• Business Impact Category
• Labour Impact Category (Overview, guide,and application process)
  
• Skilled Worker
• Critical Worker
• International Graduate
• Family Connection Stream

The Business Impact Category has three streams from which an applicant can choose:

•   100% Ownership Stream
•   Partial Ownership Stream
•   Work Permit Stream

Immigration Services International Recruitment Unit

• Immigration Services is the lead government agency for private sector recruitment via the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for Prince Edward Island.
• Under the Labour Impact Category of the PNP, Immigration Services has the ability to nominate workers for Prince Edward Island employers.
• Within the Labour Impact Category are three employment related streams called Skilled Worker, Critical Worker and International Graduate each with a targeted focus in support of labour for Prince Edward Island employers.
• Under our Family Connections Stream, qualified family members of any Prince Edward Island permanent resident may champion a prospective applicant for nomination to permanent status through Immigration Services. Upon nomination, final approval is obtained through Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

The PEI PNP Business Impact Category provides an opportunity for foreign nationals to apply to be nominated by Prince Edward Island to become permanent residents of Canada providing they invest in and actively manage a business in Prince Edward Island.  Under this category, the applicant may start a business, obtain 100% control of an existing Prince Edward Island business or purchase partial ownership, with at least 33 1/3% of the equity (see definitions), of an existing Prince Edward Island business.  The applicant’s choice of a Prince Edward Island business should match their skill set and abilities to run that particular business.

Business Eligibility Criteria

• The business must be a for-profit corporation incorporated under the Companies Act of Prince Edward Island or the Canada Business Corporations Act and operated for the primary purpose of earning profits from active income through the provision of products/services.
• The business must be in good standing with the Province on all debts and obligations.
• The business’ corporate headquarters are located in Prince Edward Island.
• The business maintains a “permanent establishment” in Prince Edward Island as defined under the Income Tax Act by regulation 400 (2).
• The business is liable to pay income tax on taxable income earned as a result of a “permanent establishment” in Prince Edward Island, irrespective of income or other taxes which may also be payable in other jurisdictions as a result of income earned or other business activity.
• The business must have good potential for sustained commercial viability.
• The business must have assets with a book value of at least $150,000 CAD which are actively used for the business. Businesses will also be considered if they have assets with a fair market value of $ 150,000 CAD as valued by a certified appraiser or have received a valuation for their business from a professional accountant stating a value greater than $ 150,000 CAD.
• Any business selling a portion of equity to an applicant must have incurred a total of $ 60,000 CAD in wages and/or net income and demonstrate the ability to sustain an applicant’s salary.
• The business must have the potential to create significant economic benefits to Prince Edward Island by contributing to one or more of the following:
  • Increasing value-added manufacturing, processing or primary resource activity
  • Increasing exports of goods or services
  • Increasing destination tourism, tourism attractions, tourism fixed roof accommodations excluding all new construction and recreational property development
  • Increasing research and development/technology commercialization
  • Servicing an underserved local or regional market
  • Diversifying retail and restaurant investment
• No one other than an approved Island agent may represent the applicant in any capacity, to Immigration Services.

• Confirmation that the Business is not operated primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income such as interest, dividends and/or capital gains;
• The proposed amount of the Investment in the Business;
• The number, class and conditions of the shares being purchased (if applicable);
• Confirmation that the investment does not include a redemption option;
• Confirmation that the Investment is not less than 33 1/3% of the equity in a Prince Edward Island business or make an equity investment in the business of at least $1,000,000;
• Confirmation that the Applicant provides or will provide active and ongoing management of the business from within Prince Edward Island; and
• Timeframes for the Investment.

• Confirmation that the Business being acquired is not operated primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income such as interest, dividends and/or capital gains;
• Purchase price for the Business;
• The number, class and conditions of the shares being purchased (if applicable);
• Confirmation that the investment does not include  a redemption option;
• Confirmation that the applicant provides , or will provide, active and ongoing management of the business from within Prince Edward Island;
• Timelines for the purchase of the Business;
• Confirmation the purchase price is for the whole Business, not a part of the Business;
• Detailed description of the activities and interests of the Business.

