Winnipeg: The Manitoba government has ended a PR pathway for international students. Making significant changes in its provincial nomination program, the Manitoba Provincial Nomination Program (MPNP) has closed its Career Employment Pathway (CEP) in its International Education Stream, directly impacting international students seeking Permanent Residency in Canada.
Applicants seeking PR under the CEP will now need to explore other MPNP options. This update, officially announced on June 11, 2026, marks a major shift in Manitoba’s immigration landscape.
What are the new requirements?
As CEP candidates are no longer eligible under the MPNP, they will need to meet new requirements for their transition to permanent residence.
Previously under CEP, applicants were required to be currently employed full-time in Manitoba with a minimum one-year contract in an occupation listed on the Manitoba In-Demand Occupations List, consistent with their field of study. They also had to present proof of graduation within the past three years.
Under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway, eligibility requirements are different. International students must now have at least six months of full-time work experience with the same employer in Manitoba.
With this change, students who graduated from a designated learning institution in Manitoba and are currently working in the province will be prioritised in targeted Expression of Interest (EOI) draws. They will need to document and verify their employment before applying for nomination under this pathway.
Language proficiency plays a significant role in the Skilled Worker pathway, accounting for up to 125 out of 1,000 total ranking points. Points are awarded separately for reading, writing, listening, and speaking, so stronger language skills can add up quickly. A CLB 8 or higher in each skill earns the maximum 25 points per skill, stepping down to 22 for CLB 7, 20 for CLB 6, 17 for CLB 5, and 12 for CLB 4. Knowing both English and French is a bonus — CLB 5 or above in the second language adds 25 extra points.
Objective of policy change
The province says the objective of ending the CEP is to establish “clear, consistent criteria for all Manitoba graduates,” and better align education, work experience, and labour market needs.
Manitoba graduates who were eyeing PR through CEP have been urged to review the new eligibility criteria under the Skilled Worker pathway and update their profiles. They must clearly demonstrate their connection with the province by presenting education credentials and employment references.
Other pathways to PR in Manitoba
Manitoba has been a welcoming province for immigrants, including international students and skilled workers, and graduates have several options to qualify for permanent residency.
The Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway remains open and continues to be one of the most established routes to a provincial nomination.
Additionally, master’s and doctoral degree holders who have completed a Mitacs internship can apply for permanent residency under the Graduate Internship Pathway. Unlike other streams, this pathway does not require a job offer, making it a strong option for advanced degree holders.
International students can also factor Express Entry into their immigration planning. It is a federal program, not a Manitoba-specific route, so students must either qualify on their own Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score in the national pool or secure a provincial nomination first, which adds 600 CRS points and significantly improves their chances.
Manitoba conducts regular draws under its Skilled Worker Stream and has carried out 11 draws so far in 2026.