Two new pilot programs have been launched for international students and graduates in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The Student Internship Pilot Program and My First Job in Newfoundland and Labrador Pilot Program will help foreign students in the province secure suitable employment.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is dedicating more than $392,000 in funding for both programs.

The Student Internship Pilot Program is designed to connect full-time international students in a recognized post-secondary institution with a small or medium-sized business for a 12-week internship in an occupation that aligns with their career path.

The My First Job in Newfoundland and Labrador Pilot Program is designed to link international graduates from Memorial University or College of the North Atlantic with a small or medium-sized business for a 16-week job placement in their field of study.

The new pilot programs follow recommendations presented in a parliamentary report on improving immigration and employment prospects for international students in Atlantic Canada.

Al Hawkins, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Minster of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour said the goal of the pilot programs is to encourage international students and graduates to build their careers in the province.

“International students and graduates who develop professional connections are more likely to stay here, enhancing the social vibrancy of our province and supporting economic growth,” he said.  “We encourage the business community to avail of this opportunity to build our community, and to employ these skilled and talented individuals.”

The two programs are part of a broader initiative by the provincial government to retain international students in order to reach its goal of welcoming nearly 1,700 new immigrants to Newfoundland and Labrador annually by 2022.

Recent provincial data provided by Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism, Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour Permanent Resident Data 2011-2015, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. More recent Statistics Canada data indicate the total number of recent immigrants in Newfoundland and Labrador is 3,675 between 2011 and 2016.

The Way Forward on Immigration in Newfoundland and Labrador is a five-year action plan that places a high priority on immigration as a key component to economic and recognizes international students as an important source of potential future residents.

Through the plan, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will work with employers to create more opportunities for the integration of international graduates in the province’s labour market.

The provincial government is also looking to partner with the federal government to develop easier pathways to immigration for international graduate entrepreneurs. Other provinces in the region, like Nova Scotia and most recently New Brunswick have immigration streams specifically dedicated to international graduates who are also business owners in their province of study.

Newfoundland and Labrador is one of three Atlantic Canada provinces involved in the new Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program. This new immigration program has a unique sub-category that allows eligible international graduates to apply for permanent residence upon graduation without work experience.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program also has an International Graduate Category through which international graduates of eligible educational institutions in Atlantic Canada can submit an application for permanent residence without first having to obtain work experience.

Learn about studying in Newfoundland and Labrador.

If you want to discover your options for studying in Canada, complete the free CanadaVisa Study Pathway Assessment Form.

To find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada through the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP), or through another Canadian immigration program, please fill out a free online assessment.

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