New Brunswick Immigration

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program targets qualified candidates who meet specific economic and labor market needs in the province,

Under the NBPNP, candidates can qualify through one of five categories:

1. New Brunswick Express Entry Stream.
2. New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream.
3. New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream for Truck Drivers
4. New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream.
5. New Brunswick Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream.

1. New Brunswick Express Entry Stream

The New Brunswick Express Entry Stream targets candidates with profiles in the federal Express Entry Pool.

They must have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to New Brunswick’s economy and be ready to live and work permanently in the province.

Candidates must meet the initial eligibility requirements, before being assessed and scored on six factors: age, education, language skills, work experience, job offer and adaptability.

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:

• 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.
• 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 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:

• 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.

New Brunswick Express Entry Stream: Selection Factors

One of 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.

1) Age

Candidates must be aged between 22 and 55.

Maximum points: 12

2) Language Skills

Candidates must score a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 in reading, writing, speaking and listening for first official language (English or French). Candidates score extra points for a minimum CLB 5 in a second official language.

Maximum points: 28

3) Education

Have minimum secondary school education, either obtained in Canada or with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report if obtained outside Canada.

Maximum points: 25

4) Work Experience

Candidates score up to 15 points for work experience at NOC skill level 0, A or B. Work must be paid and full time, or an equal amount of part-time.

Maximum points: 15

5) Job Offer

Candidates score 10 points for a qualifying job offer, provide one of the below situations applies.

Maximum points: 10

Situation 1

You currently work in New Brunswick on a work permit and you meet all the following conditions:

• Your work permit is valid both when you apply and when the permanent resident visa is issued (or you are allowed to work in Canada without a work permit when your visa is issued).
• IRCC issued your work permit based on a positive LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada in an occupation listed under skill type 0 or skill level A or B of the NOC.
• You are working for a New Brunswick employer named on your work permit.
• That employer has made a valid job offer based on you being accepted as a skilled worker.

Situation 2

You currently work in New Brunswick in a job that is exempt from the LMIA requirement due to:

• An international agreement such as NAFTA, or
• It is a significant benefit to Canadian interests, or
• A federal-provincial agreement.

You also meet ALL the following conditions:

• Your work permit is valid both when you apply and when the permanent resident visa is issued (or you are allowed to work in Canada without a work permit when your visa is issued).
• Your current employer has made a valid job offer based on you being accepted as a skilled worker.
• You are currently working for the employer specified on your work permit.
• You have been working for that employer for at least one year, continuous full-time or part-time equivalent.

Situation 3

You currently don’t have a work permit or don’t plan to work in Canada before you get a permanent resident visa, and your employer has an LMIA and made you a valid job offer based on that LMIA and on you being accepted as a skilled worker.

6) Adaptability

Candidates and their spouses or common-law partner score points for adaptability factors.

Primary Candidate Spouse or Common-Law Partner

2. New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream.

The New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream is aimed at candidates who have secured a permanent, full-time 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.

1) Age

Candidates must be aged between 19 and 55.

Maximum points: 10

2) Language Skills

Candidates must score a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 in reading, writing, speaking and listening for first official language (English or French). Candidates score extra points for a minimum CLB 4 in a second official language.

Maximum points: 28

3) Education

Have minimum secondary school education, either obtained in Canada or with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report if obtained outside Canada.

Maximum points: 20

4) Work Experience

Candidates score up to 20 points for full-time work experience related to the job offer obtained in the last five years. Candidates must have a minimum one year of experience in the last five.

Work experience is not required for international graduates.

Work experience must:

• Be full-time
• Be with one or more employers
• Be in a NOC related to your job offer from a New Brunswick employer
• Be paid.
• Be obtained within Canada and/or abroad
• If based on self-employment, be validated with official documents.
• Not be based on self-employment in the retail, food and accommodation sectors.

Maximum points: 20

5) Priority Sectors

Candidates may be awarded 10 points if their job offer is in a priority sector, and the employer can demonstrate that they have been unable to identify qualified candidates in the local labour market.

