New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP): Your Gateway to Atlantic Canada

Express Entry Labour Market Stream: Your Fast Track to Nomination

The Express Entry Labour Market Stream is NBPNP’s most popular pathway, designed for skilled workers already in the federal Express Entry pool. This stream doesn’t just evaluate your credentials—it assesses your potential to contribute to New Brunswick’s economic priorities.

Eligibility Requirements

You must have an active Express Entry profile with a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. While there’s no published minimum, successful candidates typically score 400+ points. However, French speakers often succeed with lower scores due to New Brunswick’s bilingual priorities.

Education requirements: Minimum Canadian high school equivalent, with post-secondary credentials providing significant advantages. Your education must be assessed by designated organizations like WES or ICAS.

Work experience: At least one year of continuous full-time work experience in your primary occupation within the last ten years. The experience must be in NOC TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3.

Language Requirements: The Bilingual Advantage

Here’s what most guides won’t tell you: New Brunswick doesn’t just accept bilingual candidates—it actively prioritizes them. If you have intermediate French (CLB 7+) alongside strong English, you move to the front of the selection queue.

Minimum language requirements:

• English: CLB 7 in all four abilities (speaking, listening, reading, writing)
• French: While not mandatory, CLB 7+ in French provides massive advantages

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: Many applicants assume their conversational French is sufficient. The province requires official language test results (TEF Canada for French, IELTS General for English). Don’t rely on self-assessment.

Priority Factors That Matter

NBPNP uses a point-based system, but here’s the insider knowledge: certain factors carry disproportionate weight.

High-impact factors:

• French language proficiency (major advantage)
• Work experience in priority occupations (healthcare, technology, skilled trades)
• Completed education in New Brunswick
• Existing job offer from New Brunswick employer
• Age between 22-45 (optimal scoring range)

If you’re applying from Nigeria, India, or Philippines: These countries have higher refusal rates due to documentation concerns. Ensure your work experience letters include specific duties, employment dates, and supervisor contact information. Generic letters are red flags.

Selection Process: What Happens Behind the Scenes

Every few months, NBPNP conducts invitation rounds, selecting the highest-ranking candidates from their pool. Unlike other provinces that publish draw scores, New Brunswick keeps their selection criteria confidential.

What really happens: Immigration officers manually review each application for “genuine intention to reside.” This means your settlement plan, community research, and ties to New Brunswick matter more than just meeting minimum requirements.

Optional—but strongly recommended by AVID experts: Submit a detailed settlement plan showing you’ve researched housing, employment opportunities, and community services in your target city. This demonstrates genuine commitment beyond just securing nomination.

Skilled Worker Stream: For Direct Provincial Nomination

The Skilled Worker Stream is designed for candidates who don’t qualify for Express Entry but possess skills New Brunswick needs. This stream requires a job offer, making it ideal for candidates already connected to New Brunswick employers.

Job Offer Requirements

Your job offer must be full-time, permanent, and from an approved New Brunswick employer. The position must be classified under NOC TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3, with wages meeting provincial and federal standards.

What this means for you: The job offer isn’t just about having employment—it’s proof of your ability to integrate economically. Officers evaluate whether your role addresses genuine labor market needs.

Experience and Education Criteria

You need at least two years of work experience in the occupation related to your job offer within the last five years. Your education must support your ability to perform the job duties effectively.

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: Many applicants accept job offers for positions significantly below their qualifications, thinking it’s easier to get approved. This raises red flags about your genuine intentions and long-term settlement plans.

Community Connection Factor

New Brunswick evaluates your likelihood of remaining in the province post-nomination. Factors include previous visits, family connections, language skills, and demonstrated knowledge of local communities.

If you’re applying from countries with high refusal rates: Provide evidence of genuine connection to New Brunswick beyond just the job offer. This might include correspondence with local professional associations, property research, or community organization contacts.

Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream: For Recent Graduates with Business Vision

This innovative stream targets recent graduates from New Brunswick post-secondary institutions who want to start businesses rather than seek employment. It’s designed for candidates who see entrepreneurship as their path to permanent residence.

Graduate Requirements

You must have completed a degree or diploma from a recognized New Brunswick post-secondary institution within the last two years. The program must have been at least two years in duration if it’s a diploma, or any length if it’s a degree.

Language requirements: CLB 7 in English or French in all four abilities. If your education was in French, demonstrating continued French proficiency provides advantages.

Business Plan Criteria

Your business plan must demonstrate economic benefit to New Brunswick and your ability to actively manage the business. The plan should show market research, financial projections, and job creation potential.

What really happens behind the scenes: Officers evaluate whether your business idea addresses actual market needs in New Brunswick. Generic business plans copied from templates are obvious and result in rejections.

Mentorship Component

The program includes mandatory mentorship from established New Brunswick business professionals. This isn’t just a formality—mentors help refine your business concept and provide ongoing guidance.

Optional—but strongly recommended by AVID experts: Engage with your mentor before submitting your application. Their input can strengthen your business plan and demonstrate your commitment to success.

