Basics of the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program

How to Immigrate to New Brunswick through PNP

Canada is a very popular travel destination; however, it is also a very popular destination to permanently immigrate as well. Specifically, the province of New Brunswick is a distinctive destination for Anglophone and Francophone foreign nationals to immigrate. The province of New Brunswick is the only official bilingual province in Canada. Approximately thirty per cent of the population that resides in New Brunswick speaks French as their first language. Foreign nationals who are applying through the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) have four different ways to gain permanent residency in New Brunswick. Under this program, New Brunswick chooses individuals who have a connection with New Brunswick. In this article, I will address what the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) is and the four different ways to gain permanent residency in New Brunswick.

What is the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) is an economic immigration program that assists the province of New Brunswick to meet its labour market needs and prioritizes economic development within New Brunswick. The program facilitates New Brunswick to nominate foreign nationals with skilled work experience as well as qualified business people to work in New Brunswick and obtain permanent residency. These individuals will then be able to contribute to New Brunswick’s economy.

How does the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) Work

If you receive a nomination from the province of New Brunswick, then you as well as your spouse or common-law partner and any dependent children, may apply for permanent residency in Canada, specifically in New Brunswick, as a provincial nominee. Please note that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) make the ultimate decision on all permanent residency applications in Canada.

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) offers nominations in its own immigration streams that target certain groups such as entrepreneurs, skilled workers, graduates, and more. Furthermore, in order to apply for the NBPNP, you may apply on your own or with your employer’s support. As previously mentioned, under the NBPNP, there are four different ways that you can apply for permanent residency in New Brunswick; therefore, it is best to understand all of them before applying for the one that best suits you.

Pathways under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)

There are four different pathways that you can apply for under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). Below, I will list and describe the different streams in detail.

Entrepreneurs

This pathway was developed and intended for experienced business owners and/or senior managerial positions who desire to become permanent residents. In order to do this, they must own a business in New Brunswick and manage it while residing within the province. In order to qualify under this category, you must have a verifiable personal net worth of a minimum of $600,000 CAD of which half of it must be liquid and unencumbered funds. Additionally, you must have a minimum of three out of five years of experience in managing as well as owning a business; the ownership must also be 100%. Alternatively, you may have five out of five years of senior business management experience or more. One of the most important qualifications for this category is that you must invest a minimum of $250,000 CAD of your own funds to establish a business within the province of New Brunswick. There are other eligibility requirements for this category, such as:

• Must be between the ages of 22 to 55;
• Must have a score of a minimum of 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmark Test (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) in either English or French; and,
• Must have completed a minimum of 2 years of full-time post-secondary education.

Skilled Worker with Employer Support or Family Support

As a skilled worker, you can apply under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) either through the skilled worker with employer support category or through the skilled worker with family support category. These two categories are similar in that the applicant is a skilled worker; however, there are differences with regards to the eligibility requirements for both.

The eligibility requirements for a skilled worker with employer support are:

1. Must be between the ages of 22 to 55;
2. Must have sufficient language abilities, in either English or French, to fulfill your job duties;
3. Must have appropriate educational experience to fulfill your job duties;
4. Must reside and have employment in New Brunswick;
5. Your valid job offer must be genuine;
6. You are a permanent full-time employee of a company in New Brunswick;
7. You must fall under NOC O, A or B; or alternatively, level C or D in types 1,3,7,8 or 9;
8. Your job must be in an area of skill shortage.

The eligibility requirements for a skilled worker with family support are the same as above, with the exception of points 6 and 8. The rest of the eligibility requirements under this category are as follows:

1. You have a close relative of the Family Supporter (i.e. spouse, common-law partner, non-dependent child, brother, sister, niece, nephew, or grandchild);
2. Must have at least two years of continuous work experience in a full-time position within the last five years in your intended occupation within New Brunswick;
3. Must have sufficient funds to settle in New Brunswick (i.e. minimum of $10,000 CAD and $2,000 for any additional family member)

Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial

This pathway was developed and intended for foreign graduates who have recently graduated from a recognized university or community college in the province of New Brunswick. They must have studied full-time for a minimum of two years. Additionally, the applicant must also have started or acquired a business in New Brunswick and have operated it for at least a year while on a valid Post-Graduate Work Permit. They must also have the intention of residing in the province on a permanent basis.

The eligibility requirements for the post-graduate entrepreneurial stream are:

• Must be between the ages of 22 and 55;
• Must have a score of a minimum of 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmark Test (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) in either English or French;
• Must have completed a full-time post-secondary degree or diploma in New Brunswick for a program of a minimum of two years (either from a recognized university or community college);
• Must have lived in New Brunswick during the academic program;
• Must have owned and operated a business within New Brunswick for a minimum of one year; the ownership must be 100%;
• Must have a valid Post-Graduate Work Permit; and,
• Must demonstrate an intention of residing and settling in New Brunswick

Contact Akrami & Associates

It is essential that you have taken all of the aforementioned important information in consideration prior to applying for the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP). Additionally, if you are unsure what requirements are needed from you, it is always best to research beforehand. Applying under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) for permanent residency in Canada is a difficult task to do on your own; therefore, it is highly recommended that you seek out professional and experienced help before attempting to submit the application. Here, at Akrami & Associates, we work and have experience with many different immigration issues. We have helped many of our clients apply through the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) and have helped them obtain permanent residency in Canada. If you believe that you might be eligible, then please feel free to contact Akrami & Associates at our office at 416-477-2545 for more information or if you would like to book a consultation with an immigration professional for more advice.

With Akrami & Associates, there is always a way!