantage in Future Newfoundland Draws?
While the province has not published a minimum score for the September 4 round, its published prioritization criteria provide some indication of the types of candidates that may receive attention.
Potentially prioritized candidates can include people with:
Healthcare Experience
Healthcare workers remain an important provincial priority because of labour shortages and the need for skilled workers across the province.
Employment Outside Major Urban Centres
Candidates working outside Newfoundland and Labrador’s major population centres may receive consideration under the province’s regional labour-market priorities.
French-Language Ability
French-speaking candidates may benefit from the province’s efforts to support Francophone immigration and communities.
Newfoundland and Labrador Graduates
Graduates of post-secondary institutions in the province may also receive consideration under the EOI prioritization system.
However, these factors should be viewed as potential selection priorities rather than guarantees of an invitation.
EOI Profiles Remain Valid for 12 Months
An Expression of Interest submitted to Newfoundland and Labrador remains active for 12 months.
If the candidate does not receive an invitation during this period, the EOI expires. The candidate may then need to submit a new profile to remain under consideration.
This makes it important for candidates to keep their information accurate and update their profile when circumstances change.
For example, candidates should consider updating relevant information if they:
- Receive a new job offer;
- Change employers;
- Gain additional work experience;
- Obtain new language test results;
- Complete additional education; or
- Develop stronger ties to Newfoundland and Labrador.
What Happens After Provincial Nomination?
Receiving an invitation from Newfoundland and Labrador is not the same as receiving Canadian permanent residence.
The process has several stages.
EOI → Invitation → Provincial nomination → Federal PR application → IRCC processing → Permanent residence
After receiving a provincial nomination, the candidate must still satisfy the federal government’s permanent residence requirements.
If the federal application is approved, the applicant receives confirmation of permanent residence and can complete the process of becoming a Canadian permanent resident.
Express Entry Candidates and Provincial Nomination
Candidates nominated through an Express Entry-linked provincial stream can receive a substantial increase to their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
A provincial nomination through an Express Entry-linked PNP can provide 600 additional CRS points, significantly improving a candidate’s position in the federal Express Entry pool.
However, candidates should confirm that their specific Newfoundland and Labrador pathway is linked to Express Entry before assuming that a nomination will provide these additional CRS points.
Newfoundland and Labrador Immigration Outlook
The September 4 draw demonstrates that Newfoundland and Labrador is continuing to use a targeted and flexible selection strategy rather than issuing the same number of invitations in every round.
The province has conducted both large and small selections during 2026. Some rounds have included AIP candidates, while others have focused entirely on NLPNP candidates.
The latest round’s 97 invitations also shows that invitation volumes can change significantly from one selection to another.
For prospective immigrants, this means maintaining an eligible EOI profile and matching the province’s current labour-market priorities can be important.
Key Takeaways
- Newfoundland and Labrador issued 97 invitations on September 4, 2026.
- All 97 invitations were issued through the NLPNP.
- No AIP candidates were invited in this selection.
- It was the province’s 13th selection round of 2026.
- The province has issued 2,556 invitations through its provincial programs so far in 2026.
- Of these, 2,162 were NLPNP invitations and 394 were AIP invitations.
- Newfoundland and Labrador does not publish the specific occupations targeted in each NLPNP draw.
- Healthcare workers, people working outside major urban centres, French speakers and provincial graduates may receive priority consideration.
- Candidates must first submit an EOI through the Immigration Accelerator Portal.
- Candidates who receive an ITA generally have 60 days to submit their complete application.
- EOI profiles remain active for 12 months.
- A provincial nomination is only one step toward Canadian permanent residence; applicants must still complete the federal PR process.
Conclusion
Newfoundland and Labrador’s latest immigration draw has provided 97 foreign nationals with an opportunity to apply for provincial nomination, with all invitations going to NLPNP candidates.
The relatively small size of the September selection compared with several earlier 2026 rounds highlights the province’s flexible approach to immigration invitations. Rather than guaranteeing a fixed number of invitations or targeting the same occupations every time, the province reviews its EOI pool according to changing economic, labour-market and demographic priorities.
For candidates interested in Newfoundland and Labrador, maintaining an accurate EOI profile, having a qualifying provincial job offer where required, and demonstrating factors aligned with the province’s priorities can improve their chances of being considered in future selections.