Ineligible Business

• Bed and breakfasts, hobby farms (see definitions) and home-based businesses
• Pay day loan, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machine businesses
• Pawnbrokers
• Sale of used goods (excluding collectibles, or where the business provides value-added services such as repairs, refurbishing, or recycling)
• Real estate development/brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage
• Businesses started for the sole purpose of gaining access to immigrant investment through the program
• Professional practices
• Financial services
• Consulting services
• Any other type of business that by association would tend to bring the program or the Government of Prince Edward Island into disrepute.
• An entity that cannot issue shares.

Start-ups and the formation of incorporated entities

• Start-ups will not be allowed under the Partial Ownership Stream.
• However, newly incorporated companies created from an existing Prince Edward Island business’ assets will be considered providing;
  • A Prince Edward Island business provides $150,000 CAD in assets to the new company,
  • The new company is a stand-alone business entity without reliance on the original business, and
  • The Prince Edward Island business owner has sufficient expertise in the new company’s area of operation.
• A business that has historically operated as a sole proprietor or partnership will be considered but will need to incorporate prior to the applicant purchasing equity in their company.  In these instances, businesses should not incorporate until they are certain that the transaction will move forward.

Limitation of access

• Any business, or member of an associated group of companies (see definitions), that has received investment through the Provincial Nominee Program within the past 48 months will not be eligible.
• Access will be limited to one applicant per group of associated companies.
• Where related groups of companies (see definitions) exist, eligibility will be limited to one transaction per related group unless each company is determined by Immigration Services to be a stand-alone entity and is not related by way of any material business transactions.

Prince Edward Island employers wishing to hire a potential new employee they have identified outside of Canada may do so through nomination via the Skilled Worker Stream. Those potential nominees who possesses the necessary skills and falls under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A or B are eligible provided they have obtained a post-secondary degree/diploma and experience in the intended profession.

Skilled Worker Selection Criteria

Under the Skilled Worker Stream, the applicant:

• Must have a full-time job offer from a Prince Edward Island employer at a NOC skill level 0, A or B.
• Must have a valid work permit if currently employed by a Prince Edward Island employer.
• Must have legal status in country of residence.
• Must be able to attend an interview at Immigration Services, if required.
• Must have completed post secondary education with a minimum of 14 years of education.
• Should be between 21 and 55 years of age.
• Should have at least two years of full-time work experience within the past five years.
• Must possess sufficient English and/or French language ability to perform the job offered by a Prince Edward Island employer.  Language ability can be verified by one of the following:
  • Internationally recognized language test, International English Language Testing System (IELTS), to a minimum equivalent of Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLBPT) CLBPT 5; or
  • Declaration of language ability from the Island employer offering the full time job; or
  • Educational/training documents from an internationally recognized institution, indicating the principal language studied/communicated was in English and/or French.
• Must demonstrate sufficient settlement supports and financial resources, including transferable funds, in order for the applicant and family to pay the immigration costs and travel expenses to establish in Prince Edward Island.
• Must demonstrate genuine intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.

Skilled Worker Employer Requirements

The employer is responsible for ensuring:

• Employment is full-time (training, internship or apprenticeship positions that terminate on a specific date will NOT be considered)
• Employment in the intended occupation is consistent with the applicant’s ability to perform the job based on the applicant’s education, training and/or experience.
• Employment terms and conditions meet all applicable provincial and federal employment workplace standards and the comparable industry wage rate.
• Employment of the applicant does not contravene existing bargaining unit agreements or employment disputes.
• Employment is in Prince Edward Island.
• Employment that requires provincial licensing or accreditation has been verified to ensure the applicant has the necessary credentials to be eligible to work in the occupation in Prince Edward Island.
• Employment contract is provided, which includes the terms and conditions of the full-time job offer, signatures of the authorized signing officer of the company, and the employee (applicant) accepting the offer including conditions for employment.
• Settlement support is provided to the applicant and the family to help them establish.
• Labour Market Opinion (LMO) is provided, if applicable.
• Attendance at an interview at Immigration Services, if required.
• Documentation is provided to demonstrate effort to recruit for the intended profession has been unsuccessful through efforts within Canada and the position is critical to the operation of the employers business.

Today’s innovation and primary sectors require skills and training that are not always available in Prince Edward Island’s or Canada’s labour pool.  As labour shortages grow, Prince Edward Island employers continue to have difficulty filling positions.