Entrepreneurial Stream: For Experienced Business Owners

The Entrepreneurial Stream targets experienced business owners and managers who want to invest in New Brunswick businesses. This stream requires significant investment and demonstrated business management experience.

Investment Requirements

The minimum investment is CAD $250,000 in an eligible business in New Brunswick. You must own at least one-third of the business equity and demonstrate that your investment will create jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

What this means for you: The investment isn’t just about meeting the minimum threshold—it’s about demonstrating economic impact. Officers evaluate whether your business will contribute meaningfully to New Brunswick’s economy.

Business Experience Criteria

You need at least three years of business management experience within the last five years. This experience must demonstrate your ability to successfully operate a business and manage employees.

Economic Impact Focus

Your business must create at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident within one year of starting operations. The business should also demonstrate potential for growth and continued economic contribution.

Real mistake we’ve seen—and how to avoid it: Many applicants focus solely on meeting minimum requirements rather than demonstrating exceptional potential. Successful candidates show how their business will grow beyond initial requirements.

The Francophone Advantage: Why French Speakers Win

New Brunswick’s status as Canada’s only officially bilingual province creates unique opportunities for French speakers. The Francophone advantage isn’t just about language—it’s about addressing demographic and economic priorities.

Priority Processing Benefits

French-speaking candidates receive expedited processing across all NBPNP streams. This isn’t just a minor advantage—French speakers often receive invitations with lower CRS scores and faster application processing.

What this means for you: If you speak French at CLB 7+ level, you’re addressing one of New Brunswick’s most critical needs. The province actively recruits French speakers to maintain its bilingual character.

Community Integration Support

New Brunswick offers specialized settlement services for Francophone immigrants, including employment assistance, language training, and community connections through organizations like the Société de l’Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick.

If you’re from France, Belgium, or French-speaking Africa: Your linguistic and cultural background provides natural advantages, but you still need to demonstrate economic integration potential. Language skills alone aren’t sufficient—you need relevant work experience and settlement planning.

NBPNP Stream Comparison: Choosing Your Best Path

Selection Strategy

If you have strong French skills: Apply through Express Entry Labour Market Stream for fastest processing and highest success rates.

If you have a New Brunswick job offer: Skilled Worker Stream provides direct pathway without Express Entry competition.

If you’re a recent NB graduate: Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream offers unique opportunity to build business while securing PR.

If you’re an established entrepreneur: Traditional Entrepreneurial Stream allows you to invest and immigrate simultaneously.

Common Mistakes and Red Flags to Avoid

Documentation Errors

Incomplete work experience letters: Your employment letters must include specific job duties, employment dates, hours worked per week, and supervisor contact information. Generic letters raise authenticity concerns.

Inadequate financial documentation: All streams require proof of settlement funds. Bank statements must show consistent balances over several months, not sudden large deposits.

Settlement Planning Mistakes

Vague settlement intentions: Officers evaluate genuine intention to reside in New Brunswick. Generic settlement plans that could apply to any province raise red flags about your commitment.

Unrealistic employment expectations: Your settlement plan should align with actual job market conditions in New Brunswick. Overestimating salary expectations or job availability suggests poor research.

Language Testing Issues

Expired language test results: IELTS and TEF results are valid for two years from the test date. Expired results cause automatic application rejection.

Mismatched language abilities: Significant gaps between different language abilities (e.g., high reading but low speaking scores) may raise questions about test authenticity.

Strategic Tips from AVID Experts

For Express Entry Candidates

Timing your application: Submit your NBPNP application immediately after receiving your Express Entry profile number. Processing times can extend several months, and your EE profile expires after 12 months.

Improving your French: If you have basic French skills, investing in language training to reach CLB 7 can dramatically improve your chances. The bilingual advantage is substantial.

For Skilled Worker Applicants

Job offer authenticity: Ensure your employer understands the NBPNP process and their responsibilities. Officers may contact employers directly to verify job offers.

Wage expectations: Your offered wage should align with prevailing wages for your occupation in New Brunswick. Significantly below-market wages raise questions about job offer genuineness.

For Entrepreneurs

Market research depth: Demonstrate thorough understanding of New Brunswick’s business environment, including competitors, suppliers, and target customers. Surface-level research is obvious to officers.

Financial planning: Show detailed financial projections extending beyond the minimum investment period. Officers want to see sustainable business models, not just minimum compliance.

Resources from AVID

📎 NBPNP Stream Comparison Checklist

Download our comprehensive checklist comparing all four NBPNP streams, including eligibility requirements, processing times, and success factors.

📝 Settlement Plan Template

Access our detailed settlement plan template that addresses officer concerns and demonstrates genuine intention to reside in New Brunswick.

📄 Document Checklist by Stream

Get stream-specific document checklists ensuring you submit complete applications without missing critical supporting materials.

🧠 NBPNP Expert FAQ

Review answers to the most common NBPNP questions from our seasoned immigration experts, including insider tips not found in government guidance.