Canada: Manitoba ends student pathway to permanent residency, move to largely impact Indians

PTC News Desk: The Canadian province of Manitoba has ended a major immigration pathway for international graduates, marking a shift toward giving greater importance to work experience rather than educational qualifications when selecting candidates for permanent residency.

Manitoba is the first Canadian province to make such a change, and the decision could have significant implications for Indian students who plan to use a study permit as a pathway to permanent residency in Canada.

According to immigration news outlet CIC News, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) has immediately discontinued the Career Employment Pathway (CEP) under its International Education Stream. The change, announced on June 11, affects international graduates who were hoping to use the programme to secure permanent residency.

Manitoba, Canada's sixth-largest province by area, has become a popular destination for international students, particularly from India. Its capital, Winnipeg, offers a lower cost of living than major cities such as Toronto and Ottawa. Educational institutions including University of Manitoba and RRC Polytech attract nearly 20,000 students from more than 80 countries.

Indian students make up a significant portion of Manitoba's international student community. In 2021, the province recorded 5,240 Indian study permit holders. That same year, 5,485 immigrants from India obtained permanent residency in Manitoba, accounting for 33.1% of all new permanent residents admitted to the province.

With the Career Employment Pathway now discontinued, international graduates—including many Indian students—will need to explore alternative immigration routes. These pathways are expected to place greater emphasis on Canadian work experience and employment history rather than academic credentials alone.