New Brunswick Reopens Immigration Streams with Adjustments

New Brunswick is reopening its immigration programs after receiving a reduced nomination quota of 2,750 spots from the federal government for 2025. These spaces will be divided between the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP), which will receive 1,500 nominations, and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), which will have 1,250 slots.

Jean-Claude D’Amours, acting Minister of Post-Secondary Education, acknowledged that the cut in allocations has forced the province to make tough choices. He stated that this limitation could impact the province’s economic growth and its ability to support local businesses. As a result, immigration efforts will prioritize key industries like healthcare, education, and construction, while restricting certain other sectors.

Updates on New Brunswick’s Immigration Streams

Several changes have been introduced across different immigration pathways.

• New Brunswick Express Entry: Will soon start accepting new applications under two pathways—Employment in New Brunswick and New Brunswick Interests. However, specific occupations such as accounting technicians, administrative assistants, restaurant managers, and cooks will not be considered.
• New Brunswick Strategic Initiative: Currently not accepting new applications due to a high volume of existing submissions. The province has paused the in-person exploratory visits program, and it will not return in 2025.
• New Brunswick Skilled Worker: The program has been divided into three pathways:
  1. New Brunswick Work Experience Pathway – Open to those who have worked full-time for a New Brunswick employer and lived in the province for at least six months.
  2. New Brunswick Graduates Pathway – Requires completion of an eligible program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and a full-time job offer from a New Brunswick employer.
  3. New Brunswick Priority Occupations Pathway – Candidates must have a job offer from a New Brunswick employer through a government-led recruitment mission and at least one year of related work experience.

Several occupations are currently excluded from the Skilled Worker stream, including food service workers, customer service representatives, fish and seafood plant laborers, and kitchen helpers.

• New Brunswick Business Immigration and Critical Worker Pilot: Both programs are currently open and accepting applications.
• Atlantic Immigration Program: Continues to accept applications without restrictions.

Potential Changes to New Brunswick’s Immigration Quota

The provincial government has raised concerns about its reduced allocation and is discussing with federal officials to find a solution. A recent agreement with Newfoundland and Labrador allowed that province to restore most of its immigration spots by agreeing to accept humanitarian immigrants. If New Brunswick seeks to increase its nomination quota, it may need to negotiate a similar deal with the federal government.