New Brunswichck - PNP

Quite simply, New Brunswick is the perfect place to work, start a business, raise a family, and enjoy life... a place where you can belong.

Few places in the world offer citizens a high standard of life, a low cost of living, a wide range of education, employment and business opportunities, a welcoming community, and a fast-track immigration process.

In today's changing political and economic environments, New Brunswick offers the stability, choices and opportunities you need to create a fulfilling and rewarding life for you and your family.

Provincial Nominee Program
New Brunswick recognizes that immigration is a source of skills, entrepreneurship, expertise, international links, and capital, which create additional employment and investment. Through the Provincial Nominee Program, New Brunswick actively seeks qualified immigrants who will fill labour market shortages, or create employment and business opportunities here.

To be considered for nomination by New Brunswick, applicants must have a guaranteed job offer in their intended occupation or an approved plan to do business in New Brunswick.

Applicants can apply in one of two categories:

      -    Job Offer Applicants
-         Business Applicants

The Province continues to receive and settle humanitarian immigrants (refugees) and reunite immigrant families. However, these categories of immigrants are not eligible to participate in New Brunswick's Provincial Nominee Program. Immigrating to New Brunswick can still be done through the regular Canadian immigration process.

Job Offer Applicants
To be considered for nomination as a skilled worker under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program, you require a permanent, full-time job offer from an established New Brunswick company. The job must meet provincial employment standards and offer comparable industry rates of pay. In most cases, the skills offered by the potential immigrant are not readily available in New Brunswick and employers must demonstrate that they are having difficulty finding these skills in the local job market.

As an applicant to the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program, you must make a commitment to settle permanently in New Brunswick and are required to sign a declaration stating your intention to live and work in this province. Provincial Nominees are likely to see their application for immigration to Canada processed expeditiously.

Complete the Self-Assessment Guide
To be considered for immigration under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program, you must obtain a minimum of 50 points. Greater consideration will be given to applicants whose employment fills a skill shortage in New Brunswick.

Start your employment search
If you score at least 50 points, you should initiate a search for employment in New Brunswick. Finding and negotiating an offer of employment is your responsibility.

Your application will only be considered when you have a guaranteed job offer from a New Brunswick employer for work in New Brunswick.

Submit the completed Guaranteed Job Offer form
When you have your acceptance of a job offer in writing, your employer must complete and submit the Guaranteed Job Offer form (NB PNP 004). This form is included in the application kit.

Submit an application for Immigration
We organize the forms and supporting documents and forward the complete application to the Department of Business New Brunswick. Some Canadian Visa Offices may have additional specific requirements.

Written notice of the final decision
Upon final review of the completed application, you will receive written notification of the decision about nomination for immigration under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program. If you have been selected, your application will be forwarded to the appropriate Canadian Visa Office for final processing, along with the New Brunswick certificate of nomination.

A nomination certificate issued by the Province of New Brunswick does not guarantee the issuance of a Permanent Resident Visa by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The final decision regarding your application will be made by the Canadian Government.

How much time does it take to process a Provincial Nominee application?

Permanent Immigration application (Provincial processing): 1-3 months

Permanent Immigration application (Federal processing):  Approximately 9-12 months time varies by visa post

The above processing times are valid for well prepared files. Processing times are subject to change.

Business Applicants

To be considered as a business applicant:

-         you must have previous management experience with proven success as a senior executive and/or business owner;

-        your business skills must be relevant to the business you intend to pursue in New Brunswick;

 -        you must have sufficient funds to finance the first phase of the planned business venture without third party assistance and to support your family for a period of up to two years (the personal net worth requirement will vary based on business venture proposed);

 -         you are required to participate in the business in an active managerial role.

 -         The ability to speak English and/or French is critical to your success as an entrepreneur in New Brunswick. We expect you to have a basic knowledge of English and/or French and be able to understand and answer the questions during the interview with New Brunswick officials. If the officials are not satisfied that you have sufficient knowledge of the language to carry on a business in New Brunswick, you will be required to take intensive language training and to participate in a second interview prior to nomination.

 -         As an applicant to the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program, you must make a commitment to settle permanently in New Brunswick and are required to sign a declaration stating your intention to live and work in this province.

 Provincial Nominees are likely to see their application for immigration to Canada processed expeditiously.

 Complete the Self-Assessment Guide
To be considered under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program, you must obtain a minimum of 50 points.

Submit the completed preliminary Evaluation form
If you score at least 50 points, we complete the Business Immigration Evaluation form and forward to the Department of Business New Brunswick along with required documentation. The certified translations may be in English or in French.

Interview in New Brunswick (Exploratory visit)
When immigration officers are satisfied that you meet the requirements as a business applicant, you will be contacted with an interview date in New Brunswick. During the interview, you will be asked to demonstrate knowledge of the business sector you are interested in pursuing in New Brunswick. Therefore, you should expect to spend at least five (5) full business days in New Brunswick to:

-         research the business environment;

-         consult with economic development agencies;

-         identify opportunities related to your field of expertis

-         explore education, housing and community facilities.

-         It is recommended that you set the interview date at the end of your visit. 

Applicants who need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to visit Canada will receive a letter of appointment from the Department of Business New Brunswick. When making application for a Temporary Resident Visa to the Government of Canada you should include this letter. Granting of Temporary Resident Visas is the responsibility of the Government of Canada and their decision is final.

Submit a Business Plan
Following a positive interview, you will be required to submit a detailed business plan for approval by an official from the Province of New Brunswick. The business plan should provide details of the business idea(s) developed during your visit to New Brunswick and include such things as the type of business, description of business (start-up, purchase, partnership, etc.) products and/or services, customers, responsibilities, relevant experience, a market overview, competition, location of the business and related costs, etc.

During the interview, you will be advised if your business plan should be submitted with the application for immigration or prior to submission of the application.

Submit an Application for Immigration
We organize the forms and supporting documents and forward the complete application to the Department of Business New Brunswick. Some Canadian Visa Offices may have additional specific requirements.

Written notice of the final decision
Upon final review of the completed application, you will receive written notification of the decision about nomination for immigration under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program. If you have been selected, your application will be forwarded to the appropriate Canadian Visa Office for final processing, along with the New Brunswick certificate of nomination.

A nomination certificate issued by the Province of New Brunswick does not guarantee the issuance of a Permanent Resident Visa by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The final decision regarding your application will be made by the Canadian Government.

How much time does it take to process a Provincial Nominee application?

-         Business evaluations: 5-8 weeks

 -         Lead time for exploratory visits 10-12 weeks

 -        Permanent Immigration application (Provincial processing): 3-4 months

 -        Permanent Immigration application (Federal processing): Approximately 9-12months. Time varies by visa post

The above processing times are valid for well prepared files. Processing times are subject to change.