OVERVIEW

WelcomeNL is a free pre-arrival program offered by the Association for New Canadians (ANC) for people with jobs/job offers and their immediate families moving to Newfoundland and Labrador. It’s also for other eligible individuals before they arrive to the province, including spouses or common-law partners of international students.

The program offers personalized guidance and online resources about life in the province – covering settlement, employment, and language. This gives participants a head start before their arrival, so they can access vital services faster, start work sooner, and settle into their new environment easily.

Funded by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Jobs, Growth and Rural Development, WelcomeNL requires participants to complete a short application screening to confirm program eligibility.

WelcomeNL's services include:

• Information and Orientation – Essential information to help you understand life in the province, including employment, settlement, language, and community resources. Virtual sessions can highlight key aspects of daily life such as housing, healthcare, education, transportation, banking, community services, cultural adaptation, etc.

• Personalized Settlement Plan – Obtain a settlement plan customized to your needs, goals, and destination. The plan is based on a comprehensive needs and assets assessment of your skills, experience, strengths, and settlement requirements, designed to establish a clear pathway for your transition to life in NL.

• Skills and Employment Preparation – Participate in employment‑related sessions to strengthen early awareness of the local labour market, including workplace culture, rights and responsibilities, professional communications, workplace expectations, employer perspectives, etc.

• Personalized Pathways & Specialized Programs – Tailored pathways based on your background and goals, including licensing and regulated professions, permanent residency pathways, programs for families, youth, and vulnerable newcomers, supports for Francophone newcomers, and entrepreneurship and small business resources.

• One‑on‑One Support – Meeting with a settlement/employment specialist who will guide you through your preparation journey.

To complement these sessions, participants may also have access a self-paced digital employment readiness program that introduces core workplace skills and job search strategies.