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New Brunswick - PNP Program
New Brunswick PNP: Study, Work and Settle in Canada's Only Bilingual Province
New Brunswick is a coastal Atlantic province where English and French are both official languages, housing is more affordable than in larger Canadian cities, and the provincial government actively recruits workers, graduates and entrepreneurs. Its nominee program, the New Brunswick PNP, is one of the most direct routes to permanent residence for people who already live or study there, and for French speakers who want to settle in Atlantic Canada.
GIEC Global’s Canada immigration team in Delhi helps applicants understand which NB pathway suits their profile, prepare their documents and move from profile submission to permanent residence with fewer mistakes.
Why New Brunswick Attracts Newcomers
A genuine bilingual advantage. New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada. If you speak French, or are willing to learn it, the NB province offers extra pathways that many other provinces do not.
Realistic entry for working candidates. Several pathways focus on people already employed or educated in the province rather than on very high federal scores. If you are on a work permit with an NB employer, you may have a shorter route than candidates competing in the national Express Entry pool alone.
A manageable cost of living. Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John have lower housing costs than Toronto or Vancouver, with strong community life, coastline and easy access to the rest of Atlantic Canada.
Quality education. Universities and colleges in the province are a major source of future nominees, which we explain in the study section below.
Family inclusion. Your spouse or partner and dependent children can be included in your PR application.
What Has Changed in 2026
Candidates comparing guides should be aware of the following 2026 developments:
- More targeted selection. The province has limited remaining allocation and has become more selective. Since May 4, 2026, invitations under the New Brunswick Experience pathway have been focused on health care, education and construction trades until further notice.
- Frequent, clustered draws. New Brunswick usually runs several draws within a few days. Recent examples include 379 invitations in January (13 to 15), 373 between April 30 and May 3, 699 on June 3 and 4, 750 between July 16 and 22, and 610 between September 10 and 18.
- September 2026 round breakdown. Of the 610 selections in September, 251 went through the Strategic Initiative on September 11, 197 through the Skilled Worker Stream (New Brunswick Graduates and New Brunswick Experience pathways) between September 15 and 18, 102 through the Express Entry Stream on September 17, and 60 applications were selected under the Atlantic Immigration Program on September 10.
- No single published cut-off score. Unlike Express Entry, New Brunswick does not publish a public minimum score for each draw. Selection depends on the stream, occupation, connection and available nominations.
- Updated stream guides. Immigration New Brunswick issued revised stream guides in June 2026, so older PDFs you may have saved are no longer reliable.
Find Your Route: Which NB PNP Pathway Fits You?
If you are already working in New Brunswick
New Brunswick Experience (Skilled Worker Stream)
For people employed full-time in a non-seasonal job with an eligible NB employer who supports the application.
- At least six months of full-time work experience with the same employer
- Living in New Brunswick for the past six months before submitting your EOI
- CLB 4 or higher in all four language skills
- Education and training that match your job’s NOC requirements, with an educational credential assessment where needed
- Genuine intent and ability to live and work in the province permanently
- An employer that has operated in New Brunswick for at least 24 months and is registered to hire foreign workers
If you are a transport truck driver (NOC 73300), you must already hold a New Brunswick Class 1 licence.
Your Step-by-Step Journey
- Profile review. We assess your education, work history, language and connection to the province.
- Stream selection. We confirm the pathway that matches your situation.
- Preparation. Language test, credential assessment, employer documents and proof of funds.
- EOI submission. You create your profile in the Immigration New Brunswick portal. Accuracy matters because everything is checked later.
- Invitation to Apply. If you are selected, you receive an invitation and a deadline.
- Provincial application. We prepare your complete file for submission.
- Nomination. If approved, the province nominates you for permanent residence.
- Federal PR application. You apply to IRCC, through Express Entry if you are in the pool, or through the base route.
- Medicals, biometrics and landing.
Common Reasons Applications Struggl
- Employer not eligible, or not registered to hire foreign workers
- Job title or duties that do not match the declared NOC
- Experience that does not meet the full-time or same-employer requirement
- Missing educational credential assessment
- Not enough time lived in the province before submitting the EOI
- Using an outdated stream guide
- Choosing a study program that does not support the New Brunswick Graduates pathway
NBPNP Streams
1.New Brunswick Express Entry Labour Market Stream
The New Brunswick Express Entry Labour Market Stream helps skilled workers enter the province’s workforce quickly. It is linked to the federal Express Entry system, so selected candidates benefit from faster processing for permanent residency. The stream is for people who have the skills, work experience and language ability that employers in the province need.
