Prince Edward Island (PEI) continued its laser-focused immigration strategy this week by issuing 109 invitations in its 19 February Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw—details of which were published on 22 February 2026. The island province again prioritised international graduates from its two designated learning institutions alongside candidates with in-province work experience in health, construction and information technology.
PEI’s labour market has tightened sharply since pandemic travel restrictions eased. The provincial unemployment rate hit a historic low of 4.1 percent in January, fuelling demand for foreign talent in sectors that cannot be filled locally. By giving extra weight to international graduates, the province aims to retain students who are already integrated into the community and less likely to leave after obtaining permanent residence.
![Prince Edward Island focuses on international graduates in latest PNP draw]()
The invitations were divided between the Labour Impact and Express Entry streams. Minimum score thresholds were not disclosed, but immigration officials confirmed that all invited candidates had active job offers from local employers. PEI continues to run draws once a month, typically on the second-to-last Wednesday, allowing employers to plan recruitment pipelines.
Prospective nominees who need guidance with study permits, work permits, or subsequent permanent residence applications can streamline the paperwork through VisaHQ’s online platform. The service’s Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) consolidates visa requirements, downloadable forms, and concierge support, making it easier for PEI-bound graduates and their employers to stay on top of changing documentation rules.
For companies relocating staff to Atlantic Canada, this trend means that sponsoring former graduates—rather than hiring from abroad—remains the quickest route to nomination. Human-resources teams should verify that graduating employees create or update their Express Entry profiles before PEI’s next scheduled round in late March.
PEI’s labour market has tightened sharply since pandemic travel restrictions eased. The provincial unemployment rate hit a historic low of 4.1 percent in January, fuelling demand for foreign talent in sectors that cannot be filled locally. By giving extra weight to international graduates, the province aims to retain students who are already integrated into the community and less likely to leave after obtaining permanent residence.
The invitations were divided between the Labour Impact and Express Entry streams. Minimum score thresholds were not disclosed, but immigration officials confirmed that all invited candidates had active job offers from local employers. PEI continues to run draws once a month, typically on the second-to-last Wednesday, allowing employers to plan recruitment pipelines.
Prospective nominees who need guidance with study permits, work permits, or subsequent permanent residence applications can streamline the paperwork through VisaHQ’s online platform. The service’s Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) consolidates visa requirements, downloadable forms, and concierge support, making it easier for PEI-bound graduates and their employers to stay on top of changing documentation rules.
For companies relocating staff to Atlantic Canada, this trend means that sponsoring former graduates—rather than hiring from abroad—remains the quickest route to nomination. Human-resources teams should verify that graduating employees create or update their Express Entry profiles before PEI’s next scheduled round in late March.
