Notice to Provincial Nominees and Endorsees, and Applicants regarding COVID-19 and the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program

The Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism (OIM) essential services for newcomers and employers, including immigration application screening and processing, will continue at a reduced volume, until further notice.

  • OIM will continue to accept Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) applications through the online application portal.
  • OIM will no longer accept paper applications for the NLPNP. Please refer to the link for details.
  • OIM will no longer accept Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIP) paper applications. Employers are asked to scan and send AIP applications by email to immigration@gov.nl.ca. Employees who are in the process of providing documentation to employers as part of an AIP application should do so electronically.
  • For workers who are currently outside of Canada: Your application will continue to be processed by the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism, but you will probably not be able to arrive in Canada in the near future. The Federal Government has closed its borders to most non-residents from outside Canada. This means that right now, it will not be possible for you to obtain a work permit until this restriction is lifted. We do not have a timeframe for when these border restrictions will be lifted by the Federal Government. Please continue to follow Federal Government announcements on international travel.
  • For workers who are in Newfoundland and Labrador: Application processing will continue at a reduced volume. As mentioned above, all NLPNP and AIP applications are being accepted in electronic format only.
  • For workers who have submitted permanent residency applications to the federal government: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has informed that Service Canada biometrics testing for applicants is currently suspended until April 13, 2020. For individuals who have received Confirmation of Permanent Residency notifications, please wait until there is communication on alternative ways to land in Canada.
  • OIM’s e-mail services to employers and newcomers directly impacted by the COVID-19 issues will continue. For questions regarding immigration programs, please e-mail immigration@gov.nl.ca.
  • All one-on-one information sessions with international students and graduates, public and employer information sessions are temporarily suspended. However, information webinars on immigration programs will continue to be available. Please visit our website to register for the free webinars.
  • Please note that the Federal Government is responsible for processing and issuing work permits, and for processing and evaluating federal applications for permanent residence.
  • Applicants can monitor processing times related to work permits or federal applications for permanent residence here.

IMPORTANT WEBSITES

For updates regarding immigration and the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19, please monitor the IRCC website detailing special measures to help temporary and permanent residents and applicants affected by COVID‑19 on the website.

For the most up-to-date information from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador on COVID-19, please visit the here.

If you have recently arrived to Newfoundland and Labrador and have questions about settlement and integration. For the latest information on their services, please contact the organizations using methods below:

Association for New Canadians – http://www.ancnl.ca

Phone: (709) 722 9680

E-mail: information@ancnl.ca

COMPAS – Service d’accueil et de soutien aux nouveaux arrivants Francophones de Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador

Phone : (709) 800-6591

E-mail : genevieve.vallee@fftnl.ca

For information on Government of Canada support for workers and businesses, please visit their link.

Employment Insurance sickness benefits are available to people who are unable to work due to illness, injury or quarantine, but who would be available to work if it were not for their medical condition. International workers (migrant workers, Provincial nominees, Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program endorsees) are subject to the same eligibility requirements as other workers in Canada. More details on eligibility criteria can be found here: here.

If you or your family are impacted by the Covid-19 disruptions, including in employment, please visit the Government of Canada website for more details on recently announced supports for workers in Canada.

Temporary Foreign Workers (migrant workers) in Canada with a work permit can apply with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to extend their work permit to remain in Canada as a temporary worker or apply to stay as a visitor. If you are no longer working, you may apply to change your status from worker to visitor as long as your work permit is still valid. Workers who intend to continue working may be able to extend their work permit or study permit, if they are eligible. If the work permit has already expired and it has been less than 90 days, workers can apply to restore status. If it has been more than 90 days since the worker’s status has expired, the worker may be eligible to apply for a temporary resident permit. With a temporary resident permit, the worker can remain in Canada with legal status as stated here.