New Brunswick is one of the northeastern Maritime provinces in Canada. Moreover, it is the only officially bilingual province in Canada, with over 30% of the population speaking French as their primary language. Through the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program, prospective immigrants/ newcomers with the skills and experience targeted by the province might obtain a provincial nomination certificate. 

Moreover, with this nomination, foreign nationals might further apply for Canadian permanent residence. Well, stick to this guide if you wish to learn more about the  Provincial Nominee Program. 

Overview 

New Brunswick is located below the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec & is adjacent to the State of Maine in the United States. 

The province offers excellent employment opportunities & low cost of living compared to some of Canada’s largest provinces. Newcomers to New Brunswick can choose to reside in small towns or in large cities like Fredericton, Moncton, Saint John, etc. Moreover, the province is also known for its serene rivers & lakes, along with many outdoor recreational sites. 

Prospective immigrants with the necessary skills & experience targeted by the province might get a provincial nomination via the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program. In addition, those who wish to immigrate to New Brunswick presently have five immigration streams to choose from. 

Let us discuss all of them in detail. 

Express Entry Program 

This stream enables the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) to use the Express Entry program selection system to meet New Brunswick’s specific labor market & demographic needs. Moreover, this stream operates under an ‘Expression of Interest’ model. 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Should have an active Express Entry profile
• Must have a Job Seeker Validation Code/ proof of enrolment in a PGWP-eligible program at a federally-designated post secondary institution   
• Should be presently living in the province 
• Should have valid language test scores in either English or French equal to CLB level 7

Skilled Workers Stream 

New Brunswick accepts applications from individuals who have obtained a full-time, permanent job offer from a New Brunswick employer. 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Should prove that they intend to live in the province 
• Should have a full-time permanent employment offer from an eligible New Brunswick employer & a letter of support from them
• Must have a minimum Canadian secondary diploma/ a foreign high school diploma equivalent to a Canadian credential 
• Should be between 19-55 years of age
• Must have valid language test scores in English/ French equal to CLB 4

Business Immigration Stream

New Brunswick accepts applications from individuals who plan to own & actively manage a business in the province. Candidates are expected to make a monetary/financial investment in the business. 

Minimum Requirements: 

• Should have an eligible connection to New Brunswick yo submit an EOI, i.e., Expression of Interest. 
• Should have completed an academic degree from a university/ college that required a minimum of three years of full-time study or a diploma in a certain trade that required a minimum of two years of full-time study.
• Should be able to demonstrate a minimum personal net worth of at least CAD 600,000. Moreover, a net worth of CAD 300,000 must be readily available & unencumbered.
• Must be between 22-55 years of age.
• Must have valid language test scores in English/ French equal to CLB level 5.

Critical Worker Pilot 

Introduced in November 2022, this program is a unique program which will allow designated employers in the province to recruit foreign talent to address their workforce needs. 

Atlantic Immigration Program 

New Brunswick is one of the four participating Atlantic provinces working with the Canadian government to recruit foreign workers to meet labor market shortages in Atlantic Canada. Foreign nationals interested in participating in the program might be residing abroad or on temporary status in Canada at the time of applying.

All applicants to the pilot must have an employment offer from a designated employer that meets the requirements of the program.    

Conclusion 

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program offers a pathway for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, & graduates to obtain Canadian permanent residency. Candidates must meet specific criteria related to work experience, education, language proficiency, & intention to settle in the province. 

The program comprises numerous streams, including the Express Entry Labor Market Stream & the Entrepreneurial Stream, each tailored to different categories of applicants. Successful applicants obtain a provincial nomination, thus increasing their chances in the federal immigration process. The NBPNP aims to address labor market needs & promote economic growth by attracting individuals who can contribute to the development of the province.