Overview
The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) lets the province nominate people for permanent residence. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes the final decision after nomination. The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a separate federal program; New Brunswick handles AIP employer designation and candidate endorsement, but AIP is not an NBPNP stream.
Four streams
Skilled Worker, Express Entry, Strategic Initiative (for French speakers) and Business Immigration.
Two pilots
The Critical Worker Pilot (employer-led, six participating employers) and the Private Career College Graduate Pilot (extended in a limited capacity through the end of 2027).
EOI first
An expression of interest (EOI) in the INB portal is free, stays valid for 365 days, and is not an application. Only invited candidates apply.
One active file
An INB profile can hold only one active EOI or application. Submitting more than one can lead to refusal of all of them.
Streams and published requirements
| Stream / pathway | Who it fits | Key published requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker: all pathways | Workers supported by a New Brunswick employer | Age 19+; CLB 4 in all four skills; supporting employer actively operating in New Brunswick for the past 24 months; meet New Brunswick job requirements under the NOC and other laws. Non-refundable application fee of $250. |
| Skilled Worker: New Brunswick Experience | Temporary residents already working in the province | Full-time, non-seasonal work for the supporting employer; at least six months of full-time experience with that employer; lived in New Brunswick for the past six months; high school diploma. |
| Skilled Worker: New Brunswick Graduates | Graduates of New Brunswick institutions | Completed a PGWP-eligible program at a designated learning institution in New Brunswick; working in, or accepted, a full-time non-seasonal position with the supporting employer; lived in New Brunswick for the past six months. |
| Skilled Worker: New Brunswick Priority Occupations | Workers recruited abroad by the province | Accepted a full-time non-seasonal offer resulting directly from a Government of New Brunswick recruitment mission, in a priority NOC listed in the guide; one year of related paid experience; high school diploma. |
| Express Entry: all pathways | Candidates in the federal Express Entry pool | Age 19–55; valid Express Entry profile; high school diploma or foreign equivalent; CLB 7 in all four skills; one year of continuous experience in one TEER 0–3 NOC within the past 10 years; at least 67/100 on the provincial selection grid. Fee $250. |
| Express Entry: Employment in New Brunswick | Express Entry candidates working in the province | Full-time non-seasonal TEER 0–3 work for an employer operating in New Brunswick for 24 months; lived and worked full time in New Brunswick for the past 12 months with work authorization. |
| Express Entry: New Brunswick Interest | Candidates contacted by the province | A letter of interest received in the Express Entry profile; federal proof of funds. |
| Strategic Initiative | French speakers | Age 19+; NCLC 5 in all four French skills; high school or equivalent; one year of qualifying experience in the past five years (not needed for New Brunswick post-secondary graduates); proof of funds unless living in New Brunswick or holding a valid offer; at least 65/100 on the grid. Pathways: Francophone Workers in New Brunswick (permanent, full-time, year-round job with an employer operating in the province for 12 months; lived in New Brunswick for six months, with the province to confirm any exception for offers from a government recruitment mission); New Brunswick Francophone Priorities (graduate of at least a one-year in-person program at Université de Moncton or CCNB, or a letter of interest from Immigration New Brunswick); Francophones Working Remotely in New Brunswick (lived in the province for 12 months while working remotely for a Canadian employer outside Quebec). Fee $250. |
| Business Immigration | Experienced owners and senior managers | Age 19–59; CLB 4; high school or equivalent; net worth of at least $500,000 ($300,000 for agriculture); two years of qualifying experience in the past five (51%+ ownership or senior manager, managing daily operations, supervising at least two employees); at least $150,000 in eligible investment; business plan creating at least one full-time job; at least 65/100 on the grid; six months of operation under a Business Performance Agreement before requesting nomination. Fee $2,000. |
Pilots
- Critical Worker Pilot: a five-year employer-led pilot with six participating employers (Cooke Aquaculture, J.D. Irving Ltd., Groupe Savoie, Groupe Westco, Imperial Manufacturing Group and McCain Foods). There are no direct applications: a candidate needs an offer from a participating employer, then submits an EOI and, if invited through the employer, has 45 calendar days to apply. The pilot is not open to other employers.
- Private Career College Graduate Pilot: for graduates of selected education, social development and health programs at participating New Brunswick private career colleges. Requirements include age 19+, CLB 5, not being eligible for the federal post-graduation work permit, and a genuine, unconditional, related full-time non-seasonal offer from an employer that has operated in the province for 24 months under the same ownership. The nomination process and the closed work permit application must be completed within 90 days of the program completion date on the final transcript, and before the study permit expires. Launched in September 2022, it is extended in a limited capacity through the end of 2027 for students who would not have graduated by the original end date.
