New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP): 2026 Streams & Requirements

Why Choose New Brunswick?

New Brunswick is one of Canada's fastest-growing provinces for immigration, and for good reason. The province actively recruits skilled workers and entrepreneurs to address labour shortages and population growth targets. Key advantages of settling in New Brunswick include:

• Lower cost of living compared to Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta — housing in particular is significantly more affordable.
• A growing bilingual community, with both English and French widely spoken.
• Strong demand for skilled workers in healthcare, construction, technology, and the trades.
• A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points to your Express Entry profile, virtually guaranteeing an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
• The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) offers an employer-driven pathway for those with a job offer from a designated New Brunswick employer.

Active NBPNP Streams in 2026

As of early 2026, the following streams are active under the NBPNP. Note that New Brunswick introduced major changes effective February 3, 2026, tightening eligibility in specific sectors.

NB Skilled Worker Stream — Key Requirements

This is the most commonly used NBPNP stream for workers already employed in New Brunswick:

• A full-time, non-seasonal job offer from a New Brunswick employer in an eligible occupation (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 under the National Occupational Classification).
• At least 12 months of full-time work experience in New Brunswick in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation (with the same or a different employer).
• Language ability at CLB 5 or higher in English or French.
• Sufficient settlement funds to support yourself and your family.
• Genuine intention to live and work in New Brunswick.

NB Express Entry Stream — Key Requirements

This stream is designed for candidates who already have an active Express Entry profile and want to leverage a provincial nomination for the additional 600 CRS points:

• An active Express Entry profile in the federal pool.
• A Job Seeker Validation Code, or proof of enrolment in a PGWP-eligible program at a New Brunswick designated learning institution.
• At least 12 months of full-time work experience in New Brunswick in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation.
• Language ability at CLB 7 or higher.
• A genuine intention to live in New Brunswick.

Recent NBPNP Draw Results (2026)

New Brunswick conducts regular draws through its Expression of Interest (EOI) system. Here are some of the most recent results:

• March 2026: New Brunswick invited over 600 candidates across PNP and AIP streams in its latest draw.
• January 2026: The first draw of 2026 invited candidates under three streams — Skilled Worker, Express Entry, and AIP.
• February 3, 2026: Major program changes took effect, introducing stricter occupational requirements and a new AIP endorsement inventory model.

The February 2026 Program Changes — What Changed?

Effective February 3, 2026, New Brunswick introduced significant changes to its immigration pathways:

• Stricter occupational requirements — some lower-skilled occupations were removed from the eligible list for certain streams.
• New AIP endorsement inventory model — employers must now apply for endorsement through a new inventory system before they can hire through the Atlantic Immigration Program.
• Updated selection criteria — the scoring model for the EOI pool was revised to place greater weight on New Brunswick work experience and language ability.