Manitoba issued 474 Letters of Advice to Apply on September 24, 2026, with 417 going to natural sciences, engineering, and IT workers at a minimum score of 760.
On September 24, 2026, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) issued 474 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) in Expression of Interest Draw #280 — and 88% of them, 417 LAAs, went to a single group: candidates working in natural and applied sciences, engineering, and IT, at a minimum ranking score of 760.
Draw #280 combined four separate selections:
| Selection | LAAs issued | Minimum ranking score |
|---|
| Skilled Worker in Manitoba — Natural and Applied Sciences (STEM) | 417 | 760 |
| Skilled Worker Stream — strategic recruitment initiatives | 40 | Not published |
| Skilled Worker in Manitoba — Francophone selection | 16 | Not published |
| Skilled Worker in Manitoba — Occupation-Specific (NOC 31102, family physicians) | 1 | Not published |
| Total | 474 | |
Of the 474 candidates invited, 148 — about 31% — declared a valid Express Entry profile number and job seeker validation code, meaning a Manitoba nomination adds 600 points to their federal CRS score and effectively guarantees an invitation in a subsequent Express Entry round. This was the 19th MPNP selection round of 2026, bringing the province's yearly total to 6,883 LAAs.
Draw #280 is smaller and more targeted than Manitoba's previous two rounds. Draw #279 (September 10) issued 793 LAAs split across post-secondary graduates and health occupations. Draw #278 (August 27) issued 741 LAAs, largely to trades workers. This time, nearly nine in ten invitations went to one occupational group — natural and applied sciences, engineering, and IT — rather than being spread across several categories.
That pattern is becoming familiar: Manitoba has been rotating large, single-focus rounds through different occupational groups roughly every two weeks — trades in late August, education and healthcare in mid-September, and now STEM. If your occupation didn't come up this round, the next one may well target it.
If you work in natural and applied sciences, engineering, or IT in Manitoba and have a ranking score of 760 or higher: you should have received an LAA in this round. If you qualify and weren't invited, check that your EOI profile correctly lists your current Manitoba employer and NOC code — Manitoba's selections pull directly from what's declared in the profile, and a mismatch there is the most common reason an eligible candidate gets skipped.
If your score is close to 760 but under it: this was a narrow selection reaching only the top of the STEM pool. A lower-scoring profile in this category is a longer wait, but Manitoba's occupation-specific rounds have moved unpredictably all year — see the comparison below for how much a single selection's cutoff can swing.
If you have an Express Entry profile: a Manitoba nomination adds 600 CRS points, all but guaranteeing your next federal ITA. Check where you'd land with our CRS Calculator.
If you're a French speaker or a family physician: these two narrower selections (16 and 1 LAAs respectively) show Manitoba is still running small, targeted rounds alongside its large occupation-based ones. Keep your EOI profile current and accurate rather than waiting for a dedicated announcement.
Tip
Manitoba's large occupation-specific rounds have targeted a different group almost every time this year — trades, health, post-secondary graduates, and now STEM. If your occupation wasn't selected this round, don't assume it's been deprioritized; keep your EOI updated so you're in the pool whenever your category comes up next.
Manitoba flags two common, fixable reasons eligible candidates get passed over: declaring an approved third-party language test without providing a valid test number (or letting the result lapse), or declaring a strategic-recruitment invitation without a valid invitation number. Candidates in regulated occupations should also confirm they're actually working in — and fully licensed for — the regulated role declared on their profile, since Manitoba can refuse full applications where that isn't the case. See our NOC codes explained guide if you're unsure your occupation is coded correctly.
All PNP Programs Explained | CRS Calculator | Manitoba Draw #279 — Record Graduate Cutoff
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration advice. Always verify information with official IRCC sources and consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or licensed immigration lawyer for advice specific to your situation.