In eleven months of 2019, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued Post Graduate Work Permits (PGWP) to 86,685 international graduates. This is already more than a total of 75,065 PGWPs issued in 2018 and is equal to the total number of PGWPs issued in 2015-2016 combined. The Post Graduate Work Permit Program was launched in 2005, to allow international graduates to get an open work permit for a period of up to three years. PGWP is one of the best immigration opportunities for those who intend to immigrate to Canada through the education pathway.
On February 10, 2020, Manitoba released the first statistics on the issuance of the certificates of the nominations in the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). In January 2020, MPNP nominated 476 Skilled Workers and 1 business candidate. Manitoba also refused 24 profiles of Skilled Workers. The province invited 616 Skilled Workers, 16 business concepts and 6 Business Investors. So far, MPNP received 388 applications from Skilled Workers and 4 applications from business candidates. Currently, Manitoba is assessing 562 applications, and the other 1,466 applications are pending assessment.
On February 4, 2020, British Columbia held the largest draw in the Tech Pilot of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). In this round, the province issued invitations to 85 registrants in four categories: Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker, Skills Immigration – International Graduate, Express Entry British Columbia – Skilled Worker, and Express Entry British Columbia – International Graduate. The lowest score in all four categories remains unchangeable and is 90 points. To date, in 2020, British Columbia invited 714 foreign nationals to apply for a provincial nomination including 213 Tech Pilot candidates.
On January 29, 2020, British Columbia announced changes to the Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). Provincial authorities introduced a minimum language requirement. Foreign entrepreneurs now must demonstrate language proficiency at CLB level 4. In addition, applications to the Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category now cannot include key staff. Key staff will continue to be eligible under the Strategic Projects category.