Prince Edward Island Employers that have hired a foreign worker may support that worker to obtain permanent residency to Canada through the PEI PNP Critical Worker Stream. The PEI PNP helps to facilitate filling labour market shortages through enabling foreign workers to apply to become permanent residents. The job being offered must fall under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level C or D which requires the completion of a minimum of 12 years of education, equivalent to a high school diploma or on the job training. 

The Critical Worker Stream is a pilot program to be reviewed annually for both the impact on the industries represented and the occupations selected to participate.

There are five occupations selected for initial inclusion: truck drivers, customer service representatives, labourers, food & beverage servers and housekeeping attendants.

Critical Worker Selection Criteria

Under the Critical Worker Stream, the applicant:

• Must have a full-time job offer from a Prince Edward Island employer at a NOC skill level C or D in one of the following occupations: truck driver, customer service representative, labourer, food & beverage server and housekeeping attendant.
• Must have worked a minimum of 6 months for the Prince Edward Island employer.
• Must have a valid work permit.
• Must have legal status in country of residence.
• Must be able to attend an interview at Immigration Services, if required.
• Must have completed a minimum of 12 years of education and received a high school diploma.
• Should be between 21 and 55 years of age.
• Should have at least two years of full-time work experience within the past five years.
• Must possess sufficient English and/or French language ability to perform the job offered by a Prince Edward Island employer.  Language ability can be verified by one of the following:
  • Internationally recognized language test, International English Language Testing System (IELTS), to a minimum equivalent of Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLBPT) CLBPT 4; or
  • Declaration of language ability from the Island employer offering the full time job; or
  • Educational/training documents from an internationally recognized institution, indicating the principal language studied/communicated was in English and/or French.
• Must demonstrate sufficient settlement supports and financial resources, including transferable funds, in order for the applicant and family to pay the immigration costs and travel expenses to establish in Prince Edward Island.
• Must demonstrate genuine intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.  

The employer is responsible for ensuring:

• Employment is full-time (training, internship or apprenticeship positions that terminate on a specific date will NOT be considered.
• Employment in the intended occupation is consistent with the applicant’s ability to perform the job based on the applicant’s education, training or experience.
• Employment terms and conditions meet all applicable provincial and federal employment workplace standards and the comparable industry wage rate.
• Employment of the applicant does not contravene existing bargaining unit agreements or employment disputes.
• Employment is in Prince Edward Island.
• Employment that requires provincial licensing or accreditation has been verified to ensure the applicant has the necessary credentials to be eligible to work in the occupation in Prince Edward Island.
• Employment contract is provided, which includes the terms and conditions of the full-time job offer, signatures of the authorized signing officer of the company, and the employee (applicant) accepting the offer and conditions of employment.
• Settlement support is provided to the applicant and the family to help them establish.
• Labour Market Opinion (LMO) is provided.
• Attendance at an interview at Immigration Services, if required.
• Documentation is provided to demonstrate   effort to recruit for the intended profession has been unsuccessful within Canada and the position is critical to the operation of the employers business.

The International Graduate Stream is employer driven and provides opportunity for Prince Edward Island employers to hire a recent graduate from a recognized accredited Canadian university or college. 

The international graduate must have a full-time job offer in the field of study under National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level 0, A or B which represents professional, managerial and skilled trade positions. The international graduate must have a valid post graduation work permit with the Prince Edward Island employer the applicant is working for at the time of application and is expected to have worked a minimum of six months in the position before submitting an application for nomination.
 

International Graduate Selection Criteria

Under the International Graduate Stream, the applicant:

• Must have a full-time job offer from a Prince Edward Island employer at a NOC skill level 0, A or B.
• Must have worked a minimum of 6 months for the Prince Edward Island employer.
• Must have legal status in country of residence.
• Must have a valid work permit.
• Must be able to attend an interview at Immigration Services, if required.
• Must have completed at least a two-year diploma or degree program while studying full time.
• Must possess a valid diploma/degree from the recognized accredited Canadian University or College.
• Must have graduated within the past two years from full-time study at an accredited Canadian University or College.
• Should be between 21 and 55 years of age.
• Must possess English and/or French language ability to perform the job offered by a Prince Edward Island employer.
• Must demonstrate sufficient settlement supports and financial resources, including transferable funds, in order for the applicant and family to pay the immigration costs, travel expenses and establish in Prince Edward Island.
• Must demonstrate genuine intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.

