Manitoba just ran one of its busiest draws of the year. On September 10, the province issued 793 Letters of Advice to Apply in a single round, spread across four different selection categories. Health workers, Francophone candidates, recent graduates, and Express Entry linked applicants all found a path forward.

Manitoba PNP Highlights

Manitoba conducted Expression of Interest Draw number 279 under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, commonly called MPNP, issuing 793 Letters of Advice to Apply in total. The largest single group came from candidates who, or whose spouse, had completed post-secondary education in Manitoba. That selection alone accounted for 508 invitations, with the lowest ranked candidate scoring 825 points.

Health care workers made up the second largest group. Manitoba issued 233 Letters of Advice to Apply to candidates currently employed in the province under Broad Occupational Category 3, which covers health occupations. A further 41 invitations went out through the Skilled Worker Stream to candidates directly recruited through strategic initiatives, including employer services, ethnocultural community partnerships and regional community programs.

French language ability also earned its own spotlight. Eleven candidates who declared French as their language of communication with the MPNP, backed by a valid French language test result, received invitations in this round.

Nearly two-thirds of this draw’s invitations, 508 out of 793, went to people with an educational connection to Manitoba. That is a strong statement about how much weight the province places on local study experience when selecting future permanent residents. If you studied in Manitoba, or your spouse did, this draw shows that history carries real, measurable value.

The health care numbers matter too. At 233 invitations, this is one of the larger health specific batches Manitoba has issued this year, echoing a pattern seen across several other provinces this month. Meanwhile, the Francophone selection, though small at only 11 invitations, reflects Manitoba’s ongoing commitment to growing its French-speaking population outside Quebec.

What It Means For Hopeful Applicants

Of the 793 total invitations, 272 went to candidates who also held a valid Express Entry profile, meaning a solid chunk of this draw doubles as a fast track toward federal processing alongside provincial nomination. If you already have an Express Entry profile and a connection to Manitoba, whether through study, work or French language ability, this draw is a clear signal that your combination of factors is being actively rewarded.

Candidates without a Manitoba education background should focus instead on the Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway, particularly in health occupations, where the province continues to issue meaningful volume. Manitoba has now invited 6,409 candidates in 2026, with 1,899 of those coming through Express Entry linked selections specifically.

The Bigger Picture

Manitoba’s approach this round, favouring local graduates, current health workers and Express Entry candidates simultaneously, shows a province trying to solve several priorities at once rather than picking just one lane. It is a strategy worth watching closely if you are weighing Manitoba against other provinces for your immigration plans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Manitoba PNP draws move fast, reward local connections, and change shape from round to round, which means missing one update could mean missing your best invitation window. Canada Immigration News covers every Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program draw, every score threshold and every new selection category as soon as it is announced.