Immigration programs in New Brunswick are starting to reopen.


Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. New Brunswick’s Immigration Allocation for 2025
  3. Summary of Program Updates
  4. Changes in Specific Immigration Streams
    • New Brunswick Express Entry
    • New Brunswick Strategic Initiative
    • New Brunswick Skilled Worker
  1. Potential Future Changes in New Brunswick’s Allocations
  2. Conclusion

New Brunswick’s Immigration Allocation for 2025

New Brunswick has announced its immigration plans for 2025 after a major reduction in its federal allocation. The province will receive only 2,750 immigrant nomination spaces, split between:

  • New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) – 1,500 spaces
  • Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) – 1,250 spaces

Acting Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Jean-Claude D’Amours, expressed concerns about how the reduction would impact economic growth and business development in the province. As a result, New Brunswick has prioritized key sectors like health, education, and construction, while restricting participation in some other sectors.

Summary of Program Updates

Below is a summary of the latest updates for New Brunswick’s immigration streams:

Stream

Status

Details

New Brunswick Express Entry

Will begin accepting new EOIs soon

Accepting applications under the Employment in New Brunswick and New Brunswick Interests pathways.

New Brunswick Strategic Initiative

Not accepting new EOIs

Has reached capacity and is not currently open.

Private Career College Graduate Program

Accepting EOIs

Program to end in autumn 2025.

New Brunswick Skilled Worker

Accepting EOIs

Now divided into three pathways: Work Experience, Graduates, and Priority Occupations.

New Brunswick Business Immigration

Accepting EOIs

Open for those with businesses operating for at least six months.

New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot

Accepting applications

No major changes announced.

Atlantic Immigration Program

Accepting applications

Remains operational.

Changes in Specific Immigration Streams

New Brunswick Express Entry

The Express Entry stream will soon begin accepting EOIs under two pathways:

  • Employment in New Brunswick
  • New Brunswick Interests

However, candidates in the following occupations are not eligible:

  • Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 12200)
  • Administrative assistants (NOC 13110)
  • Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030)
  • Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)
  • Cooks (NOC 63200)
  • Bakers (NOC 63202)

Additionally, the New Brunswick Student Connection under Express Entry will not return in 2025.

New Brunswick Strategic Initiative

  • This stream has stopped accepting new EOIs due to high inventory levels.
  • The In-Person Exploratory Visit to New Brunswick initiative, paused in 2024, will not return in 2025.

New Brunswick Skilled Worker

The Skilled Worker stream has now been divided into three pathways:

Pathway

Eligibility Requirements

New Brunswick Work Experience

Must have full-time work experience with an eligible NB employer in the last 6 months and have lived in the province during this period.

New Brunswick Graduates

Must have completed a PGWP-eligible program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in NB and have a job offer.

New Brunswick Priority Occupations

Must have a job offer from an eligible employer through a government-led recruitment mission and one year of related experience.

The following occupations are now restricted from applying under the Skilled Worker stream:

  • Administrative assistants (NOC 13110)
  • Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 60030)
  • Food service supervisors (NOC 62020)
  • Cooks (NOC 63200)
  • Bartenders (NOC 64301)
  • Food counter attendants and kitchen helpers (NOC 65201)
  • Process control and machine operators in food processing (NOC 94140)

Potential Future Changes in New Brunswick’s Allocations

There is still uncertainty regarding whether New Brunswick will be able to increase its allocation for immigration nominations. However, there is precedent for changes:

  • Newfoundland and Labrador successfully negotiated with the federal government to restore most of its nomination spaces after agreeing to accept humanitarian immigrants.
  • If New Brunswick follows a similar approach and agrees to accept more humanitarian immigrants, it might be able to recover some of its lost spaces.

Currently, discussions between the New Brunswick provincial government and IRCC are ongoing.

Conclusion

New Brunswick’s immigration programs have undergone significant changes due to federal allocation reductions. While some programs remain open, others have been paused or restructured. The province is prioritizing certain key sectors and restricting applications from specific occupations.

For those planning to apply under New Brunswick PNP or AIP, it’s crucial to stay updated with the latest changes. If you need professional guidance, Wave Visas, the best immigration consultant in Delhi, is here to help!

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