The Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador is now making it easier for international graduates of Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic to be considered for a provincial nomination and eventually permanent residence in Canada.

An update to the International Graduate Category of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Provincial Nomination Program now allows graduates from these institutions who are employed in an occupation unrelated to their field of study to apply for provincial nomination as long as they secure an indeterminate job offer for a full-time position in the province.

Generally, for an international graduate to become eligible for the category he or she must have:

1. a full-time job offer from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer in his/her field of study or in an area that is related to the field of study; OR
2. a proven attachment to the local labour market. For instance, a graduate who is working in a temporary position must be able to demonstrate that it is possible to either extend the duration of the position or show the possibility of securing another position within the organization.

The positions held by international graduates of Memorial University (MUN) and the College of the North Atlantic (CNA) must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible under the update:

1. Require a post-secondary degree or diploma or an equivalent amount of experience;
2. Correspond to NOC level 0, A, B or C;
3. Reasonably be expected to lead to career advancement for the applicant;
4. Be in a field in which the applicant has a recent combination of skill, experience and/or training, according to the NOC description, as defined by Employment and Social Development Canada: http://noc.esdc.gc.ca/English/home.aspx;
5. Be full-time and indeterminate (i.e. not contractual or seasonal); and
6. Respond to a labour market need in Newfoundland and Labrador (i.e. the employer indicates to the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism the labour shortages they are experiencing)

Even though the change to the field of study requirement only applies to MUN and CNA graduates, the NLPNP International Graduate category remains a popular pathway to permanent residence for international graduates with a job offer in Newfoundland and Labrador.

This category targets international graduates who have established strong ties to the province and who intend to live, work and settle in the province.

This update came shortly after the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador launched new pilot work placement programs that target international students and graduates interested in securing employment in the province.

In a previous news release Provincial Advanced Education, Skills and Labour Minister Al Hawkins said, “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.”

With these changes, the Government of Newfoundland demonstrates its efforts at helping international students and graduates integrate and establish professional networks in the province.

Visit our dedicated page, to learn about studying and settling in Newfoundland and Labrador.

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

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