International Graduate Employer Requirements

The employer is responsible for ensuring:

• Employment is full-time (training, internship or apprenticeship positions that terminate on a specific date will NOT be considered).
• Employment in the intended occupation is consistent with the applicant’s ability to perform the job based on the applicant’s education, training or experience.
• Employment terms and conditions meet all applicable provincial and federal employment workplace standards and the comparable industry wage rate.
• Employment of the applicant does not contravene existing bargaining unit agreements or employment disputes.
• Employment is in Prince Edward Island.
• Employment that requires provincial licensing or accreditation has been verified to ensure the applicant has the necessary credentials to be eligible to work in the occupation in Prince Edward Island.
• Employment contract is provided, which includes the terms and conditions of the full-time job offer, signatures of the authorized signing officer of the company, and the employee (applicant) accepting the offer and conditions of employment.
• Settlement support is provided to the applicant and the family to help them establish.
• Labour Market Opinion (LMO) is provided, if applicable.
• Attendance at an interview at Immigration Services, if required.

The Government of Prince Edward Island recognizes the value of immigration in helping to establish the basic principles all Islanders share, including strong and vibrant communities and families. The Family Connection Stream strives to identify applicants that will help to grow our economy, enrich our experiences and enhance cultural diversity.

Family members who have been identified for possible nomination must have the ability to independently economically establish within the Province. Under this stream, close family members (champions) in Prince Edward Island may serve in a supporting capacity to assist the applicant to integrate and settle in Prince Edward Island.

Family Connection Selection Criteria

Under the Family Connection Stream, the applicant:

• Must provide documents showing the relationship to the close relative who is an established resident of Prince Edward Island and is willing and able to support the settlement and integration of the applicant in the province.
• Must be a close relative defined as a son/daughter, step daughter/son, sister/brother, step sister/brother, sister in law/brother in law, aunt/uncle, niece/nephew, grandchild or first cousin to the champion.
• Must have a full-time job offer from a Prince Edward Island employer; OR be able to demonstrate the capacity and intention to find full-time work in Prince Edward Island.
• Must have legal status in country of residence.
• Must be able to attend an interview at Immigration Services, if required.
• Must have completed a minimum of 12 years of education and received a high school diploma.
• Should be between 21 and 55 years of age.
• Must have a minimum of one year of full-time work experience in the last five years.
• Must possess English and/or French language ability to perform the job offered by a Prince Edward Island employer.
• Where a job offer does not exist the applicant must produce an International English Language Testing System (IELTS)minimum test result of equivalent Canadian Language Benchmark Placement Test (CLBPT) CLBPT 4 in all four disciplines reading, writing, listening and speaking in order to be considered for nomination.
• Must demonstrate sufficient settlement supports and financial resources, including transferable funds, in order for the applicant and family to pay the immigration costs, travel expenses and establish in Prince Edward Island.
• Must demonstrate genuine intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.

Family Connection Champion (close relative) Requirements

The champion:

• Must complete the Labour Impact Champion Form.
• Must provide documents showing the relationship to the applicant.
• Must be able to attend an interview at Immigration Services, if required.
• Must provide proof of Canadian Citizenship or permanent residency for a period of at least one year prior to supporting an application to the Family Connection Stream; the champion must have resided as a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident in the province of Prince Edward Island for a minimum period of at least one year prior to supporting an application to the Family Connection Stream.
• May only support one ongoing application until a determination has been made by Immigration Services that the applicant has economically established in Prince Edward Island.
• May be designated by the applicant as the representative who is authorized to communicate with Immigation Services.
• Must remain a resident of Prince Edward Island throughout the application process and remain a resident of Prince Edward Island when the applicant arrives with permanent resident status.

• Foreign Worker Recruitment
• PEI PNP Application Forms
• Resources
  
• Business Impact Category Agents
  
• Labour Impact Category Agents

• Members in good standing of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC)
• Lawyers who are members in good standing of a Canadian law society and students-at-law under their supervision
• Notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaries du Québec and students-in-law under their supervision.