New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) offers pathways to permanent residence for individuals who can contribute to the province’s economy. The program is managed by Immigration New Brunswick (ImmigrationNB) in collaboration with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The NBPNP includes several streams:

●  Express Entry Stream

●  Skilled Worker Stream

●  Business Immigration Stream

●  Strategic Initiative Stream

●  Critical Worker Pilot

●  Private Career College Graduate Pilot Program

Each stream targets specific groups of applicants based on labor market needs and economic priorities.

The Express Entry Stream aligns with the federal Express Entry system and operates under an Expression of Interest (EOI) model. It includes two pathways:

1.  Employment in New Brunswick Pathway

Eligibility:

●  Must have been living and working full-time in New Brunswick for at least 12 consecutive months.

●  Employment must be in a position classified under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.

●  Must have a valid Express Entry profile.

●  Language proficiency of CLB 7 in all four abilities.

●  Minimum of Canadian high school diploma or equivalent.

●  Age between 19 and 55 years.

●  Score at least 67 points on the NBPNP selection grid.

●  Intend to reside permanently in New Brunswick.

2.  New Brunswick Interests Pathway

Eligibility:

●  Must have received a Letter of Interest (LOI) from ImmigrationNB via Express Entry profile.

●  At least one year of continuous full-time work experience in the past 10 years.

●  Valid Express Entry profile.

●  Language proficiency of CLB 7 in all four abilities.

●  Minimum of Canadian high school diploma or equivalent.

●  Age between 19 and 55 years.

●  Score at least 67 points on the NBPNP selection grid.

●  Intend to reside permanently in New Brunswick.

Note: Certain occupations are excluded from selection under these pathways.

The Skilled Worker Stream is designed for individuals with a valid job offer from a New Brunswick employer. It includes two pathways:

1.  New Brunswick Experience Pathway

Eligibility:

●  Must have worked full-time for at least six consecutive months for the same New Brunswick employer.

●  Employment must be in a non-seasonal position.

●  Employer must support the application.

●  Language proficiency of CLB 4 in English or French.

●  Age between 19 and 55 years.

●  Minimum of Canadian high school diploma or equivalent.

●  Intend to reside permanently in New Brunswick.

2.  New Brunswick Graduates Pathway

Eligibility:

●  Must have graduated from a recognized New Brunswick post-secondary institution.

●  Must have a full-time, non-seasonal job offer from a New Brunswick employer.

●  Employer must support the application.

●  Language proficiency of CLB 4 in English or French.

●  Age between 19 and 55 years.

●  Intend to reside permanently in New Brunswick.

The Business Immigration Stream targets experienced entrepreneurs who wish to establish or purchase a business in New Brunswick.

Eligibility:

●  Must have a minimum personal net worth of CAD $600,000, with at least $300,000 readily available.

●  Minimum investment of CAD $250,000 in a New Brunswick business.

●  At least three years of business ownership or senior management experience in the last five years.

●  Language proficiency of CLB 5 in English or French.

●  Age between 22 and 55 years.

●  Minimum of Canadian high school diploma or equivalent.

●  Submit a business plan and conduct an exploratory visit to New Brunswick.

●  Intend to reside permanently in New Brunswick.

The Strategic Initiative Stream is designed for Francophone workers who have the skills, education, and work experience to contribute to New Brunswick’s economy.

Eligibility:

●  Must intend to reside permanently in New Brunswick.

●  Must have a qualifying connection to New Brunswick.

● Language proficiency of NCLC 5 in French.

●  Age between 19 and 55 years.

●  Minimum of Canadian high school diploma or equivalent.

●  Must have the required amount of settlement funds.

Note: The Strategic Initiative Stream is paused for 2025.

The Critical Worker Pilot allows designated New Brunswick employers to recruit foreign workers for occupations that are difficult to fill.

Eligibility:

●  Must have a full-time, non-seasonal job offer from a designated New Brunswick employer.

●  Employer must support the application.

●  Language proficiency requirements vary by occupation.

●  Must meet the specific requirements set by the employer and ImmigrationNB.

●  Intend to reside permanently in New Brunswick.

This pilot program is for international graduates from designated private career colleges in New Brunswick.

Eligibility:

●  Must have completed a program of at least one year in duration.

●  Must have a full-time, non-seasonal job offer from a New Brunswick employer in a related field.

●  Employer must support the application.

●  Language proficiency of CLB 5 in English or French.

●  Intend to reside permanently in New Brunswick.

1.  Expression of Interest (EOI):

●  Submit an EOI through the ImmigrationNB portal.

●  EOIs are reviewed, and candidates are selected based on labor market needs and other factors.

2.  Invitation to Apply (ITA):

●  If selected, receive an ITA to submit a full application under the specified stream.

●  Must submit the complete application within 45 days.

3.  Application Submission:

●  Submit all required documents and pay the applicable processing fee.

4.  Assessment and Nomination:

●  ImmigrationNB assesses the application.

●  If approved, receive a provincial nomination certificate.

5.  Permanent Residence Application:

●  Apply to IRCC for permanent residence within 6 months of receiving the nomination.

Note: Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee an invitation to apply.

●  Processing Times:

●  NBPNP application: Approximately 6-8 months.

●  Permanent residence application: Around 6 months after nomination.

●  Recent Draws:

●  April 9, 2025: 45 invitations issued under the Express Entry Stream – Employment in New Brunswick pathway, targeting occupations in healthcare, education, social & community services, and construction trades.