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Two Enhanced PNP Pathways Now Open for Permanent Residency in New Brunswick
New Brunswick Updates Provincial Nominee Program for 2025: New Pathways, Eligibility Changes, and Excluded Occupations
Starting March 5, 2025, New Brunswick is opening new opportunities for eligible newcomers to submit Expressions of Interest (EOIs) through the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). The program has introduced updates to two Express Entry-aligned pathways:
- Employment in New Brunswick Pathway
- New Brunswick Interests Pathway
However, certain occupations will be excluded from receiving invitations under these pathways.
Key Changes to Eligibility Criteria
The NBPNP has made adjustments to the eligibility requirements to make the program more accessible while aligning with provincial goals. The updates include:
- Lower Minimum Age Requirement: The minimum age for candidates has been reduced from 22 to 19 years.
- Increased Residency and Work Experience Requirements: For the Employment in New Brunswick pathway, candidates must have lived and worked full-time for a New Brunswick employer for at least 12 consecutive months.
This intake marks the first for 2025, following significant changes to the program after reductions to the provincial nomination allocation.
Provincial Nomination Allocation for 2025
New Brunswick’s immigration allocation has been set at 2,750 nominations for the year, distributed as follows:
- NBPNP: 1,500 allocations
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): 1,250 allocations
EOIs submitted through these pathways will not be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, emphasizing the importance of meeting eligibility criteria.
Eligibility Criteria for Provincial Nomination
Each pathway has specific conditions that candidates must meet to receive an invitation for provincial nomination. Let’s break them down:
Employment in New Brunswick Pathway
- Must have lived and worked full-time for a New Brunswick employer for the past 12 consecutive months.
New Brunswick Interests Pathway
- Must receive a letter of interest from ImmigrationNB via their federal Express Entry profile.
- Must have at least one year of continuous full-time or equivalent part-time work experience within the past 10 years.
In addition to pathway-specific requirements, candidates for both streams must:
- Have a valid Express Entry profile.
- Demonstrate English or French language proficiency at CLB/NCLC level 7 or higher in all four abilities.
- Meet the federal minimum proof of funds requirement (if not exempt).
- Hold a Canadian high school diploma or its equivalent.
- Be between 19 and 55 years old.
- Score a minimum of 67 points on New Brunswick’s Express Entry selection grid.
- Have a job offer in an eligible NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 position.
Note: CLB refers to the Canadian Language Benchmark, while NCLC is the French language equivalent (Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens).
Excluded Occupations
New Brunswick will not consider nominating candidates in any of the following occupations:
| 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 |
Meeting the eligibility requirements does not guarantee an invitation for provincial nomination, as selections are based on New Brunswick’s evolving labor market and economic needs.
With these updates, New Brunswick is refining its immigration pathways to attract skilled workers who can contribute to the province’s growth and vibrant communities.