The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador made history in 2022 by exhausting the yearly permanent residency spaces issued by the Federal Government, resulting in a record year for immigration achieved nearly two months prior to year’s end. This is the first time the Provincial Government has completely used up spaces in both the Provincial Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Program, with more than 132 applications being deferred to 2023.

In 2022, the Federal Government issued 1,593 spaces for the Provincial Government to nominate newcomers for permanent residency. Due to federal rules preventing additional spaces from becoming available this year, the precedent-setting pace of immigration has ground to a halt. Forecasting a record year for immigration, the Provincial Government requested a substantial increase in spaces for 2022, but was denied.

For the Provincial Government to continue its accelerated population growth, the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Immigration Population Growth and Skills, is calling on the Federal Government to double immigration spaces for Newfoundland and Labrador to 3,050 total spaces.

While provincial nominations have effectively closed for 2022, the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism continues to accept applications. These applications will be forwarded to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for processing following January 1, 2023.

The 2022 record number of immigration spaces filled is a 53 per cent increase from the previous record set in 2021. When spouses and dependents are included, the 1,593 applications represent some 3,345 candidates for permanent residency.

This historic immigration milestone comes on the heels of Statistics Canada reporting that Newfoundland and Labrador is experiencing the fastest population growth in 50 years. Immigration is the primary driver of this growth, with 5,666 newcomers arriving in the province since the start of 2021.

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“Under Premier Furey’s leadership, our government’s efforts to turbocharge population growth that began in 2021 have resulted in this watershed moment for Newfoundland and Labrador. For us to achieve even greater success, we are calling on the Federal Government to double our immigration spaces for 2023. We are turning the tide of forecasted population decline, but we need the Federal Government to act on our call, so our population growth will not be obstructed, newcomers will not face longer processing times, and there will not be fewer immigration spaces of which to avail.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills

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