How to apply for the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)

Canada offers many immigration opportunities for newcomers to start and build a career, be part of a community, and raise a family. While many people think of moving to Toronto or Vancouver, there are also great opportunities in lesser-known cities and provinces. One of those places is New Brunswick.

The maritime province of New Brunswick has historical and cultural roots in every corner of the world. With its relaxed and affordable lifestyle, as well as its proximity to nature and the ocean, New Brunswick is appealing to newcomers, who make up approximately 5 per cent of the total population.

The province has a population of approximately 800,000 people and is filled with charming towns and villages. Fredericton is the capital city of New Brunswick, but the biggest city is Moncton. New Brunswick’s economy is diverse and some of the major industries include forestry, mining, fishing, agriculture, tourism, and information technology (IT).

Newcomers wishing to start a new life in Canada may be eligible to apply for permanent residency (PR) through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The criteria for each PNP program vary depending on the economic needs of the province or territory. Newcomers wishing to move to New Brunswick can apply through the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). New Brunswick is Canada’s only officially bilingual province, and in addition to its regular immigration streams, the province offers a separate PNP stream for francophones.

Here’s what you need to know about the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program and how to apply.

In this article:

Overview of New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
How to qualify for a New Brunswick PR nomination through NBPNP
Step-by-step application process for NBPNP
Where to get more information on NBPNP

Want to know more about moving to Canada?
See Frequently asked questions about immigration to Canada to learn more about your options.

Overview of New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program is a provincially run nominee program for newcomers who wish to live and work in the province. The program is designed to accelerate the immigration process for foreign nationals who possess the skills, work experience, and education needed to contribute to New Brunswick’s economy.

There are four streams that newcomers can apply under for permanent residence (PR):

NB Skilled Worker Stream: for individuals who have an offer of employment from a New Brunswick employer and intend to live and work in the province.
NB Express Entry Stream (EE): for individuals with the skills, education, and work experience to contribute to the economy and meet the requirements for Express Entry.
NB Business Immigration Stream: for experienced entrepreneurs or post-graduates who wish to establish, operate, and manage a business and live in New Brunswick.
NB Strategic Initiative Stream: for French-speaking individuals with the skills, education, and work experience to contribute to the economy and who wish to live in and work in the province.

Note
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP) has finished and will be relaunched in 2022. Check the New Brunswick site for information on the program and how to qualify when it becomes available.

How to qualify for a New Brunswick PR nomination through NBPNP

Depending on your qualifications, education, work experience, or entrepreneurial skills, there are several streams that you can apply for.

Stream	Criteria	Mandatory requirements
NB Skilled Workers Stream	For experienced foreign workers who have the necessary skills, education, and work experience in the local labour market and have an offer of a full-time position.	You have accepted a permanent, full-time job in an eligible occupation and are being paid a competitive salary You are qualified for the position Your employer is willing to support your application Must have at least one year continuous paid experience in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 (previously Skill type 0 or Skill level A, B, C, or D job), relevant to your job offer, in the past five years You are aged between 19 and 55 years of age You must have a minimum language score of CLB/NCLC Level 4 or equivalent Must have at minimum the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma Must score a minimum of 60 points in the selection factors Intend to live and work in New Brunswick.
NB Express Entry	For qualified candidates from the IRCC Express Entry system to gain permanent residency in move to New Brunswick. Note: This program is accepting Expression of Interest applications only.	Must have a valid Express Entry profile in the IRCC Express Entry system and have a valid Federal Express Entry Profile Number and Job Seeker Validation Code Must be aged between 22 to 55 years old Must be current living in New Brunswick Must be working for a New Brunswick employer in a position that matches NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 (previously Skill Level 0 or Skill type A or B) OR have a valid Canadian Study Permit, be enrolled in a designated learning institution and have at least one year experience in an occupation that matches NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 (previously Skill Level 0 or Skill type A or B). Must have at least one year of continuous paid experience in an NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 (previously Skill Level 0 or Skill type A or B) Must have a language test score of CLB/NCLC Level 7 or equivalent Must have a valid Education Credentials Assessment (ECA) which attests to the minimum of a Canadian High School diploma Must prove you have sufficient funds to support you and your family Score minimum of 67 points You intend to live and work in New Brunswick.
NB Business Immigration Stream	For foreign business people who intend to move to New Brunswick and establish, operate, and actively manage a business in the province. Note: This program is accepting Expression of Interest applications only.	Must be aged between 21 and 59 years old Must have been a business owner (minimum 51%) or senior business manager for three of past five years Your business must be of economic benefit to the province Continue operating an existing business or establish a new business that is considered a private-sector with the purpose of earning profit through the sale of goods and/or services Business must create at least one full-time job for a permanent resident or citizen living in New Brunswick Business must be established as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation (in this case, other partners must be a permanent resident or citizen) Must make an investment of no less than $150,000 CAD before tax and control at least 33.30% equity in the business If purchasing an established business, must demonstrate the business has been in continuous operation by the same owner who is a permanent resident or citizen for at least three years, will be purchased a fair market value, has proven net profit for at least two of the previous three years and will provide continued employment to existing staff on similar conditions Must have a language test score of of CLB/NCLC Level 5 or equivalent Must have at minimum the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma Score minimum of 65 points Must be willing to live in New Brunswick.
NB Post-Grad Entrepreneurial Stream (PGES)	For foreign students who have graduated from a recognized university or college in New Brunswick, have started or acquired a business in the province and intend to settle in NB permanently. Note: This program is accepting Expression of Interest applications only.	Must be between 22 and 40 years of age Must have a language test score of of CLB/NCLC Level 7 or equivalent Must have completed a full-time, in-person post-secondary diploma or degree of at least 2 years from a recognized NB university or college Must have owned and operated a successful business in New Brunswick for at least one year Must also have a valid Post-Graduate Work Permit at the time of application Must score at least 65 points Must have 100% ownership of the business and be actively involved in the daily management Must receive a salary which meets the Low-Income Cut-Off plus 10% Must be a for-profit business and employ at least one citizen or permanent resident on a full-time basis Must be willing to live in New Brunswick.
NB Strategic Initiative Stream	For French-speaking foreign workers with the skills, education, and experience to contribute to the economy who wish to live and work in the province. Note: This program is accepting Expression of Interest applications only.	You are between 19 and 55 years of age You must have a minimum language score of NCLC Level 5 or equivalent You have a minimum of a Canadian high school diploma You meet one of three conditions: Conduct an exploratory visit to NB Have a valid job offer from an employer Have a direct invitation to apply Valid job offers must come under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 (previously Skill Level 0 or Skill type A, B, C, or D), be full-time and permanent, and pay a competitive salary If your job is in a regulated occupation, you must show proof of license or certificate from the regulating body Must have at least one year continuous paid experience in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 (previously Skill Level 0 or Skill type A, B, C, or D) job Must have proof of funds of a minimum of $13,757 CAD Score minimum of 65 points You are willing to settle permanently in New Brunswick.