- Active Express Entry profile is required
- Strong connection to New Brunswick, such as a job offer, previous study or work experience in the province
- General requirement of CLB 7 in all four language abilities for the applicable pathways
- A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points, and the candidate must still meet federal requirements and receive an ITA from IRCC
- The stream remains active in 2026
2. New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream
For foreign nationals with current employment with, or a job offer from, an eligible New Brunswick employer. Pathways include the New Brunswick Experience and New Brunswick Graduates pathways.
Requirements for the NB Skilled Worker Stream:
- A year-round, full-time, permanent job offer in an appropriate occupation
- Proof that you are qualified for the position and are being paid fairly
- Employer support for your application
- Certification or licence from the regulating authority if your occupation is regulated
- A score of at least 60 out of 100 points, based on age, language ability, education, work experience and other factors
- Age between 19 and 55
- English or French language ability of at least CLB 4 in all abilities
- Bonus points for CLB 4 in both English and French, as New Brunswick is a bilingual province
3. New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream
Targets French-speaking skilled workers who have the education, work experience and intent to live and work permanently in New Brunswick. Pathways include Francophone Workers and Francophone Priorities. This stream has remained one of the province’s most active in 2026.
4. New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream
For experienced entrepreneurs who want to establish, run and manage a business in New Brunswick and make the province their permanent home.
What are the requirements for the NB Skilled Worker programme?
You must also have a year-round full-time, permanent employment offer in an appropriate occupation. You must show that you are competent for the position and that you are being compensated fairly. Your employer must also be supportive of your request. If you work in a regulated occupation, you must have the regulating authority’s certification or licence. More information about regulated occupations can be found on the New Brunswick government website, as well as inform ation on how to get certified or licenced in the province.
- If you qualify for the New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream, you will be assigned a score based on your age, language ability , education, past job experience, and other consid erations. To be eligible, you must score at least 60 points out of a possible 100.
- You must be between the ages of 19 and 55.
- In all abilities, your language skill in English or French should be at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 4.
- Candidates who can demonstrate a CLB 4 in both languages receive bonus points in New Brunswick, which is a bilingual province.
FAQs
Yes. The NBPNP has non-Express Entry pathways, including the Skilled Worker Stream, Strategic Initiative and Business Immigration Stream. The Express Entry Stream is specifically connected to the federal Express Entry system.
This is an important update for your page. The current NBPNP lists Business Immigration as the active business stream. The former Entrepreneurial Stream has been replaced by the New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream. Therefore, your content should not present the Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream as a current main NBPNP pathway without verifying its current availability.
Yes. Effective May 4, 2026, new invitations under the New Brunswick Experience pathway of the Skilled Worker Stream have been limited to occupations in health care, education and construction until further notice.
Yes. From February 3, 2026, New Brunswick stopped considering EOIs for candidates working in the accommodation and food services sector (NAICS 72) under the Skilled Worker and Express Entry streams, subject to the province’s current notices.
New Brunswick has been focusing immigration selection on labour-market needs, including health care, education and construction, while other sectors may also be selected depending on available allocation and provincial priorities.
No. Submitting an EOI is free of charge. However, if you receive an invitation and submit a complete nomination application, applicable stream-specific application fees may apply. For example, the Express Entry stream currently lists a $250 non-refundable application fee.
An NBPNP Expression of Interest remains valid for 365 days from the date it is submitted. Submission of an EOI does not guarantee an invitation to apply.
The general New Brunswick Express Entry requirements include CLB 7 in all four language abilities for the applicable pathways. This is different from the CLB 4 requirement under the Skilled Worker Stream.
A provincial nomination connected to Express Entry adds 600 CRS points to a candidate’s Express Entry profile. The candidate must still meet the federal requirements and receive an invitation from IRCC.
Yes. The New Brunswick Express Entry Stream remains an active pathway in 2026. It requires a valid federal Express Entry profile and meeting the province’s eligibility requirements.
