A strong construction sector and a growing population on Prince Edward Island are fuelling economic growth in that Atlantic Canadian province which is forecast to see real GDP growth of 2.1 per cent this year.
“The most important lift to consumption has come from PEI’s ballooning population,” reports TD Economics. “This massive inflow has ensured a healthy supply of workers, fueling the strongest job growth in the country, and bringing the job vacancy rate back to its pre-pandemic level.”
Non-residential investment in the province is expected to grow by 20 per cent this year, laying the foundation for a strong year for the construction sector.
“The government’s recent budget called for a solid spending gain this year, concentrated in healthcare, which implies a notable growth contribution from the Island’s outsized public sector,” reports the economic think-tank.
“The government will also continue its rollout of household tax relief, slated to support disposable incomes and consumption in 2025.
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The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals Prince Edward Island welcomed 3,615 new permanent residents last year., up 35.4 per cent from the 2,670 the previous year.
Prince Edward Island also welcomed 3,730 temporary foreign workers under the International Mobility Program (IMP) and another 1,600 through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) last year. The province also issued 3,075 study permits to international students last year.
With the anticipated growth in Prince Edward Island’s economy, foreign nationals may want to consider immigration to that province which they can do through Canada’s two-tier immigration system.
It allows foreign nationals to gain their permanent residency through the federal Express Entry system’s Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), as well as the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) of the 10 Canadian provinces.
PEI’s PNP Helps Foreign Nationals Gain Their Permanent Residency
The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) expedites immigration to Canada for individuals and their families who meet provincial criteria in support of four initiatives: increased business and economic development, an increased supply of skilled workers, increased population and achievement of provincial demographic, social and cultural objectives.
The province welcomes immigrants through three streams:
- Prince Edward Island Express Entry.
- Prince Edward Island Labour Impact.
- Prince Edward Island Business Impact.
Prince Edward Island also welcomes immigrants through the joint federal-provincial Atlantic Immigration Program.
The PEI PNP issues periodic Letters of Advice to Apply (LAA) through provincial draws throughout the year.
PEI’s Express Entry category operates by considering candidates already in the federal Express Entry Pool for a provincial nomination. Such a nomination adds 600 points to a candidate’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and effectively guarantees an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian immigration.
Candidates must meet the requirements of one of the federal economic immigration programs, the FWS, FST or CEC.
The PEI Express Entry Category features two pathways to Canadian permanent residence, one for candidates with a job offer and one for those without.
Priority is given to applicants living and working in PEI.
When a candidate meets those requirements, he or she must then create a PEI Expression of Interest profile which is scored on points grid and is valid for six months.
Profiles are scored on age, language ability, education, work experience, employment and adaptability.
| Express Entry With Job Offer Stream | Express Entry No Job Offer Stream | |
| Age | 20 | 20 |
| Language | 20 | 20 |
| Education | 15 | 15 |
| Work Experience | 15 | 20 |
| Employment | 15 | 10 |
| Adaptability | 15 | 15 |
| Maximum | 100 | 100 |
Invitations To Apply (ITA) are issued to the best-scoring candidates in monthly draws and the candidate then has 60 days to complete and submit a full application.
Candidates invited to apply must complete all federal and provincial application forms and provide supporting documents in person or through the mail. That application must also include the $300 application fee.
Successful applicants are nominated by PEI to the federal government for permanent residence and then invited to apply for permanent residence by the IRCC.
When a permanent residence application is successful, the immigrant can land in PEI but must report to the Office of Immigration within 30 days of landing.
There are two streams under the Prince Edward Island Labour Impact Category which are:
Skilled Workers With Job Offers On PEI Can Apply Under The Skilled Worker Stream
The Skilled Worker stream allows skilled workers with an employment offer in PEI to be nominated for Canadian permanent residence if they meet the following criteria:
- A full-time employment offer from a Prince Edward Island business in an occupation classified as TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the National Occupational Classification (NOC);
- Completion of post-secondary education, with a minimum of 14 years of formal education;
- Between 21 and 55 years of age;
- At least two years of full time work experience in the past five years;
- Sufficient proficiency in English or French to occupy the employment offered;
- Sufficient settlement funds;
- Demonstrated intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.
The Critical Worker category is designed to resolve labour shortages and is open to foreign workers already in PEI with employment in specific critical-demand occupations. The primary criteria for nomination are:
- A full time offer of employment from a Prince Edward Island business in one of the following occupations:
- Truck driver;
- Customer service representative;
- Labourer;
- Food and beverage server;
- Housekeeping attendant.
- Six months of work experience with the Prince Edward Island business offering employment;
- Current valid Canadian work permit;
- High school diploma and minimum of 12 years of formal education;
- Between 21 and 55 years of age;
- At least two years of full-time work experience in the past five years;
- Demonstrated basic proficiency in English or French language;
- Sufficient settlement funds;
- Demonstrated intention to settle in Prince Edward Island.
Under the Prince Edward Island Business Impact category, individuals applying under the PEI Work Permit Stream can obtain a Canadian work permit and work for a PEI business for a certain amount of time as designated in a Performance Agreement.
After the Performance Agreement is fulfilled, the applicant must make a minimum $150,000 investment in the business and commit to managing the business on a daily basis from within the province.
