New Brunswick Student PR Pilot Extended to 2027

New Brunswick has extended a permanent residence pathway for international student graduates from two private colleges.

The Private Career College Graduate Pilot will now remain open until December 31, 2027. The pathway applies to eligible graduates of select healthcare, child education, and social development programs at Oulton College and Eastern College.

The province announced the extension on its Important Notices webpage on July 3, 2026. Before this change, the pilot was scheduled to close on December 31, 2026.

According to the province, the latest extension is meant to help international students already enrolled in eligible programs “who would not have graduated prior to the pilot’s original end date.”

Why the Pilot Matters

The pilot gives qualifying graduates a route to permanent residence through provincial nomination. To qualify, graduates must have a full-time, non-seasonal job offer in an eligible priority occupation directly related to their program.

This pathway is especially important because graduates of Oulton College and Eastern College are not eligible for Canada’s federal Post-Graduation Work Permit, commonly known as the PGWP.

Many international students use the PGWP after graduation to work in Canada and gain experience while they pursue permanent residence. Without that option, some private college graduates could face the risk of losing legal status after finishing school.

Through this pilot, eligible graduates can receive a provincial nomination for permanent residence and apply for work authorization while the federal government processes their PR application.

Eligible Colleges and Programs

Only graduates from New Brunswick campuses of Oulton College and Eastern College can qualify under this pilot.

At Eastern College, eligible programs include Child and Youth Care with Addictions Support Worker, Early Childhood Education, Medical Administrative Specialist, and Personal Support Worker. Related occupations include social and community service workers, early childhood educators and assistants, medical administrative assistants, nurse aides, orderlies, patient service associates, home support workers, and related roles.

At Oulton College, eligible programs include Early Childhood Education / Educational Assistant, Child and Youth Care, Human Services Counsellor, Medical Office Administration, Medical Laboratory Assistant, Medical Laboratory Technology, Practical Nurse, and Primary Care Paramedic.

Related occupations include early childhood educators and assistants, teacher assistants, social and community service workers, medical administrative assistants, medical laboratory workers, licensed practical nurses, and paramedics.

Program Rules for Graduates

The Private Career College Graduate Pilot was launched in September 2022 and was originally expected to remain open for three years. This is the province’s second extension of the pilot. An earlier extension in February 2026 kept the pathway open until the end of 2026.

To apply, candidates must complete an eligible one- or two-year program at a participating private career college. They must also be at least 19 years old, meet Canadian Language Benchmark level 5 in all four language skills, and show a clear intention to live and work permanently in New Brunswick.

Graduates have 90 days from the program completion date shown on their transcript to secure an eligible job offer, receive a provincial nomination certificate, and apply for a T13 work permit.

The T13 work permit allows provincial nominees to work while Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada reviews their permanent residence application. Candidates must continue to meet the conditions of their nomination while their PR file is being processed.

Students who do not qualify, or who finish their studies after the pilot closes, should review other New Brunswick immigration options.