New Brunswick opens intake for two enhanced PNP pathways to PR. Starting March 5, 2025, eligible newcomers can now submit Expressions of Interest (EOI) to the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP).
The NBPNP has opened application intake for the following Express Entry-aligned pathways:
- The Employment in New Brunswick Pathway
- The New Brunswick Interests Pathway
Both pathways will exclude certain professions from being eligible for invitations.
The NBPNP has further updated some eligibility conditions under these pathways, specifically:
- Lowering the minimum eligible age of applicants from 22 to 19
- Increasing residency requirements and adding a work experience requirement of at least 12 consecutive months for applicants in the Employment in New Brunswick pathway
March 5 will mark the first intake to these pathways in 2025 after the NBPNP made significant changes to its immigration streams in response to drastic cuts of its provincial nomination allocation.
The NBPNP advises that EOIs submitted through these two pathways will not be processed on a first-come-first-serve basis.
This year, New Brunswick obtained a reduced overall immigrant nomination allocation of 2,750, which it will use under both the NBPNP (1,500 allocations) and the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (1,250 allocations).
Who Is Eligible To Obtain An Invitation For Provincial Nomination Under These Streams?
As New Brunswick opens intake for two enhanced PNP pathways to PR, it is vital to note that both Express Entry streams have differing criteria for issuing applicants an invitation to apply for provincial nomination.
In addition to meeting all the eligibility criteria, the NBPNP has noted that applicants who fulfill specific eligibility conditions for each stream might obtain an invitation for provincial nomination.
These invitation criteria are bolded among each pathway’s specific eligibility criteria below:
| Pathway | Summary Of Differentiating Eligibility Criteria |
| Employment In New Brunswick | – Have been living in New Brunswick and working full-time for a New Brunswick employer for the past 12 consecutive months. |
| New Brunswick Interests | – Have received a letter of interest from ImmigrationNB in their federal Express Entry profile
– Have at least one year of continuous full-time/ equivalent part-time work experience within the past 10 years. |
In addition, applicants in both streams should meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Have a valid Express Entry profile
- Meet the federal minimum proof of funds requirement (if not exempt)
- Demonstrate an English or French proficiency equivalent to at least CLB/NCLC level 7 in all 4 language abilities
- Have obtained a Canadian high school diploma or its equivalent
- Be between the ages of 19 and 55
- Score a minimum of 67 points on New Brunswick’s Express Entry selection grid
- Intend to live and work permanently in New Brunswick
Employment under both pathways should be in a position that is at a National Occupation Classification (NOC) Training Education Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) level 0, 1, 2 or 3.
Note that CLB denotes the Canadian Language Benchmark, Canada’s national scale for grading language ability in English. French ability is measured along the NCLC, i.e., Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens scale.
The NBPNP advises that just meeting all eligibility conditions under these pathways is not a guarantee of an invitation for provincial nomination.
Excluded Professions
New Brunswick will not consider nominating applicants in any of the following professions:
| Job Title | NOC Code |
| Accounting Technicians And Bookkeepers | 12200 |
| Administrative Assistants | 13110 |
| Bakers | 63202 |
| Cooks | 63200 |
| Food Service Supervisors | 62020 |
| Restaurant And Food Service Managers | 60030 |
| Retail And Wholesale Trade Managers | 60020 |
| Retail Sales Supervisor | 62010 |
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