The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has recently issued an important announcement regarding a temporary update to its application intake policy for a core immigration stream—Employer Services. Effective July 4, 2025, the stream has officially paused the intake of all new applications. This suspension is expected to last for thirteen months, with a planned reopening on August 5, 2025.

This decision means that all foreign nationals who were planning to apply for a provincial nomination with the support of a Manitoba employer during this period must postpone their application plans until the stream reopens.

The MPNP has also clarified that this pause only applies to the submission of new applications. Candidates whose employers had already successfully submitted an application on their behalf before the July 4 effective date will not be impacted, and the processing of their files will proceed as usual.

The Importance of the Employer Services Stream

The Employer Services stream is a vital component of the MPNP, designed to give Manitoba employers a competitive edge in attracting and retaining top global talent. Through this employer-driven pathway, skilled foreign workers whose occupations align with the province's labor market needs can receive a provincial nomination, significantly increasing their chances of successfully immigrating to Canada.

Notably, in its recent rounds of Invitations to Apply (ITAs), the MPNP has been prioritizing overseas candidates who hold a valid job offer from a Manitoba employer approved through the Employer Services stream. This pause will undoubtedly cause a significant delay for this priority group.

A Detailed Look at Applicant Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for a nomination through the Employer Services stream, both overseas candidates and temporary residents already in Manitoba must typically meet a series of strict eligibility criteria:

• Age: Be between 21 and 45 years of age (or as specified by the employer).
• Work Experience: Possess at least two years of full-time work experience relevant to the occupation, or other relevant employer-identified experience, gained within the past five years.
• Valid Job Offer: Hold a long-term, full-time job offer from a Manitoba employer that meets the province's employment and wage standards for that occupation.
• Language Proficiency: Achieve the required Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) for their National Occupation Classification (NOC) TEER category:
• CLB 5 for positions in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
• CLB 4 for positions in TEER 4 or 5.
• Education and Credentials: Have completed post-secondary education or training relevant to the occupation. If the position is in a regulated occupation in Manitoba, the applicant must first obtain the necessary licensure or certification from the appropriate regulatory body.

Explanatory Note: The Canadian federal government uses the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system to categorize jobs. This system includes six levels of Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEERs), where TEER 0 represents high-skilled management occupations and TEER 5 represents occupations that generally require no formal education.

In addition to the requirements for applicants, sponsoring Manitoba employers must also meet a set of eligibility criteria to ensure they are qualified to participate in the provincial nominee program.

This pause is significant news for potential applicants currently preparing for a job opportunity in Manitoba. All stakeholders are advised to closely monitor the official MPNP website for the latest policy updates and preparatory requirements ahead of the stream’s reopening in August 2025.