Newfoundland and Labrador International Graduate Entrepreneur

Licensed RCIC guidance on Newfoundland and Labrador’s International Graduate Entrepreneur category for graduates of Memorial University or the College of the North Atlantic who run a local business.

Written and reviewed by Usman Khalil, RCIC (R709592), a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant and member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). Last reviewed: June 2026.

Newfoundland and Labrador’s International Graduate Entrepreneur category is open via expression of interest for recent graduates of Memorial University or the College of the North Atlantic who own and operate a local business. This page explains the conditions and the pilot caveat, reviewed by a licensed RCIC.

Current status: Newfoundland and Labrador’s International Graduate Entrepreneur category is open and accepting expressions of interest. It is for recent graduates of Memorial University or the College of the North Atlantic who own and operate a local business. It is a pilot, and the province can suspend intake without notice, so confirm the live status before applying.

1. What the NL International Graduate Entrepreneur category is

The Newfoundland and Labrador International Graduate Entrepreneur category, part of the Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program, is for recent graduates of Memorial University of Newfoundland or the College of the North Atlantic who own and actively operate a business in the province. The expression-of-interest system is open. It is a pilot, which means the province can suspend intake without notice, so it is important to confirm the live status before you act. This category is different from the general Newfoundland and Labrador International Entrepreneur category, which is for experienced owners rather than recent graduates.

2. Eligibility at a glance

The province generally looks for graduation from Memorial University or the College of the North Atlantic after at least two years of study and within a recent window, an age of twenty-one or older, ownership of at least one third of a local business that you have actively operated for at least one year while creating at least one full-time job, language ability at CLB 7 or higher, and a valid post-graduation work permit. Confirm the current details, because pilot conditions can change.

3. Who this is for

This category fits recent graduates of Memorial University or the College of the North Atlantic who stayed in the province, already own and run a genuine local business, and meet the language and work permit conditions.

4. Who this is not for

It is not for graduates of institutions elsewhere, nor for experienced owners who did not study in the province, who should look at the general Newfoundland and Labrador International Entrepreneur category instead. It is also not a fit for passive owners.

5. The staged process

You submit an expression of interest, and if invited you submit an application. Because you already own and operate the business, the focus is on confirming your eligibility and the genuine operation of the business. If approved, the province can issue a nomination, which you then use to apply federally for permanent residence. A nomination is at the province’s discretion, and the proof of nomination is time limited.

6. Source of funds and business operation

Because ownership, the genuine operation of your business, and any investment are assessed, the strongest applications document your business operation, your role, and a legal source of funds. Our work combines a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant with a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, Ontario, C83028834), so the financial and business evidence is prepared to the standard the province evaluates.

7. Common officer concerns

Applications commonly run into trouble when the business is not genuinely operating, when ownership or job creation is unclear, or when the study, language, or work permit conditions are not clearly met. Each of these requires full review.

8. How MAK helps

MAK works with licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants and a CPA. We confirm whether you meet the category’s conditions, document your business operation and eligibility, and manage the filing, while keeping an eye on the pilot’s live status.

Frequently Asked Questions