How to Immigrate to Canadian Province of New Brunswick

Colin R. Singer
mai 7, 2024

New Brunswick saw record-breaking population growth as people from throughout Canada and around the world moved to this small, Atlantic Canadian province whose residents just happen to have the lowest debt levels in the country.

Now, the TD Economics think-tank is forecasting another solid year of growth for New Brunswick this year despite an expected tepid global demand for goods which is expected to put a damper on the province’s main manufacturing industries.

“At 0.9 per cent in 2024 and 1.5 per cent in 2025, real GDP growth in the province is estimated to fall in line with national growth,” forecasts TD Economics.

Population growth will likely moderate this year in New Brunswick but the job market is expected to continue to trend upwards given the province’s job skew towards public services where there are still a lot of job vacancies.

The latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals New Brunswick welcomed 11,455 new permanent residents last year.

New Brunswick also welcomed 10,730 temporary foreign workers under the International Mobility Program (IMP) and another 4,420 through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). The province also issued 10,910 study permits to international students last year.

With the anticipated growth in New Brunswick’s economy, foreign nationals may want to consider immigration to that province which they can do through Canada’s two-tier immigration system.

It allows foreign nationals to gain their permanent residency through the federal Express Entry system’s Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program and Canadian Experience Class (CEC), as well as the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) of the 10 Canadian provinces.

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:

New Brunswick Express Entry Stream.
New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream.
New Brunswick Skilled Worker Stream for Truck Drivers
New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream.
New Brunswick Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream.

Candidates can also qualify for New Brunswick immigration via the Atlantic Immigration Program.

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.

The eligibility requirements for the New Brunswick Express Entry Stream are:

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.
Have an offer of continuous, paid, full-time employment from a New Brunswick company in an occupation listed as NOC 0, A or B.
Have been selected by New Brunswick from the Express Entry pool in response to provincial labour market needs.
A genuine intention to reside in New Brunswick
Settlement funds required for New Brunswick Express Entry

New Brunswick Opens Its Doors To Economic Migrants Coming To Fill Vacant Jobs

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

The eligibility requirements are:

An 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.
Possession of the required qualifications for the position being offered.
A competitive wage
An intention to reside in New Brunswick.
The required certificate or license for the job offer for regulated occupations.

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.

The eligibility requirements are:

An intention to reside in New Brunswick.
Work Experience of two years in the last five, including nine months in New Brunswick on a Labour Market Impact Assessment-supported work permit, or a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
A job offer.
A valid New Brunswick Class 1 driving license.

Eligible, employers must:

Have been in continuous, active operation in New Brunswick for at least two 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.

The job offer must be permanent, full-time and non-seasonal for at least 30 hours per week, or 1,560 hours per year and the wage offered must be competitive with New Brunswick wage rates for the occupation.

Immigrant Entrepreneurs Can Gain Permanent Residency In New Brunswick

The 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.

The Entrepreneurial Stream targets international graduates from recognized New Brunswick universities or community colleges who have started or acquired a New Brunswick business and operated it for at least one year, while holding a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

The eligibility requirements are:

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.