Newfoundland and Labrador has kicked off 2026 with its biggest-ever single-round invitation haul under the province’s Expression of Interest (EOI) system.
On March 6, the province issued a total of 445 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in both the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).
Draw Breakdown
| Program | Invitations Issued |
| NLPNP | 362 |
| AIP | 83 |
| Total | 445 |
This marks the highest number of invitations released in any one draw since the EOI system was introduced in April 2025. The province has now conducted 14 selection rounds overall, with this being the very first of the new year.
Why This Matters
Before switching to the EOI model, Newfoundland and Labrador accepted applications on a first-come, first-served basis. The shift to EOI came after the federal government sharply reduced provincial nomination allocations in 2025, forcing provinces to adopt more competitive intake systems.
In 2025, the province was allocated 2,525 nominations in total (2,050 for the NLPNP and 475 for the AIP). Despite the cap, it ultimately issued 3,376 invitations across 13 draws: 2,473 through the NLPNP and 903 through the AIP.
NLPNP Streams
The NLPNP distributes its nominations across five main categories:
- Express Entry Skilled Worker
- Skilled Worker
- International Graduate
- International Entrepreneur
- International Graduate Entrepreneur
The province has not yet disclosed which specific streams were targeted in the March 6 draw.
Looking Ahead to 2026
While the federal government has raised the overall Provincial Nominee Program target to 91,500 permanent resident admissions for 2026 (up from 55,000 in 2025), individual provincial allocations have not been announced yet. Once released, Newfoundland and Labrador will continue using its EOI system to select candidates who best meet local labour market needs.
Candidates who received an ITA in this round now have the opportunity to submit a full application for provincial nomination — a key step toward permanent residency in Canada.
