On August 16, New Brunswick announced it would cease issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under the New Brunswick Express Entry category of its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The province stated that it has exhausted its entire quota of ITAs for this stream. The allocation numbers for 2024 have not been disclosed by New Brunswick.
The province has stated that applications submitted in full before Friday, August 16, 2024, will still be processed. Additionally, candidates who received an ITA prior to this date are still encouraged to complete and submit their full nomination application.
New Brunswick Express Entry Program
New Brunswick’s Express Entry category features three distinct streams, each with its own eligibility criteria. However, all candidates must be in the federal Express Entry pool through either the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, or the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
The NB Employment Connection stream is aimed at individuals who have resided in New Brunswick for at least six months and are either working full-time or have a full-time job offer from a New Brunswick employer.
The NB Student Connection stream targets international students from designated institutions in New Brunswick who are enrolled in programs eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
The NB Priorities Connection stream may issue a letter of interest to candidates who can demonstrate their experience aligns with the province’s labour market needs.
Alternative methods for applying to the NB PNP
New Brunswick has seen increased interest as a destination for newcomers in recent years. According to Census 2021 data, 44,125 individuals (5.8% of the population) were foreign-born immigrants (permanent residents), while 10,855 (1.4%) were non-permanent residents. This represents almost double the immigrant population from a decade ago, when there were 28,465 immigrants in 2011.
Interest in New Brunswick’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) has been high this year. On May 17, the province announced a temporary suspension of Expressions of Interest under the New Brunswick Skilled Worker stream to help manage the large number of existing candidates.
Newcomers interested in this stream are encouraged to explore their eligibility for the Atlantic Immigration Program.
For those still looking to immigrate to New Brunswick through the PNP, there are other streams available. The New Brunswick Strategic Initiative Stream focuses on French-speaking skilled workers who are committed to living and working in New Brunswick permanently.
Alternatively, the New Brunswick Critical Worker Pilot Program, introduced in November 2022, targets skilled workers addressing urgent labor shortages in key industries. Applicants must apply to one of six designated employers participating in the Pilot program, who will then submit their applications to the provincial government.
