Newfoundland and Labrador Secures Higher PNP Allocations, Temporarily Pauses Applications

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has successfully negotiated an increase of 1,000 nominations for its 2025 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Additionally, the province’s allocation under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) will remain at 475, bringing the total nominations for 2025 to 2,525.

Before this agreement with the federal government, Newfoundland and Labrador’s PNP allocation had been reduced to just 1,050—a 50% cut from 2024—under Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) broader plan to scale back PNP landings in 2025.

Temporary Suspension of Application Intake

With its new allocation of 2,050 nominations, the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) has decided to temporarily halt new applications for nomination and job vacancy assessments until mid-February.

During this period, the standard 25-day processing timeline will also be suspended. However, applications for healthcare workers and other in-demand occupations will continue to be processed on a case-by-case basis.

The NLPNP aims to use this pause to develop new tools for streamlining immigration processing and improving the alignment of skilled immigrants with local labor market needs.

How Did Newfoundland and Labrador Secure More Nominations?

The increase in PNP allocations was the result of negotiations between Newfoundland and Labrador and the Canadian federal government. As part of the agreement, the province committed to welcoming more humanitarian immigrants in exchange for a higher nomination cap.

Under this deal, Newfoundland and Labrador will accept 290 humanitarian migrants over the next two years. The federal government will cover the costs of their relocation, including housing and essential support services.

Humanitarian migrants are individuals who seek refuge in Canada due to persecution, violence, or extreme hardship in their home countries. This includes newcomers arriving through Canada’s humanitarian response to crises in Ukraine, Sudan, and Hong Kong.

Will Other Provinces Receive Increased Allocations?

It remains uncertain whether other provinces will also see their PNP allocations increased. However, IRCC has indicated that additional nominations may only be granted to provinces willing to accept more humanitarian immigrants.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller recently stated on social media:
"Provinces and Territories that are willing to work in a responsible manner... including playing a role in taking on asylum seekers will have an opportunity to regain coveted Provincial Nominee spots."

This suggests that provinces hoping to restore their PNP allocations must be willing to collaborate with IRCC in welcoming humanitarian migrants. Newfoundland and Labrador’s case demonstrates that such negotiations can lead to more favorable outcomes—its PNP reduction for 2025 was ultimately only 2.3%, compared to the initially proposed 50% cut.

PNP Allocation Reductions Across Canada

Newfoundland and Labrador was not the only province affected by IRCC’s 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, which significantly reduced PNP allocations nationwide.

• Yukon: The Yukon Nominee Program (YNP) saw its allocation cut from 430 to 215 nominations in 2025, leading to a delayed reopening of its intake to adjust to the lower quota.
• New Brunswick: The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) experienced a reduction from 5,500 nominations in 2024 to 2,750 in 2025.
• Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan: Immigration ministers from these provinces have voiced concerns that the cuts will negatively impact their economies and limit their ability to address regional labor shortages.

The following table provides a comparison of 2025 PNP allocations versus 2024 levels:

PNP Landings Target Reduced for 2025

In October 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a 50% reduction in Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) landings targets as part of the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan.

This decision aligns with the federal government’s strategy to slow overall immigration growth in response to affordability and housing challenges. Both Immigration Minister Marc Miller and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged provinces to collaborate with IRCC on implementing more “responsible” regulations for managing permanent and temporary residents.

During the announcement of the 2025 Immigration Levels Plan, Miller acknowledged the potential strain this reduction could place on provinces and local communities but remained firm in his decision to cut PNP landings targets.

Under the 2024 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC had initially set a PNP landings target of 110,000 for 2024 and a provisional target of 120,000 for 2025. However, in the 2025 plan, this allocation has been slashed to 55,000, a level that will remain unchanged through 2026.