New Brunswick is set to reopen its immigration streams following a challenging period of reduced allocations. The province was recently informed by the federal government that it would receive only 2,750 immigrant nomination spaces this year. These spaces are divided between the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) with 1,500 spots and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) with 1,250 spots.
In a press release on February 5, Jean-Claude D’Amours, the acting Minister of Post-Secondary Education for New Brunswick, explained that this significant reduction has forced the province to make difficult decisions. “We expect it will limit our ability to manage economic growth for our province and its businesses,” D’Amours stated. As a result, New Brunswick is prioritizing sectors such as health, education, and construction for immigration, while restricting workers from some other sectors.
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Overview of New Brunswick’s Immigration Streams
This article covers the published details for each of New Brunswick’s immigration streams and explores the possibilities for changes in provincial allocations in the future. Below is a summary table of updates for the various streams:
| Stream | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| New Brunswick Express Entry | Beginning soon | Will accept new EOIs under two pathways: Employment in New Brunswick and New Brunswick Interests. |
| New Brunswick Strategic Initiative | Not accepting new EOIs | Sufficient inventory has been reached; the stream is paused for new applications. |
| Private Career College Graduate Program | Accepting EOIs | Applications are open; the program is set to end in autumn 2025. |
| New Brunswick Skilled Worker | Accepting EOIs | Divided into three pathways: Work Experience, Graduates, and Priority Occupations. |
| New Brunswick Business Immigration | Accepting EOIs | Applicants must have run their business for at least six months. |
| New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot | Accepting applications | Details to be provided by the NBPNP. |
| Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) | Accepting applications | Open for eligible candidates under the AIP. |
Detailed Updates on New Brunswick’s Immigration Streams
New Brunswick Express Entry
In the coming weeks, New Brunswick will begin accepting new Expressions of Interest (EOIs) under its Express Entry stream. There are two new pathways:
- Employment in New Brunswick Pathway
- New Brunswick Interests Pathway
At this time, candidates working in the following occupations will not be considered:
- Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200)
- Administrative assistants (NOC 13110)
- Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030)
- Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)
- Cooks (NOC 63200)
- Bakers (NOC 63202)
Additionally, the New Brunswick Student Connection under this stream will not return for 2025.
New Brunswick Strategic Initiative
The Strategic Initiative stream currently has enough inventory of EOIs, so it is not accepting new applications. New Brunswick advises prospective applicants to check back later in the year for updates. Note that the “In-Person Exploratory Visit to New Brunswick” connection under this stream was paused in November 2024 and will not resume in 2025.
New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream
New Brunswick’s Skilled Worker stream is reopening and has been divided into three distinct pathways:
New Brunswick Work Experience Pathway
- Eligibility: Applicants must have worked full-time (non-seasonal) for an eligible New Brunswick employer in the last six months and have lived in the province during that period.
New Brunswick Graduates Pathway
- Eligibility: Applicants must have completed a program of study eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) at a New Brunswick Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and must have a full-time non-seasonal job or job offer from an eligible employer in New Brunswick.
New Brunswick Priority Occupations Pathway
- Eligibility: Applicants must have a full-time, non-seasonal job offer from an eligible New Brunswick employer, gained through a recruitment mission led by the provincial government. They must be working in one of the specified priority National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes and have at least one year of relevant work experience.
At this time, the NBPNP will not consider candidates in the following occupations for the Skilled Worker stream:
- Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200)
- Administrative assistants (NOC 13110)
- Shippers and receivers (NOC 14400)
- Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030)
- Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)
- Cooks (NOC 63200)
- Bakers (NOC 63202)
- Bartenders (NOC 64301)
- Other customer representatives (NOC 64409)
- Food and beverage servers (NOC 65200)
- Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers, and related occupations (NOC 65201)
- Process control and machine operators – food and beverage processing (NOC 94140)
- Fish and seafood plant workers (NOC 94142)
- Laborers in food and beverage processing (NOC 95106)
- Laborers in fish and seafood (NOC 95107)
New Brunswick Business Immigration and Critical Worker Pilot
- Business Immigration: The stream is open for EOIs. Applicants are eligible to apply for a nomination if their business has been operational for at least six months.
- Critical Worker Pilot: Applications are currently being accepted. Details regarding eligibility and the application process are available from the NBPNP.
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
The AIP remains open for applications. This program is designed to support eligible candidates seeking to settle in one of Canada’s Atlantic provinces, including New Brunswick.
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Future Prospects for New Brunswick’s Immigrant Nomination Spaces
The current allocation for New Brunswick is 2,750 immigrant nomination spaces for 2025. With 1,500 allocated to NBPNP and 1,250 to AIP, the province faces strict limitations due to the federal government’s reduced allocations.
However, there is hope for change. Recent developments in Newfoundland and Labrador offer a promising sign. The province managed to recover most of its immigrant nomination spaces by reaching a new agreement with the federal government, accepting an additional 290 humanitarian immigrants over the next three years. This adjustment turned a 50% reduction into a decline of just 2.3% compared to 2024.
New Brunswick’s provincial government has expressed its concerns and is in ongoing discussions with IRCC. While nothing is set in stone, it is possible that New Brunswick could negotiate a similar deal to restore some of its nomination spots, ensuring greater flexibility in managing its economic growth and labor market needs.
