Starting March 5, 2025, New Brunswick has officially opened the intake for two enhanced Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) pathways:
- Employment in New Brunswick Pathway: This pathway requires candidates to have at least 12 consecutive months of work experience in the province, along with increased residency requirements.
- New Brunswick Interests Pathway:
- – Must have received a letter of interest from Immigration New Brunswick in their federal Express Entry profile.
- – Must have at least one year of continuous full-time or equivalent part-time work experience within the past 10 years.
Both pathways are aligned with the federal Express Entry system, offering eligible newcomers a streamlined route to permanent residence in Canada.
Common Requirements for Both Pathways
- – Valid Express Entry profile.
- – English or French proficiency equivalent to at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in all four language abilities.
- – Meet the federal minimum proof of funds requirement (if not exempt).
- – Canadian high school diploma or its equivalent.
- – Intent to live and work permanently in New Brunswick.
- – Age between 19 and 55.
- – Minimum of 67 points on New Brunswick’s Express Entry selection grid.
Excluded Occupations
Candidates in the following occupations are ineligible for nomination under these streams:
- – Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200)
- – Administrative assistants (NOC 13110)
- – Bakers (NOC 63202)
- – Cooks (NOC 63200)
- – Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)
- – Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030)
- – Retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 60020)
- – Retail sales supervisors (NOC 62010)
Reduced Nominations and Strategic Allocation
For 2025, New Brunswick’s provincial nomination allocation has been reduced to 2,750 nominations, down from 5,000 in the previous year. Of these, 1,500 are allocated to the NBPNP and 1,250 to the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). This reduction has prompted the province to prioritize specific sectors and occupations to maximize the economic impact of its limited nominations.
Processing and Selection Process
Expressions of Interest (EOIs) will not be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Instead, candidates will be selected through scheduled draws starting in March 2025, based on their alignment with updated eligibility criteria. This approach ensures that only qualified candidates receive Invitations to Apply (ITAs).
These updates reflect New Brunswick’s strategic efforts to attract skilled workers in alignment with the province’s economic needs, focusing on sectors such as health, education, and construction.