Maximum points: 10

6) Adaptability

Candidates and their spouses or common-law partner can score up to 12 points for adaptability factors.

Maximum points: 12

Primary Candidate

Spouse or Common-Law Partner

3. New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream for Truck Drivers

The New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream for Truck Drivers is aimed specifically at candidates under NOC 7511 for Transport Truck Drivers, who have secured a permanent, full-time job offer from a New Brunswick employer.

New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream for Truck Drivers: Eligibility Requirements

1. Intend to reside in New Brunswick

Candidates may be asked to demonstrate their intention to reside in New Brunswick by providing evidence that may include training as a truck driver in Atlantic Canada, driving logs showing time spent in the province, residency in the province, family ties etc.

2. Work Experience

Candidates must have 2 years of work experience in the last 5, including 9 months in New Brunswick on a Labour Market Impact Assessment-supported work permit, or a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

3. Job Offer

a) To be eligible, employers must:

• Have been in continuous, active operation in New Brunswick for at least 2 years under the same ownership.
• Have a physical presence in New Brunswick.
• Be in good standing with federal and provincial employment standards.
• Not be in violation of the Immigration and Refugees Protection Act (IRPA) or Immigration and
• Refugees Protection Regulations (IRPR).
• Be actively engaged in the NB business, and therefore directly connected to the employment of the candidate.

b) Job offer must be permanent, full-time and non-seasonal for at least 30 hours per week, or 1,560 hours per year.

c) Wage offered must be competitive with New Brunswick wage rates for the occupation.

d) Candidates must have a valid New Brunswick Class 1 Driving License.

4. Selection Factors

Selection factors for truck drivers are the same as those for the Skilled Worker Stream.

4. 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 unencumbered liquidity.
• Invest at least $250,000 in a New Brunswick business, taking ownership of at least 33 percent.
• Sign a Business Performance Agreement with the New Brunswick provincial government and pay a deposit of $100,000.
• Business must create significant economic benefits 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.

Application Process

1. Submit Expression of Interest (EOI)

Candidates submit a self-assessed Expression of Interest scored on the factors listed above.

2. Invitation to Apply (ITA)

Selected candidates receive an Invitation to Apply. Candidates have 90 days to submit an immigration application to the New Brunswick immigration department.

Candidates who receive an ITA must use a designated accounting services provider to complete a net worth verification report.

3. Application Assessment

New Brunswick officials assess your application, including the quality and feasibility of the business plan. This stage may include an invitation or an interview.

4. Nomination Decision

Approved candidates receive a letter with instructions for submitting a signed and dated Business Performance Agreement and the deposit of $100,000 to the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour. This must be done within 60 days of receiving the letter.

5. Permanent Residence Application

Successful candidates received a nomination from New Brunswick, for use in applying to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence.

6. Landing and Business Establishment In New Brunswick

Within 30 days:

Report your landing to the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.

With 60 days:

Participate in face-to-face meeting with official from Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.

Within 180 days:

Participate in face-to-face progress report meeting with official from Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.

Within two years:

Within two years candidates must have established their business in line with the Business Performance Agreement. The period is non-extendable. Failure to establish the business results in forfeiture of $100,000 deposit.

Within three years:

Within three years of the candidate’s landing date, or one year of the business commencement date (whichever is first), candidate can apply for a refund of the $100,000 deposit, provided the terms for the Business Performance Agreement are met.

5. New Brunswick Post Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream

The New Brunswick Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream targets international graduates from recognized New Brunswick universities or community colleges.

Candidates must have started or acquired a New Brunswick business and operated it for at least one year, while holding a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

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.

Application Process

1. Submit Expression of Interest (EOI)

Candidates submit a self-assessed Expression of Interest scored on the factors listed above.

2. Invitation to Apply (ITA)

Successful candidates receive an Invitation to Apply.

3. Submit Application

Candidates submit a full application to the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program and participates in an interview.

4. Permanent Residence Application

Candidates apply for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

5. Land In New Brunswick

Applicant reports landing within 30 days to NBPNP offices in Fredericton, New Brunswick.