On September 10, 2026, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) released the results of Draw #279, issuing a total of 793 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) to candidates in its Expression of Interest (EOI) system. This was one of the largest selection rounds the province has run in 2026, bringing the year-to-date total to 6,409 LAAs issued across 18 draws.
The detail most relevant to Vietnamese students and workers connected to Manitoba is the composition of this draw: 508 of the 793 LAAs — close to two-thirds — went to the Skilled Worker category for candidates who completed a post-secondary program in Manitoba, or whose spouse did. The minimum ranking score for this category was 825, the highest cut-off Manitoba has published for the graduate stream in 2026.
Full breakdown of Draw #279
The remaining three categories in the draw:
233 LAAs for the Skilled Worker – Health Occupations category (Broad Occupational Category 3, covering physicians, dentists, nursing professionals, and health support roles). Manitoba did not publish a minimum score for this category.
41 LAAs for Strategic Recruitment Initiatives, broken down as: 17 through Employer Services, 12 through the Francophone community, 7 through Ethnocultural Communities, 3 through Regional Communities, and 2 through Temporary Public Policy.
11 LAAs for the Francophone selection.
One detail worth noting: roughly 272 of the 793 candidates invited — about one-third — also held a valid Express Entry profile. This means they can receive a provincial nomination, worth 600 additional CRS points, alongside their existing federal Express Entry application.
Eligibility for the Manitoba graduate stream
The Manitoba graduate stream requires that the candidate, or their spouse, completed a post-secondary program at a recognized educational institution in Manitoba. Upon receiving an LAA, the candidate must provide the diploma and transcript as proof of program completion. This is a strict prerequisite — the stream does not apply to graduates of institutions in other Canadian provinces, even if they later relocate to Manitoba.
The 825 cut-off score reflects the level of competition among candidates who have already submitted an EOI profile and are waiting to be selected. Scores in the MPNP system are calculated based on factors including education, work experience, age, English or French language proficiency, connection to Manitoba (through study, work, or family ties), and a job offer if one exists. Candidates should compare their own score against the published cut-off of each draw to assess their likelihood of being invited in future rounds.
Practical next steps
For those considering an application under the Manitoba graduate stream, the following steps should be completed in order:
Verify the prerequisite: the post-secondary credential must come from an institution located in Manitoba, and the program must meet MPNP's minimum duration requirements. A program completed in another province, even if finished, does not qualify under this stream.
Create or update an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile in the MPNP system if one does not already exist. All fields must be entered completely and accurately so the profile is ranked correctly within the candidate pool — errors or missing information can result in a lower score than the candidate actually qualifies for.
Prepare original diploma and transcript documents in advance. These are mandatory when an LAA is received and the formal nomination application must be submitted within the deadline specified in the invitation.
Cross-check against an existing Express Entry profile, if applicable: information in the federal profile must match the Manitoba EOI profile to avoid discrepancies when linking the provincial nomination to the Express Entry application.
Monitor future draws: the MPNP does not publish a fixed draw schedule. In 2026, draws have occurred roughly twice per month on average, though the number of LAAs and the cut-off score vary by round depending on the province's needs.
With 6,409 LAAs issued across 18 draws as of September 2026, Manitoba remains one of the most consistently active provinces in Canada's PNP system, and the local graduate stream is the largest single intake channel this year.
To better understand Manitoba's provincial nomination process and which options fit your specific profile, contact Nonsuch Immigration directly for a consultation.
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