New Brunswick PNP Reopens with Key Eligibility & Occupation Changes

• Employment in New Brunswick and
• New Brunswick Interests

This reopening comes with notable adjustments to eligibility criteria and a defined list of excluded occupations, reflecting the province's strategic approach to immigration amidst reduced nomination allocations.

New Brunswick's total allocation for 2025

This re-launch marks the first intake for these pathways in 2025, following substantial revisions to the NBPNP's immigration streams in response to a decreased provincial nomination allocation. New Brunswick's total allocation for 2025 has been set at 2,750, divided between the NBPNP (1,500 allocations) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) (1,250 allocations).

Key Changes and Considerations:

• No First-Come, First-Served: The NBPNP emphasizes that Expressions of Interest (EOIs) submitted under these two pathways will not be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. This indicates a focus on selecting candidates who best meet the province's labor market needs.
• Reduced Nomination Allocation: The significant reduction in overall nomination allocations has prompted the province to refine its selection criteria and streamline its pathways.
• Updated Eligibility: The NBPNP has implemented critical updates to eligibility conditions, including:
  • Lowering the minimum eligible age from 22 to 19.
  • Increasing residency requirements and adding a work experience requirement of at least 12 consecutive months for the Employment in New Brunswick pathway.
• Occupation Exclusions: A specific list of occupations has been deemed ineligible for nomination, signalling New Brunswick's targeted approach to addressing labor shortages in key sectors.

Eligibility Criteria for Enhanced PNP Pathways:

Both the Employment in New Brunswick and New Brunswick Interests pathways operate within the federal Express Entry system, requiring candidates to maintain a valid Express Entry profile. However, each stream has distinct eligibility criteria, outlined below:

Pathway-Specific Eligibility Criteria:

Pathway	Summary of Differentiating Eligibility Criteria
Employment in New Brunswick	- Have been living in New Brunswick and working full-time for a New Brunswick employer for the past 12 consecutive months.
New Brunswick Interests	- Have received a letter of interest from ImmigrationNB in their federal Express Entry profile; and - Have at least one year of continuous full-time or equivalent part-time work experience within the past 10 years.

Common Eligibility Criteria (Applicable to Both Pathways):

• Valid Express Entry profile.
• Language proficiency: CLB/NCLC level 7 in all four language abilities (English or French).
• Meeting federal minimum proof of funds requirements (if not exempt).
• Canadian high school diploma or equivalent.
• Intention to live and work permanently in New Brunswick.
• Age between 19 and 55.
• Minimum score of 67 points on New Brunswick’s Express Entry selection grid.
• Employment under both pathways must be in a position that is at a National Occupation Classification (NOC) Training Education Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) level 0, 1, 2, or 3.

Important Note: Meeting all eligibility requirements does not guarantee an invitation to apply for provincial nomination.

Excluded Occupations:

New Brunswick has specified a list of occupations that will not be considered for nomination under these pathways. This list includes:

Job Title	NOC Code
Accounting technicians and bookkeepers	12200
Administrative assistants	13110
Bakers	63202
Cooks	63200
Food service supervisors	62020
Restaurant and food service managers	60030
Retail and wholesale trade managers	60020
Retail sales supervisors	62010

This list highlights the province's strategic focus on attracting skilled workers in sectors experiencing acute labor shortages outside of these excluded occupations.

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To check your eligibility and apply for immigration to Canada through most relevant Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), you may get in touch with our Canada migration expert at Toll-Free No. 78-18-000-777 or you can drop us an e-mail at info@visasavenue.com.

- Rajneesh Kumar