The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program kicked off 2026 with a targeted immigration draw on January 15, inviting 55 skilled workers to apply for provincial nomination. If you’ve been waiting for your chance to settle in Manitoba, here’s everything you need to know about this latest draw.
A Strategic Approach to Immigration
Unlike typical provincial draws, this one had a specific focus: candidates who were personally invited by Manitoba through strategic recruitment initiatives. This means the province wasn’t just pulling random profiles from the pool – they were reaching out to workers they actively want to bring to Manitoba.
The draw covered both pathways under the Skilled Worker Stream:
- Skilled Worker in Manitoba – for those already working in the province
- Skilled Worker Overseas – for international candidates
Breaking Down the Numbers
Here’s where things get interesting. The 55 invitations weren’t distributed evenly – Manitoba clearly has priorities when it comes to filling labor gaps and building communities.
Employer Services led the pack with 21 invitations (38% of the total). This tells us that Manitoba employers are actively seeking foreign workers to fill specific positions they can’t staff locally.
The remaining invitations went to:
- 15 candidates through Regional Communities initiatives
- 9 through Ethnocultural Communities programs
- 7 Francophone candidates
- 3 under the Temporary Public Policy pathway
What caught my attention is that only 10 of these candidates had Express Entry profiles. This shows Manitoba is looking beyond the federal system to find the workers they need.
A Notably Slower Start Than Last Year
Let’s be honest – 55 invitations is quite modest compared to previous draws. Manitoba’s first draw of 2025 (held on January 9) invited 197 candidates. That’s nearly four times more than this year’s opening draw.
The draw also came six days later than last year’s, suggesting Manitoba is taking a more deliberate approach in 2026. This could signal a shift toward quality-focused immigration rather than volume-based invitations, or the province might be spacing out draws differently throughout the year.
Why You Might Have Missed Out
If you thought you qualified but didn’t receive a Letter of Advice to Apply, don’t panic. Manitoba outlined two common reasons for this:
Language test issues – Your English or French test results might have expired, or you didn’t enter a valid test number in your Expression of Interest. These tests are typically valid for two years, so double-check your dates.
Invalid invitation numbers – If you claimed to be invited under a strategic recruitment initiative but entered the wrong invitation number, your profile would be passed over.
What This Means for 2026 Candidates
The key takeaway? Being proactive matters more than ever. Waiting passively in the EOI pool probably won’t cut it in 2026. Manitoba wants workers who are:
- Connected to employers in the province
- Engaged with local communities (especially Francophone and ethnocultural groups)
- Participating in regional recruitment events
- Already working in Manitoba on temporary permits
If you’re serious about Manitoba, consider attending virtual recruitment fairs, connecting with Manitoba employers, and engaging with community organizations that might sponsor strategic recruitment.
Next Steps if You Received an LAA
Congratulations! You now have 60 days to submit your complete application to the MPNP. Don’t waste time – gather your documents, verify everything twice, and get your application in well before the deadline.
The Bottom Line
Manitoba’s approach in 2026 seems more targeted than ever before. They’re not just looking for skilled workers – they’re looking for the right skilled workers who fit specific community and employer needs.
If you didn’t make this draw, use the time to strengthen your profile. Connect with Manitoba employers, improve your language scores if needed, and consider how you might qualify for one of the strategic recruitment initiatives.
The province will hold more draws throughout 2026, and being prepared could make all the difference between watching from the sidelines and receiving that coveted Letter of Advice to Apply.
