Despite being one of Canada’s smallest provinces, New Brunswick (NB) participates in the Provincial Nominee Program in order to help ensure that skilled workers and entrepreneurs can supplement the local labour market. Many new arrivals go to work in the main urban centres of Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton, or in agricultural and other primary-producing rural communities across the province.
The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) has four distinct streams for individual skilled workers who wish to apply for permanent residence:
- New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream
- New Brunswick Express Entry Stream
- New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream
- New Brunswick Private Career College Graduate Pilot Program
New Brunswick PNP – Common Requirements
All New Brunswick immigration programs expect potential applicants to be ‘PR Ready’ before registering their interest in their chosen stream. Broadly speaking, this means that in order to speed up the application process and reduce the risk of having your application rejected, you should ensure that you have:
- all necessary identity documentation for you and any family members you wish to include in your application
- an educational credential assessment (ECA) for any education you have completed outside Canada
- a valid (no older than two years) English and/or French language test result awarded by a recognised testing agency
- letters of reference from any previous employers you are citing as relevant work experience
- identified the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code for your occupation
New Brunswick PNP – Skilled Worker Stream
The NBPNP Skilled Worker Stream is targeted at skilled foreign workers who have already secured a job offer in New Brunswick and wish to move to the province permanently.
This stream is a largely points-based program, with a minimum of 60 points required in order for an application to be successful.
In order to score at least 60 points, an application for the Skilled Worker Stream will typically need to meet all of the following minimum eligibility criteria:
| Factors | Minimum requirements |
| Age | Between 19 and 55 years |
| Level of Education | Hold a high school diploma |
| Work Experience | 1 year within past 5 years in related occupation |
| Language Proficiency | English or French – CLB/NCLC Level 4 |
| Adaptability | Have something connecting you to NB (e.g., family, education, work experience) |
Skilled Worker Stream – Points Distribution Table
| Factors | Maximum Points Available |
| Age | 10 |
| Language | 28 |
| Education | 20 |
| Adaptability | 12 |
| Work Experience | 20 |
| Additional Points – Priority Sectors
If intended occupation is in a priority sector, i.e.:
|
10 |
New Brunswick PNP – Express Entry Stream
The NBPNP Express Entry stream is intended for those who want to seek New Brunswick’s permanent residence nomination via the federal Express Entry system.
In order to apply for this stream, you must be eligible for one of the following federal Express Entry programs:
If you are eligible, you can create your Express Entry profile, at which point you will receive a Federal Express Entry profile number. This number will start with E00 followed by seven numbers (E00*******). You will need this number in order to register an Expression of Interest with New Brunswick.
If your Expression of Interest is selected, you will be invited to submit a full application for the NBPNP Express Entry Stream. If this application is successful, you will receive a provincial nomination from New Brunswick worth 600 points on your federal Express Entry profile.
Expressions of Interest for the NBPNP Express Entry Stream are scored out of 100, with a minimum of 67 points required in order to have a chance of being invited to apply.
| Factors | Minimum requirements |
| Age | Between 22 and 55 years |
| Level of Education | Hold a high school diploma |
| Work Experience | 1 year in NOC level 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation |
| Language Proficiency | English or French – CLB/NCLC 7 |
| Adaptability | Have something connecting you to NB (e.g. family, education, work experience etc.) |
Distribution of points table (minimum points required – 67 out of 100)
| Factors | Maximum Points Available |
| Age | 12 |
| Language | 28 |
| Education | 25 |
| Work Experience | 15 |
| Employment in New Brunswick | 10 |
| Adaptability | 10 |
| Additional Points – Employment in NB
Additional points are available if the applicant: · Holds a valid work permit issued based on a positive LMIA and their occupation is NOC 0, 1, 2 or 3; AND · Currently works in NB for the employer named on their work permit |
10 |
New Brunswick PNP – Strategic Initiative Stream
New Brunswick’s Strategic Initiative Stream is specifically targeted at French speakers interested in moving to New Brunswick from outside Canada. It requires potential applicants to have either a job or job offer in the province, or a recent history of studying or living in New Brunswick.
Invitations to apply to the Strategic Initiative Stream have been paused until further notice. Please contact us for more information or if you would like to discuss a suitable alternative immigration route.
New Brunswick PNP – Private Career College Graduate Pilot
The Private Career College Graduate Pilot is intended to provide an option for certain international graduates from colleges in New Brunswick who have received training and skills required in the province, but who might not be able to qualify for a federal Post-Graduation Work Permit.
In order to be eligible for this stream, potential applicants must have graduated from an eligible private career college in New Brunswick with a qualification in specific, in-demand skills. These include:
- Computer Programming
- Accounting
- Supply Chain & Logistics Experts
- Social Work
- Nursing
New Brunswick PNP – Business Immigration Stream
In addition to the NB PNP streams for skilled workers, business owners and entrepreneurs can also apply for nomination for permanent residence by using the New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream.
This stream is intended for individuals who have either started or purchased a business in New Brunswick, managed that business for six months and intend to remain in New Brunswick permanently.
Broadly, applicants for the Business Immigration Stream should:
- be aged between 19 and 59
- have at least a high school diploma-level of education
- have a personal net worth of no less than CAD $500,000
- this requirement is reduced to CAD $300,000 for farmers
- have managed or owner-operated a business for at least two of the previous five years
- have a business plan that involves investing at least CAD $150,000 and creating at least one full-time job
- speak English or French to CLB/NCLC Level 4
Priority will be given to applicants who:
- have visited New Brunswick for at least five business days within the past year
- have completed at least one year’s diploma or certificate-level study in New Brunswick (or their spouse has)
- have worked in a high-skilled job in New Brunswick for at least 30 hours per week and at least six months in the previous two years (or their spouse has)
- have family members living in New Brunswick who are permanent residents or Canadian citizens