Step-by-step application process for NBPNP

To follow are the steps involved in applying for the various streams under NBPNP:

1. Confirm you qualify

Once you have identified which pathway you’d like to apply under, it’s important to make sure you meet all the mandatory requirements before completing your application or submitting an expression of interest.

2. For the New Brunswick Express Entry stream only, applicants must submit a profile online through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and meet the requirements for one of the following federal programs:

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program
2. Federal Skilled Trades Program
3. Canadian Experience Class

You will then receive an Express Entry profile number and Job Seeker validation code.

3. Register for a new profile with the New Brunswick INB System and provide:

1. First name
2. Last name
3. Email address
4. Password

4. Complete your profile in four categories:

1. Candidate information
2. Citizenship
3. Family members
4. Contact Information

Then select the stream you wish to apply under.

5. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

In this section, you must indicate your connection to New Brunswick (such as a full-time, permanent job offer) as outlined in the conditions of each stream, then complete the following sections:

Language
Education
Work experience
Adaptability

Once you have submitted all your information, click <Calculate Score> to generate a self-assessment score. When the application is completed, you will be added to the EOI pool and receive a letter from the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour (PETL).

Note
If you’re applying while enrolled in a PGWP-eligible program at a federally-designated post-secondary institution and are applying under the NB Express Entry stream, send an email to Entree.Express.Entry@gnb.ca with the following documents:

Proof that you’re a resident of New Brunswick
Proof that you’ve completed (or are about to complete) an eligible study program from a NB post-secondary institution, and
Your valid Express Entry profile number and Job Seeker validation code

You will then receive instructions on how to submit your EOI.

6. Submit your full application in the INB Portal within 45 days of receiving your Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the PETL.

To begin, click <new> in the “Start My Application” section
Review and validate information
Upload required supporting documents
Fill out personal history requirements
Fill out information on the job offer and other requirements for the stream you are applying under

7. Make payment of fees of $1,365 CAD with credit card or Interac e-Transfer and submit application.

8. For Entrepreneurial or Post Graduate Entrepreneurial applications only, select <I want to operate and actively manage a business in New Brunswick> then click <Start My EOI> to begin.

a. Provide information in the following areas:

My NB Connection
My Business
My Score
Validate my Profile
Submit your EOI.

b. You will receive a letter from the PETL acknowledging receipt of your application.

c. If your EOI is selected, you will receive a letter notifying you that your full application must be submitted within 90 days through the INB Portal.

d. From your dashboard under ‘Start My Application’, click <New> and fill out the required fields.

e. Pay the processing fee of $2,140 CAD by credit card or Interac e-Transfer.

f. If selected, after receiving your work permit, you are permitted to work on establishing your approved business plan.

g. Within the first nine months following your arrival date in Canada, your business must be open and you must submit a report to the GNB.

9. Apply for permanent residence

If your application is successful, the last step is to apply for permanent residence through IRCC. It will be up to the Government of Canada to make the final decision on your permanent residency.

Where to get more information on NBPNP

For more information on the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program, telephone 506-453-3981, email immigration@gnb.ca visit their website.

If you’re looking for information on your application for permanent residence, contact Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada online or call toll-free 1-888-242-2100.

The NBPNP process may seem daunting, as there are a number of options and steps involved. However, if you follow the instructions provided by the provincial government and consult with authorized immigration representatives, you’ll be able to realize your dream of settling in New Brunswick.

Things our lawyers want you to know

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