Current restrictions and notices
| Date | Notice |
|---|---|
| February 3, 2026 | Skilled Worker and Express Entry streams: no EOIs or invitations for candidates working in accommodation and food services (NAICS 72), covering NOCs 60030, 62020, 62021, 62024, 62200, 63200, 63202, 64300, 64301, 64314, 65200, 65201 and 65310 in that sector. Regardless of sector, none for NOCs 14400, 60020, 62010, 62101, 63201, 64100, 64409, 65100, 65101, 65102, 65202, 94142, 95106 and 95107. |
| May 4, 2026 | Skilled Worker stream, New Brunswick Experience: until further notice, new invitations only in health care, education and construction. |
| September 14, 2026 | AIP: employer designation applications paused for the rest of 2026. |
| October 14, 2026 | AIP endorsement: accepted for all occupations except NOCs 14400, 60030, 62020 and 94142; TEER 5 not eligible; offers to people outside Canada limited to Government of New Brunswick-led recruitment in health care, education and construction. |
2026 invitation rounds
New Brunswick publishes each round by stream, pathway and sector. It does not publish minimum scores. Recent rounds:
| Date | Stream (pathway) | Invitations | Sectors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 and Oct 2 | AIP | 63 (selected) | Construction, education and social services, manufacturing, other trades, professional and IT, sales and services, transportation |
| Sep 17 | Express Entry (Employment in NB) | 102 | Same sectors as above |
| Sep 15–18 | Skilled Worker (NB Graduates, NB Experience) | 197 | Construction, education and social services, manufacturing, other trades, professional and IT, sales and services |
| Sep 11 | Strategic Initiative (Francophone Workers, NB Francophone Priorities) | 251 | Broad range of sectors |
| Jul 18 | Skilled Worker (NB Graduates) | 209 | Broad range including health care |
| Jul 16 | Strategic Initiative | 254 | Broad range |
| Jul 16 | Express Entry (Employment in NB) | 115 | Broad range including health care |
| Jun 3 | Skilled Worker (NB Experience) | 243 | Construction trades, health care |
From January to mid-September 2026, the province published Skilled Worker rounds totalling 1,764 invitations, Express Entry rounds totalling 553 and Strategic Initiative rounds totalling 1,221 (our count from the official list). No Business Immigration rounds appear in the 2026 list. Past rounds do not predict future ones; sectors and pathways change from round to round.
NOC and TEER
Match the five-digit NOC code to the lead statement and most of the main duties. Then check the TEER level, the sector restrictions above, the employer's operating history and any licensing rule for that exact pathway.
Sector is not the same as NOC
The February 2026 restriction targets workers employed in the accommodation and food services sector. A worker in one of those NOCs employed by a business outside NAICS 72 can still apply.
Express Entry needs TEER 0–3
Both Express Entry pathways need a year of experience in one TEER 0–3 NOC, and the Employment pathway needs current TEER 0–3 work in New Brunswick.
Consistent evidence
Reference letters, the job offer, the work permit and the INB profile should show the same duties, dates, hours and occupation.
Licensing is separate
A matching NOC does not authorize practice. Confirm New Brunswick licensing or certification for regulated occupations.
Find your NOC code and TEER category
From EOI to permanent residence
- Identify the pathwayStart from your status, New Brunswick work or study, French ability, Express Entry profile or business experience.
- Check NOC, sector and employerCompare duties and TEER, then check the February 3 restrictions, the May 4 sector limit and the employer's 24 months of operation.
- Submit one EOI in the INB portalThe EOI is free and valid for 365 days. To change it, withdraw it and submit a new one; this does not move you to the back of a queue, because selection is not first-come, first-served.
- Wait for an invitationIf invited for a PNP stream, withdraw all other submissions.
- Pay the fee and submit the full application$250 for worker streams and $2,000 for Business Immigration, non-refundable, paid before submitting the complete nomination application.
- Apply to IRCC after nominationUse Express Entry for an Express Entry nomination, or the non-Express Entry route. Maintain your status: Immigration New Brunswick cannot guarantee a decision before your work permit expires.
Forms, deadlines and after nomination
Forms
Form NB-005 (Consent and Declaration) is required in the worker streams, and NB-004 (Employment Information) is required in the Skilled Worker stream and applies elsewhere where relevant. If applicable: NB-007 (Use of Representative), NB-011 (Withdrawal), IMM 5409 (common-law declaration) and IMM 5604 (declaration from a non-accompanying parent or guardian for minors). Post-nomination requests use NB-021.
Invitation deadline
Submit a complete application within the deadline in your invitation letter. A completeness check comes first; missing mandatory documents can lead to closure. Assessment can take several months, and decisions and nomination certificates are issued only through the INB portal.
Business stream timeline
Report your arrival within one month (NBBIS-004); request a business plan update within three months, if needed (NBBIS-007); report the business opening within nine months (NBBIS-005); request nomination after six months of operation (NBBIS-006). Net worth is verified by an approved firm: the province now directs candidates to Doane Grant Thornton LLP or MNP LLP.
After nomination
Apply to IRCC before the nomination certificate expires and include family members. Once nominated, you cannot switch to another New Brunswick stream. Report job changes or errors to the province, and ask it for a work permit support letter or a certificate extension where needed (form NB-021).
Work permits
Eligible candidates may apply on their own for a bridging open work permit. A closed work permit with employer support needs a support letter from Immigration New Brunswick and an offer of employment number, which the employer obtains through the IRCC Employer Portal.
Help line
The Immigration Navigation Service answers questions at 506-451-2083, Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (holidays excluded). Candidates must keep their authorization to work in Canada at all times.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a New Brunswick Graduates pathway in the Express Entry stream?
The current Express Entry stream page lists only two pathways: Employment in New Brunswick and New Brunswick Interest. Graduates of New Brunswick institutions use the Skilled Worker stream's New Brunswick Graduates pathway, or the Strategic Initiative if they are French speakers.
Who pays the employer compliance fee?
The employer. New Brunswick states that the compliance fee for the offer of employment number cannot be taken from the worker in any way.
Does a past invitation round in my sector mean I will be invited?
No. Rounds are set by allocation, sector priorities and pathway, and the province can restrict or pause pathways at any time.
Official sources
- Government of New Brunswick: Provincial Nominee Program
- Government of New Brunswick: Skilled Worker stream
- Government of New Brunswick: Express Entry stream
- Government of New Brunswick: Strategic Initiative
- Government of New Brunswick: Business Immigration stream
- Government of New Brunswick: Private Career College Graduate Pilot
- Government of New Brunswick: Critical Worker Pilot
- Government of New Brunswick: Important notices
- Government of New Brunswick: Invitation and selection rounds
- IRCC: Fee list
This page is general information about Canadian immigration law and policy as of the date above. It is not legal advice for your situation. Programs, forms and fees change often; check the official sources before you apply.