The Canadian province of Manitoba has shut down the Career Employment Pathway (CEP) with immediate effect, closing a major immigration route that had helped international graduates, including many Nigerian students, obtain permanent residence.
Immediate Closure of the Career Employment Pathway
Manitoba authorities announced the discontinuation of the CEP, a component of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program's International Education Stream, effective June 12, 2026. This move represents a significant policy shift for graduates from Nigeria and other countries who had planned to use this pathway as a bridge from study to permanent settlement in the province.
For several years, the CEP provided international graduates from Manitoba's designated learning institutions with a direct route towards permanent residence. The program was designed to retain skilled talent educated within the province and support local labour market needs. Its closure means new applications under the pathway will no longer be accepted. Provincial officials have indicated that individuals with active applications or profiles may be assessed under existing provisions, although further details are still being clarified.
Alternative Pathway for Graduates
Attention is now shifting to the Skilled Worker in Manitoba pathway, which provincial officials have identified as the primary route available to eligible graduates. Under that program, applicants must generally demonstrate at least six months of continuous full-time employment with the same employer before obtaining a long-term, full-time job offer. Additional requirements include meeting language standards, showing the ability to establish themselves economically in Manitoba, and presenting a settlement plan.
The province stated that the revised approach is intended to create clear and consistent criteria for all Manitoba graduates. Graduates who currently have an active Expression of Interest profile linked to the former CEP have been advised to review the Skilled Worker in Manitoba requirements and update their information where applicable.
Impact on International Students
The policy change is expected to have significant implications for international students already studying in Manitoba as well as recent graduates who intended to pursue permanent residence through the now-closed stream. Students from countries that traditionally account for large numbers of international enrolments in Manitoba, including India, China, and Nigeria, may feel the impact most acutely. Many had viewed the CEP as a predictable route towards long-term settlement after completing their studies.
Broader Immigration Changes in Canada
Earlier, Canada introduced far-reaching changes to its immigration and asylum framework that will affect Nigerians and other foreign nationals seeking protection, study, or work opportunities in the country. The reforms followed the passage of Bill C-12, officially titled the Strengthening Canada’s Immigration System and Borders Act, which received royal assent on March 26, 2026.
