2. Manitoba Immigration Pathway Changes

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has updated its pathway for Manitoba-educated graduates. Effective June 11, 2026, the Career Employment Pathway (CEP) under the International Education Stream has been discontinued. Under the previous CEP model, eligible graduates could apply for provincial nomination relatively soon after graduation if they had a qualifying full-time job offer in an in-demand occupation related to their field of study.

Under the current approach, international students on a post-graduation work permit are now directed to the Skilled Worker in Manitoba (SWM) pathway, which generally requires them to complete at least six months of continuous full-time work with the same employer in Manitoba before becoming eligible to apply. In practical terms, this shifts the pathway from a model based more on education and a qualifying job offer to one that places greater emphasis on established Manitoba work experience and employer retention.

This does not mean that immigration pathways for international graduates have been closed. The province has indicated that Manitoba-educated students will continue to be considered within the SWM stream, including through targeted Expression of Interest draws.