Immigrate To New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of four Atlantic provinces on Canada’s East Coast, and the most bilingual province in Canada. New Brunswick is the least densely populated Atlantic province with 3 main cities and much of its terrain covered in rocky forest. The climate is more extreme than other Atlantic regions. Much of New Brunswick’s economy is connected to government, construction & manufacturing, with a smaller focus on natural resources and tourism. Agriculture in the region produces potatoes, apples, cranberries and maple syrup. The cost of living in New Brunswick is generally lower than other Provinces in Canada.
New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program
The New Brunswick (NBPNP) Program operates four streams through which it is possible to immigrate to New Brunswick. The application process is an online system, and only those who receive an invitation to apply can submit their full application for a nomination.
You may be qualified in the following situations:
- you have a job offer from a New Brunswick employer, or
- you are in the Express Entry pool and also meet NB PNP requirements, or
- you wish to start a business in New Brunswick
Program Details
1. Skilled Worker
The New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream requires a permanent full-time job offer from a New Brunswick employer. All NOC 0, A and B occupations are eligible. Some NOC C and D occupations are also eligible.
Applicant criteria:
- you score 60 points (out of 100) on the selection factors for the New Brunswick skilled worker stream
- you are age 19-55
- you have an eligible employer, willing to support the nomination and can demonstrate genuine labour shortages
- you have received a permanent full-time job offer in one of the following NOC skill levels:
- NOC 0, A or B (high skilled)
- NOC C (semi-skilled)
- NOC D (low-skilled) – Skill types 7, 8 and 9, plus NOC 6711 and NOC 6731 (PGWP holders are not usually eligible under NOC D, but some exceptions have been made during COVID)
- no work experience is required for international grads; everyone else except transport truck drivers needs at least one year of qualifying work experience in the past 5 years in a related NOC
- transport truck drivers (NOC 7511) require 24 months of NOC 7511 work experience in the past 5 years, including 6 months of continuous employment in New Brunswick
- you have language skills sufficient for the position; minimum CLB 4
- you have a min high school diploma (Canadian equivalent)
- you have demonstrated an attachment to New Brunswick (work, study, family, visits, etc)
Application fee: CAD $250
2. Express Entry
The New Brunswick Express Entry stream is for individuals who have a profile in the Express Entry system and have an eligible connection to New Brunswick.
Applicant criteria:
- you have a profile in the federal Express Entry pool
- you have one of these eligible connections to NB:
- you are selected by NB PNP from the federal pool to apply to NB
- you are currently living and working full time in NB in a NOC 0, A or B position, or
- you are currently enrolled in an eligible post-secondary program in NB, or have graduated in the last 6 months and remain living and looking for work in NB
- you also have:
- a minimum of 67 points on the New Brunswick Express Entry selection factors
- sufficient financial resources to successfully establish in New Brunswick
- minimum CLB 7 on all language skills
- education equivalent to at least a Canadian High School diploma
- a genuine, demonstrated attachment to New Brunswick (work, study, family, visits, etc)
Application fee: CAD $250
3. Business Immigration Stream
The New Brunswick entrepreneur stream provides the opportunity to immigrate to experienced entrepreneurs who are ready to establish and operate a business while living in New Brunswick. Applicants are assessed against a points grid to determine who will be invited to participate in this application stream.
Applicant criteria:
- you have a min personal net worth of CAD $500,000
- you will make a min investment in the business of CAD $150,000
- for 3 of the past 5 years, you have either business ownership experience or full-time senior management experience in a for-profit entity
- you have completed a min Canadian high school diploma or equivalent
- you scored a min CLB 5 on a valid language test
- you are between 21-59 years of age
- you score a min of 65 on the selection criteria
Business criteria:
- applicant must own at least 1/3 of the business and provide active, daily management
- business can be a new entity or the purchase of an existing entity
- if purchasing an existing business, it must be owned by same principals for past 3 years, and achieved a net profit for at least 2 out of 3 previous years
- must create at least 1 full time job for Canadians not related to you
- business must operate for at least 12 consecutive months for applicant to receive a nomination
- a list of ineligible businesses is published by the NB PNP
Application fee: CAD $2000
4. Strategic Initiative Stream
The NB Strategic Initiative stream is for French-speaking workers with skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy, and who are ready to live and work in New Brunswick permanently.
Applicant criteria:
- you have an NCLC score of at least 5 in all four French language skills
- you scored at least 65 points on the selection grid
- you are between 19-55 years of age
- you have a minimum Canadian high school diploma or equivalent
- you have an eligible connection to NB through:
- an exploratory visit meeting specific criteria
- a qualifying job offer (can be NOC 0, A, B, C or D), or
- a direct invitation from the province of NB
- you have settlement funds to support yourself and your family
- you submit a viable settlement plan
