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New Brunswick Immigration

New Brunswick Immigration

New Brunswick, located in eastern Canada, is one of the three Maritime Provinces well-known for their friendly and safe communities. Because of its origins as a French colony, it is home to a large French speaking population: one third of its residents speak French, although most are also fluent in English. The province is officially bilingual, having adopted French as an official language in 1969. New Brunswick is the perfect place for someone looking to experience a unique mix of rural, seaside, and urban lifestyle, and people living in the province typically enjoy an excellent quality of life. The Capital is Frederiction and the largest city is Saint John.

New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program targets qualified candidates who meet specific economic and labour market needs in the province. The Program is designed to support New Brunswick’s economic growth by attracting foreign workers. Individuals nominated by the province, together with their spouse and dependent children, are eligible to apply for a permanent resident visa as a Provincial Nominee.

New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program Streams

The NBPNP accepts applications under the following immigration categories:

  • Express Entry Stream.
    For NBPNP to use the Express Entry pool to meet its specific labour market and demographic needs.
  • Skilled Worker Stream.
    For applicants with an eligible job offer in New Brunswick.
  • Entrepreneurial Stream.
    For international entrepreneurs who want to establish and manage a business in New Brunswick.
  • Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream.
    For graduates of New Brunswick institutions who go on to start a business in the province.

Express Entry Labour Market Stream

This stream allows the NBPNP to use the federal Express Entry immigration selection system to meet New Brunswick’s specific labour market and demographic needs. This stream operates under an ‘Expression of Interest’ model.

New Brunswick Express Entry Stream: Initial Eligibility Requirements

  1. Connection to New Brunswick.
    Candidates must meet one of the following requirements:
    1. Be living in New Brunswick and working paid, full-time employment from a New Brunswick company in an occupation listed as skill type 0 or skill level A or B of the NOC.
    2. Have an offer of continuous, paid, full-time employment from a New Brunswick company in an occupation listed as NOC 0, A or B.
    3. Have been selected by New Brunswick from the Express Entry pool in response to provincial labour market needs.
  2. Intend to reside in New Brunswick.
    Candidates must prove a genuine intention to reside in New Brunswick. Examples of ways intent can be established include:
    1. Description of actions taken to permanently settle in New Brunswick.
    2. Current employment in New Brunswick.
    3. Employment search details.
    4. Length of any previous and/or current period of residence in New Brunswick.
    5. Community involvement.
    6. Ability to support yourself in New Brunswick.
    7. Connections to New Brunswick through work, study or family.
    8. Professional networks and affiliations.
    9. Residency including household lease agreements and/or property ownership.
    10. Family ties and other social relationships and connections.
    11. Details of prior visits to Canada.
    12. Connection to other jurisdictions in Canada.
  3. Have the required settlement funds.
    Settlement funds required for New Brunswick Express Entry are the same as federal government settlement funds.
  4. Meet the minimum qualifications of an occupations classified as NOC 0, A or B.
  5. Receive a genuine job offer (if applicable).

    A job offer is not required for the New Brunswick Express Entry Stream.

    However, who one has been obtained, it must be permanent, full time and non-seasonal employment in an eligible occupation. Full time means a minimum of 30 hours per week, or 1,560 hours per year.

  6. Be offered a competitive wage (if applicable)
    Where a job offer is included in an application, the wages offered must:
    1. Meet or exceed the median wage level for the occupation in the specific region of New Brunswick.
    2. Be comparable to the rate paid to workers with a similar level of experience and training for equivalent jobs in New Brunswick.
    3. Be consistent with the wage structure of the employer.

New Brunswick Express Entry Stream: Selection Factors

One the eligibility requirements are met; candidates are scored based on six selection factors. Candidates must score 67 points out of a possible 100 to qualify.

Skilled Workers with Employer Support

New Brunswick accepts applications under this category from individuals who have received a full-time, permanent job offer from a New Brunswick employer.

New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream: Eligibility Requirements

  1. Genuine Job Offer
    Offer of employment for permanent, full time position in an eligible occupation.
    • High-skilled workers: NOC 0, A, B.
    • Semi-skilled workers: NOC C.
    • Low-skilled workers: NOC D skill type 7, 8 and 9.
  2. Qualifications
    Candidates must demonstrate they are qualified for the position being offered.
  3. Be offered a competitive wage
    The wages offered must:
    • Meet or exceed the median wage level for the occupation in the specific region of New Brunswick.
    • Be comparable to the rate paid to workers with a similar level of experience and training for equivalent jobs in New Brunswick.
    • Be consistent with the wage structure of the employer.
  4. Intend to reside in New Brunswick.
    Candidates must prove a genuine intention to reside in New Brunswick. Examples of ways intent can be established include:
    • Description of actions taken to permanently settle in New Brunswick.
    • Current employment in New Brunswick.
    • Employment search details.
    • Length of any previous and/or current period of residence in New Brunswick.
    • Community involvement.
    • Ability to support yourself in New Brunswick.
    • Connections to New Brunswick through work, study or family.
    • Professional networks and affiliations.
    • Residency including household lease agreements and/or property ownership.
    • Family ties and other social relationships and connections.
    • Details of prior visits to Canada.
  5. Regulated Occupations in New Brunswick
    Candidates must have the required certificate or license in job offer is for a regulated occupation.

New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream: Selection Factors

One the eligibility requirements are met, candidates are scored based on six selection factors. Candidates must score 60 points out of a possible 100 to qualify.

Post Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream

New Brunswick accepts applications under this category from individuals who have graduated from a recognized academic institution in New Brunswick, and have started or acquired a business in the province.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Be aged between 22 and 40.
  • Score at least level 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmark for speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French.
  • Have completed at least two years full time post-secondary education at a recognized New Brunswick university or community college.
  • Have lived in New Brunswick for the duration of the course (distance-learning courses do not qualify).
  • Have 100 per cent owned and operated a business for one full year.
  • Have a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit.
  • Intend to live permanently in New Brunswick.

Entrepreneurial Stream

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program Entrepreneurial Stream is aimed at professionals ready to invest in a business in the province and move there with their families.

The primary requirements are:

  • Have an eligible connection to New Brunswick.
  • Be aged between 22 and 55.
  • Minimum two years post-secondary education degree or diploma.
  • Score at least level 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmark exam for speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French.
  • Have completed at least two years full time post-secondary education.
  • Legally-acquired personal net worth of at least $600,000, of which $300,000 must be available in available in unencumbered liquidity.
  • Invest at least $250,000 in a New Brunswick business, taking ownership of at least 33 per cent.
  • Sign a Business Performance Agreement with the New Brunswick provincial government and pay a deposit of $100,000.
  • Business must create significant economic benefit to New Brunswick.
  • Show business experience – either three years of ownership or five years of senior management experience in the last five years.
  • Submit a business concept of 1,000 to 1,500 words.
  • Conduct an exploratory visit to New Brunswick, or participate in an information session offered by the New Brunswick provincial government.
  • Intend to live permanently in New Brunswick.

Skilled Workers with Family Support

NOTE: This was program closed permanently on February 16, 2018.

New Brunswick accepts applications under this category from individuals who have worked in New Brunswick and have close family ties to the province.